Part 1 - Starting a business

I often get asked by clients, friends and people I meet.....how did you start your business, what brought you to this point, where do you start, how have you done so much in such a short time?

So, I thought I might share some of my triumphs & failures in a quest to empower others who may be at a cross road, sick of their boring mundane job, have an idea & are just too scared to take that risk & put  it into action......so here goes, I hope this helps you in some way....

The idea of creating a make up product was something I had thought about for the past 8 years, I remember from a young age how hard it was to find foundation that would suit my caramel toned skin.  I came away from several make up counters disappointed with my purchase, as it was either too light or too dark, never natural looking.  So I spent my twenties with the 'caked on orange' look...I shudder to think!!

Looking at Poppy King develop & market the first matte lipstick, I thought.....mmmm, maybe this is possible,  but shelved the idea and took the safe corporate job option.   Many years past, then off I travelled around the world, and my idea came back into my head and visiting countries like Italy where they had the most beautiful woman I had seen, well made up, dressed impeccably and life was just one big fashion & beauty parade, Tuscany....well art alone there was just mind blowing, colour, architecture, their life seemed to capture the essence of what it was all about.

After my travels, I returned to the United Kingdom, where I decided to turn my back on Human Resources & Recruitment, took a role at the Body Shop & then later at one of the top Hair Salons in Scotland and lets just say, I knew what my passion for life was.....MAKE UP!!

So without boring you with the details, I came back to Australia worked with the likes of Aveda, trained at Napoleon, stints at Mecca and then freelanced as a make up artist in bridal industry along the Mornington Peninsula, whilst maintaing a corporate job.

Once I became pregnant with my son, I soon realised I needed to make some firm decisions as to what career path I would take once he was here with us. I knew, I did not want to work full time and put my son in care if I had the choice and it was important to me that I spent quality time with what I felt would be the most precious experience I would encounter. So there, a decision was made & I started seeking a make up manufacturer and found one that would be flexible, allow me to custom make colours and pigments, was made & sourced in Australia and to our standards....

Sundari Comsetics was then born, so it was time to start planning wisely!! Now comes those business tips that has worked well so far for me. I am not saying that this is gospel & works for everyone, so its important that you make your journey....yours!! Trying to walk someone else's will only lead to failure.

Many people, just start a business on a whim, with no plans, strategies, concepts & 'cherry pick' ideas from things they see & just randomly apply it. What I mean by that, they look at what other businesses do and make spontaneous decisions on starting something, getting involved in something with not properly thinking about it & asking the questions, is this relevant to my business? will this bring me  a  good return of investment in the short term or long term? Does this fit as part of an overall strategy of my business? Will my customers benefit? Am I sending the right message? Am I protecting MY brand?

I started with a good business plan, I know it seems cliche but it really does work!!  It is important to know your market, know your competitors, look at other business successes and failures, have any idea of what you would like to invest, turnover in the first year, third year and fifth year, company structure, staffing, what your strengths and weaknesses are and what services you need to enlist to make your business work.

So here is what I did:

1. I  came up with a brand name that resonated with my heritage, its meaning would relate with many woman, it reflected something about my personality however, I wanted to ensure woman could   experience my dream, vision and come on a journey where looking beautiful and feeling glamorous did not have to cost a fortune and it could reach all skin colours & tone. So complexion was key to my product range. I wanted it to be easy to wear, not heavy, have a dewy look and the pigment match skin tone and not sit on the skin

2. I had an vision in my head of what I wanted the design of website, packaging and overall look. I documented all of this in a 'book of ideas', cuttings from magazines, fonts, colours that I liked on websites I had visited and created a bit of a story board.

3. I enlisted the help of professional graphic designers and then forwarded all these ideas and what I wanted to create and put it into phases with timeline dates-


1. phase one - holding page, services page
2. phase two - introduction of products, model shots, online shopping, stockist & events
3. phase three - we are now currently working on inter grating the BLOG onto the website & developing a VIP customer database 

4. All the front end was being developed, so it was time to work on the company structure, again not my strength, so I enlisted the help of professionals such as a Business Consultant/Accountant. This is a key point to consider, make sure you are honest enough with yourself to know what you are capable of achieving & what you need the professionals to help you with!!

