Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Flowers-Hurst.
Hi Tiffany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In the fall of 2004, I decided to quit college. I wasn’t interested in what I was majoring in and decided to take a break. Through word of mouth, I heard that my local department store was hiring. The hiring manager happened to be one of my Sorority sisters and hired me on the spot. I had no makeup experience but ended up working at a small makeup kiosk called Two Faced. Although I had no clue to what I was doing, I was booking appointments and reaching my goals. My cosmetic manager noticed my hard work and arranged for me to have an interview with MAC Cosmetics. I got the job and that’s what really catapulted my makeup career.
After I had been at MAC for several years, I got married and started a family. I felt like it was important for me to go back to college and finish my degree. I left MAC to work at a bank but couldn’t escape beauty industry. Soon after, my clients started calling and asking could I come to them or could they come to me. My side business was booming and I quit my job to become a freelance MUA. During this time, I also started going by my makeup name, Cendy Leway. This is actually the name my mother gave me before she changed it to Tiffany Renay.
I’ve been doing makeup under my business, Cendy Leway Beauty, for the last nine years. After owning and operating a beauty bar in my hometown, I decided to expand the business to include a boutique called Cendy&Co. While building up my growing business, my family decided to transition to Metro Atlanta where I am steadily carving out a name for myself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggling would be an understatement! During the pandemic, everything shut down including my business. I had no other way of making money but I took a chance and opened an online boutique. Apparently, even during uncomfortable times, women are going to shop. It really took off and allowed me to continue to contribute to my household and all my business expenses.
Moving to Georgia was quite an experience! When arriving, I thought I was going to really break out in the industry. That didn’t happen and I became discouraged. I decided that I had nothing to lose and started reaching out to everyone I knew, just letting them know that I was available to provide makeup services. Again, nothing happened. It wasn’t until almost a year later where I would receive the most amazing opportunity! One of the people who I reached out to that prior year was a celebrity hairstylist who put me in contact with my first celebrity client.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would describe my makeup style as soft and natural enhancement with a touch of glam. My clients love my work because they still look like themselves when they look in the mirror. I do a lot of wedding parties, balls, proms, etc.
I am most proud that I’ve made a career for myself that allows me to do what I love while having the flexibility to be available for my husband and kids.
What sets me apart from others is my excellent customer service skills, my professionalism and my ability to be flexible and learn in an ever-changing industry.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the biggest lessons I learned during the pandemic is that we all need several streams of income. Prior to COVID, I depended only on the income from doing makeup. Well, when everything closed, there was nowhere to go and no one was getting makeup. That’s when I decided to open the online boutique which got me through the rough patch and continues to give me passive income.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cendyandco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cendyandco/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=739fec8b-360c-4dfa-8592-3551bb09699a
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=27426268
Image Credits
Photos by Cendy Leway
