Today we’d like to introduce you to Janice and Denise Tunnell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Makeup Artist for feature Film & Television with a background in Accounting and Business Management. I worked as a Tax Accountant for 9 1/2 years and have always wanted to own my own business. I’ve always enjoyed makeup when I was younger but never knew that I could have a career as a Makeup Artist. I initially wrote a business plan because I wanted to open an Accessories Boutique and in the boutique, I wanted to have a makeup counter and sell my own line of colour cosmetics. At that time in the state of Maryland, where I am from, you needed a license to do makeup. After getting the training that I needed to become a Makeup Artist, I started the planning and research to start my cosmetics line. Once I started doing makeup for Feature film and television, I put my dream of owning an accessories boutique to the side and focused on my makeup career as well as my cosmetics line. In the meantime, Denise was here in Atlanta studying to be an Esthetician because she always said, “before starting a cosmetics line, one of us needed to know something about the skin.” As of today, we’ve worked as Makeup Artists for 20 years and have owned a cosmetics line called, “Illusions Cosmetics” since 2006. We also own our own jewelry line of beaded jewelry for women and men, called “Black Pearls Couture”. Both product lines are sold at our Makeup & Brow studio called, ‘The Illusions Beauty Studio”.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our experience along the way has been great, but definitely not without obstacles and challenges. Most of our challenges in the beginning were centered around finances and time management. Our financial issues came from a lack of planning. Time Management is the area where we consistently need to have balance. As working Makeup Artists for feature Film and TV, it can be challenging to balance work and business. It’s all a learning experience and we are thankful that through it all, we manage to keep things going.
Illusions Beauty – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Illusions Beauty Makeup Studio is a private Makeup studio that services women and men with their beauty/grooming needs. We provide our clients with several brow maintenance services, lash care, and makeup application. We offer classes to makeup artists as well as everyday women who want to learn new techniques and skills. We specialize in and are known for makeup application, waxing, lashes, and natural nail care. One of the things that I am most proud of is the fact that both my sister and I have worked hard over the years to get our businesses to a point of growth. It’s amazing to dream about something and then one day, it becomes your reality.
As a company, besides opening the Illusions Beauty Makeup Studio. We are very proud of the international attention that our studio and makeup line has received. To have our studio and product line featured in a couple of UK magazines has been huge for our business and has made us proud
One of the things that sets our studio apart is that it’s owned by my twin sister and I, who are Celebrity Makeup Artists that have worked with some of the worlds’ most familiar faces on TV and the big screen. All that we’ve learned from our experiences as Film & TV Makeup Artist, has helped us to bring a unique style of customer care and service to what we do daily at the Makeup Studio.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As Makeup Artists, one of our proudest moments in our careers is when we had the opportunity to teach internationally on one of the biggest stages at one of the world’s biggest Makeup Trade Shows, IMATS.
Pricing:
- Brow Maintenance from $12-$20
- Makeup Application $50 and up
- Lash Application and Maintenance $12 and up
- Nail Care Services $15 and up
Contact Info:
- Address: 1330 Concord Road, Suite 206, Smyrna, GA 30080
- Website:www.Illusionsbeauty.com
- Phone:404-862-9586 or 404-234-6236
- Email:Illusionsbeauty@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illusions_cosmetics/?hl=en
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/IllusionsBeautyStudio/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Illusionsbeauty
- Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/illusions-beauty-makeup-studio-smyrna
Image Credit:
Drexina Nelson, Roy Cox, Emanuel Mills
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