We looked at what the current state of my business was at and where I saw it going in the future. This is where many businesses fail or remain stagnent.  Spending too much time in the now & getting on the band wagon of random ideas, gimmicks & promos and spending too much time looking at what others are doing and not enough time concentrating on the bigger picture & defining clear goals that are pertinent to their business.

My business consultant was like a brainstorming session, based on what I wanted to achieve he was able to guide me on how to set up the company structure to stay on the right side of the law however, minimise tax and increase profit. We also spoke of what to expect in the first two years of trading, so I was prepared & disciplined with finances, making sure I put funds towards the most important parts of the business. Also  making sure I was realistic of what I could achieve with what I had to work with. I was prepared with my vision/plan,  so he could then advise me what I needed to do immediately, short term & long term.  I cannot stress enough about making sure you have all your ducks lined in a row with planning & being very clear on what it is you want your business to achieve!!!

5. As  I have a salon, it was also imperative that my vision was clearly defined on how that fitted into the business structure, as a support mechanism to the business both financially and as an extended service where customers are able to experience the products on the ground. It is like the shop front to Sundari products.....

6. My plan was always to have the products in salon, boutiques and a great opportunity arose which allowed me to investigate this further and approach a salon that was looking for a make up brand, I was looking for a salon, so it was a perfect partnership to begin this wonderful journey. So I seized the moment, did not hesitate & being a position where I could make decisions, I was able to tailor it to there & my needs, so everyone wins!!

7. The salons are one avenue according to my plan however, I knew the Sundari product was only as good as who knows about it, so I had to have a clear idea of how I was going to channel this to maximise brand awareness. It also had to align with my products key messages - glamour, old world, beauty both internally & externally & represent woman well. Through contacts who happen to be great friends of mine & strong networking, I was able to secure a meeting with Melbourne Racing Clubs Sponsorship team. I was again very clear on my brand, its message and what I was capable of delivering to a high standard. I dont do anything in halves!!! This proved to be successful, as an agreement was drawn and we are now proud sponsors of the Melbourne Racing Club, Fashion & Sports Entertainment Program which fits well with both what the MRC & Sundari are trying to achieve. In addition to this, I have other PR events lined up which include some very influential people, presenters and events that will put Sundari on the map and be recognised as a brand that associates with that same message....glamour, luxury, indulgence.  Equally, as important is ensuring that we also give back something to society, so an alignment with a charity that we can support has also been secured, so everything is a sequence of very planned events....nothing is on a whim or a heartbeat.  My business plan is a living & breathing document

8. Now that I have the main aspects covered, it was time to start employing staff who had strengths in key areas to assist me in taking the business to the next level.  One thing I am fully aware of, I am not good at everything & I still want to continue to learn from others & love being part of a team of talented people that I can share success with. So again through great friends/contacts, I was able to propose job opportunities to our Senior Make Up Artist who comes with a wealth of experience & knowledge for which I am grateful to have access & works with the Sundari brand. She will assist with further product development, events & PR, so I know that the brand can only improve further . Through another friend I came across our Events & Styling Co ordinator who was looking to gain experience & exposure, so it works well for both us & her creative mind is perfect for designing & styling all aspects of the upcoming events we have in store. The smell of a successful team was starting to emerge...... I have just employed a salon/office assistant which has now completed the team to ensure optimum results on all fronts. So the plan is working & if it continues on this path, then there is much more to come....and although scary at times, self doubt has never been an option and optimism has always been on my side.

I am sure there will be some rough roads, all but learning can come from that & I am willing to tack le that and share it with you, so you get a clear picture.  I am just somebody trying to make a living out of something I love & enjoy the journey & opportunities that come with it....I can honestly say I have not had a day yet, that has not been enjoyable, since giving Sundari Cosmetics my 100%....its my other baby & I love it!!

To get the do's and dont's of business start ups....stay tuned to my next BLOG entry and  feel free to share with others in the quest for their successful journeys.....Xx

The Marilyn Look

HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK - STEP BY STEP

Skin
To achieve flawless looking skin, it does not mean piling on foundation and powder to cover your face. Take your time to invest in a few basic products that make your skin glow. Use Sundari Cosmetics Silk Creme Foundation all over your face, then lightly over the areas that need more attention. Use a  concealer at the inner corner of your eye and down to where your cheek bones start. Finish up with  Sundari Cosmetics Silk Powder Foundation for extra coverage or for oilier skin. Dust of your cheeks with pinky or peachy blush, Sundari Cosmetics Blush in Lavinia or Newralia are a great choice.

Eyes
Use a light and shiny base from your eyelashes and up to your eyebrows. We recommend Sundari Cosmetics Eyeshadow Intensive in Dust, use the same shadow in your inner eye corner to really open up the eye. Get a taupe colour,  (Sundari Cosmetics Brow dust 00) and place it high in your global and let it end in a cat eye shape. Remember that this shape should never be strong or have any hard edges. Use the same colour softly under the eyes to create wholeness. Now it's time for the liquid eye liner. Make sure that you are comfortable with the product you use. If you feel like you're not getting it right, it's possibly because the product is not for you. You can use Sundari Cosmetics Mineral density pot with dual shadow/eyeliner brush  or Silk Eye Crayon to create the eyeliner shape. Use mascara as desired.

Lips
Marilyn Monroe would always use red lipstick, and it's a truly amazing look more women should dare!! Use Sundari Cosmetics Silk Lipstick in Ruby Red, but if this is to bold, we recommend Sundari Cosmetics Lipgloss in Raspberry Sherbert for a pink tone that still make your lips pout xx

The team that make up Sundari Cosmetics

So we thought it was time to let the secret out & give you a glimpse of the people who 'make up' the team, who make it happen, who make Sundari ....beautiful

Lady Boss - Lea Rajendran

So what does Lea do: Lea is the force behind the brand, developing the products, designing concepts, business planning, negotiating with business partnerships/sponsorships & making the BIG decisions!!
Her motto: A quote by Coco Chanel.....
'A girl should be two things, classy & fabulous' xx
Cant live without: her son Javier, partner Sam & her amazing friends
Indulgences: Shoes, one off furniture pieces, fine dining & a great cocktail!!
Enjoys: date night with her partner, horse riding, cooking & spending time with her fabulous friends
Best described: Driven, focused, loyal & thoughtful
Memberships: Victorian Racing Club & Melbourne Racing Club

Online Media Man - Sam Leon

What does he do: Sam creates all the online advertising content, manages social media sites/accounts, assists in design & creation of website, creative strategy & promotion.
His motto: Be, be here, be that, be this, be eternal....Pops-Common
Highlight: birth of my son, Javier
Enjoys: the occasional motorbike track day, spending time with my family & watching my son grow
Best described: easy going & laid back
Memberships: Melbourne Racing Club

InSpiration - Javier Leon


Qualifications: perfected the art of floor sky dive tantrums
Favourite pastimes: playing with toy motorbikes, watching Hi 5,  Yo Gabba Gabba & hanging out with da boyz
Loves: playing hockey with mummy & daddy in the hallway, its the best!!  I dont mind posing for a camera shot either......
Memberships: Clip Clop Club - Melbourne Racing Club

The Glamour Team - these ladies come with creative talent, experts in their field & bring loads of personality!!

Senior Make Up Artiste Extraordinaire - Bec Shannon

What does she do: Bec will be involved in all Sundari sponsorship events, fashion events, make up master class events, stockist training, ladies charity gala nights, website shoots & PR launches. Bec will also assist Lea with her input to further develop the product range.
Her nickname: Bexta
Her indulgences: Shoes, shoes & more shoes!!
Most embarrassing moment: everyday occurrences, she will do anything for a laugh
Currently working on: Mossman campaign, Culture Magazine photo shoot & weddings
Cant live without: my friends x

Visual Merchandiser with a touch of perfection - Lara Russo

What does she do: Lara will engage our consumers through making our displays at events & stockists look glamourous!! She will be our liaison with external events teams, putting together story boards, sourcing accessories & props & putting together our web shoots & promotional gifts for PR events.
Describes herself as: quirky, who likes things a bit off centre
She loves: old world nostalgia, B & W movies, scouring for old wares & furniture that are a bit kitsch or retro & hopes one day she can live in an old button factory to house all her ornaments!!
Cant live without: her camera & old photos
Embarrassing moment: too many to mention......

Coordinator of Chaos - Melissa Dexter

What does she do: Our youngest member of the team, Melissa looks after all the admin/clerical duties. Keeping our database up to date, stock inventory in check, sending out online orders & assisting Lea with appointments, typing & keeping our salon in pristine condition.
Best described as: spontaneous
Loves: Lady Gaga
Cant live without: her cats & air...lol







Behind the scenes - these people form the foundation of the Sundari Cosmetics brand. Their talent & expertise assists us in making sound decisions that will help us to continue to grow and develop.

Count On IT Bookkeeping
We are very close to securing a PR (Public Relations) Agency, and will announce this shortly. An exciting step to take Sundari Cosmetics to the next level & enter us into many other media & social channels.

'A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind'......

First Melbourne Stockist - Silk Hair & Body

We are super excited to launch Sundari Cosmetics towards the end of this month at our FIRST Melbourne Stockist - SILK Hair & Body.

SILK Hair & Body are an established hair salon for the past 13 years & has recently come under the new management of Mary Bartlett,  whom I met through consulting for the lovely girls at HR Gurus!!

Mary is taking SILK Hair & Body to the next level by incorporating hair & beauty, as well as offering clients a mineral make up line that would cater for all ages, colours & represent an all Australian sourced and owned product.

This comes at a very opportune time for SILK Hair & Body, as Sundari Cosmetics potentially enters into some prominent partnerships,  providing a gateway to reach clients across the south eastern region of Victoria.

Events, make up workshops and other functions that are in the pipeline will be a great platform to offer hair & make up services. Sundari Cosmetics is committed to providing their stockists support through marketing channels, that generate additional business for their services & getting the Sundari brand well & truly out there!!

SILK Hair & Body
459 High Street Road
MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149
Ph: 03 9888 2408
w: www.silksalon.com.au

Dreams can come true.....

Its been a hectic few weeks & so much happening on the Sundari shores.....we have aligned ourselves with a business consultant at HTA Advisory, who have been instrumental in helping us set up the company structure for growth that is steady, sensible & following all the rules.  It is very easy to get carried away & grow too fast, spend too much money in all the wrong places, so my approach is cautious with the philosophy that slow & steady wins the race!!

Sundari Cosmetics will also be involved with the some potentially prestigious partnerships, which we hope to see some fruitful rewards long term.

Sundari Cosmetics will be entering the retail field very soon, with our first stockist in the South East region, as we have a high volume of clientele in this area, a great way to have your make up consultation with an experienced artist & the ability to try the product for yourself....

Online shopping is always a great way to shop.  No obligation, you can browse at any time of the day & request a FREE sample if you are not sure...if you are anything like me, I don't like being SOLD to and always end up walking out of the shop with three products when all I wanted was one!!

The BLOG will always have tips & tricks to help you along the way. In the future,  we will offer you the opportunity to view online make up tutorials & ask the artist questions....

Sundari Cosmetics is very much about putting back into the earth, community & learning, so recently we accepted a junior assistant to start with us in mid June, giving her an opportunity to become her best as a young person & worker.  In addition to this,  we have two charities that we will donate money & allow the public to participate in raising these funds.  I am very excited about this, as the charities chosen are in prevalent need.....

Sundari Cosmetics is all natural, made from pure ingredients sourced in Australia, are not tested on animals or ingredients used derived from them. A product we are proud of & hope you experience & love as much as us.....xxx

We will be venturing into some new product ranges in the near future, so can't wait to share with you!!

So with all of this, do I have time for anything else....you bet!! Its all about balance - my little family comes first, partner Sam & son Javier are the constant motivation, love  & support that drives me. I have learnt over the last six months that making time for me & having fun is important in being a happy & productive person, so in my spare time, I have taken up horse riding & have weekly personal training sessions. Having a cocktail or two with my gorgeous friends definitely helps!!

Photo shoot for Sundari Cosmetics

The model call out was the beginning of the journey to find Sundari Cosmetics - Autumn models.  A monumental response came through from mums, teens, models, friends of friends, companies, clients & facebook fans.  It was such a delight to see woman put there application through explaining why they should be the next face of Sundari Cosmetics!!
I also enlisted the expertise of Lee from Lee Bird Photography, she has amazing talent and experience in photographing weddings, products, children & events, capturing the essence of the moment.  Lee was instrumental in assisting me to choose the correct model, based on facial angles, skin, eyes & bone structure. The two models were chosen - Tamara who has previous modeling experience & Jade who was a new comer to the scene however, representing the darker tones.  Great contrasting models, spelled success!!
Next was the venue - thankfully through a  good friend, I was able to secure the location shoot. Beautiful Barak Estate Winery....stunning & perfect for what we were after.
Its all about who you know and one of my loyal clients, Julie from Belluccio - Head Designer for all the red carpet dresses for celebrities like of Tania Zaetta, Miss World & more gave me access to any dress in their showroom. We are talking dresses in excess of $2,000!!! Stunning gowns, I wanted to take them all home.....LOVE xxx
Hair by Nay was always going to be the chosen hair stylist, as I only trust Naomi with my own hair.  I am so fussy & she has managed to always do exactly what I want & this photo shoot was a testament to that, as she created 1920's hair styles on the longest hair.
So the styling, make up & co ordinating the shoot was up to me, it was a challenge however, I had a clear vision of what I wanted & knew what look would suit the brand & bring the website alive.
Sundari Cosmetics is all about glamour, bling, all things nice, feminine & back to old world where make up enhanced a woman's features, simple yet elegant, smooth skin, understated & not competing with beauty within.....
So here are a few pics to give you a peak at what was an incredibly successful day. Hope you like xx

Ask the Artist tips - preparing skin (foundation & powder)

Hello ladies
I have been asked by many of my clients 'how do I know what colour to choose for foundation?', 'how do I get that dewy, luminescent look?' and 'how do I avoid looking orange?'
Well here are a few simple tips, where you only require a few products & you can spend the money saved on a great pair of shoes!!!!

1. Primer - this is one of the most important parts of ensuring your make up stays on, does not sit in your creases & ensures your make up glides on your skin smoothly. I use Sundari Skin primer, which is a good gel based all rounder for all skin types.

• Using a synthetic foundation brush is best, use a small amount & apply quickly in a feather like affect all over the face & eyelids (reference Sundari Foundation brush)

2. Conceal - concealer should not be too dark or too light. It should be the same colour as your skin. Using a synthetic brush again, this can be the size of a medium to large eyeshadow brush (reference Sundari Multi task round end).

• The area that should be concealed is the whole eye area, to the brow bone, inner eyes to the nose bone, under the eye to the top of your cheek bone.  Once you have brushed this on, use your finger to blend, as the warmth from your skin will melt it into your skin, so it does not appear streaky or patchy

3. Foundation - it is important that you choose a foundation that is not darker for your skin, as this is what can make the appearance of the orange look, or the line on your chin which ofcourse is different to your neck. Foundation is to even the skin tone, so it should just melt into your skin, the colour should not 'sit' on your face.  You can add colour later with bronzer, highlighters & blush.

• Using the same synthetic foundation brush as you did for primer (reference, Sundari Foundation brush), apply all over the face, ensuring you go right up to you ears & jaw line.

4. Highlighting - there are a number of highlighting products out there however, a cost effective way to highlight is to use a concealer two shades lighter then your own skin. I have attached a face highlighting chart as a guide (reference Sundari Concealer)

• Dab on top of eyebrows, top of cheek bones, cupids bow, bridge of nose & jaw line, then with foundation brush, just feather in upward sweeps

5. Powder - its time to set the face and give your that radiant 'glow'. You can either use a translucent setting powder if you want to keep the skin looking natural or sheer, otherwise if you would like that extra coverage, use a powder foundation that is the colour of your skin or slightly darker (reference Sundari Sheer Setting powder, Sundari Silk Luminous Powder foundation).

• Gently dust all over face area (reference Sundari Kabuki brush)

6. Bronzer - most people put bronzer all over their face which is fine however, if you are not sure how much it can come up looking very orange & an over glazed face with too much shimmer.

• Using either the Sundari Kabuki brush or Sundari Blush brush, in a circular motion add Sundari Bronzer to the top of your cheekbones, feather along the jaw line & your forehead. This will add that glow to the areas that will catch natural light.

So now you are all prepped, primed, glamed & glowing for the next online workshop.....so stay tuned & keep reading my  BLOG so you dont miss out on 'How to achieve the smokey eye'