What do you get when you apply a fresh business model to hair and makeup services? beGlammed. This innovative company is the Uber of beauty. No salon. No waiting area. Just makeup, updos, downdos and blowouts, all in the comfort of your home. This new business I’m involved with lets customers book and pay for appointments with technicians through a smartphone app.
beGlammed started in Las Vegas and just expanded into Dallas.
The buzz on beGlammed
Here’s what Margaux Anbouba wrote in a recent post on D Magazine’s Shop Talk blog:
“…by 8:50 a.m. I was sitting at my dining room table, watching The Wedding Planner while Jenn worked on my blowout and Dietra started on my natural makeup look. The stylists bring all of their supplies with them — all you need to do is show up with wet hair, a clean face, and a willingness to be pampered.
“In less than an hour (53 minutes to be exact) I had been glamified. I had requested a smooth, straight blowout, which was great except for a few hard-to-tame baby hairs. My makeup was also exactly what I wanted: very natural with minimal eyeliner and a strong brow. My look lasted throughout the day (multiple meetings and a party), only needing minimal touchups.
Thanks to beGlammed, it’s almost like I know what it’s like to be a Kardashian now. If only they could pick out what you wear as well—then, the app would be truly perfect.”
And Lynsey Eaton, who hosted a party to prepare for an event, wrote on Tomboy KC blog:
“Let me just say, there is nothing like getting ready in the comfort of your own home. Complete with loud music, Austin Cocktails and the beGlammed glam squad (shout-out to my new BFF Jenn), we partied like it was someone’s wedding day only at the end of the day we all looked like the bride (if the bride wore all black and culottes) and no one had to make vows other than to do this again sometime. It’s enough to make a girl dance around the kitchen while singing Fergie’s Glamorous nonstop at the top of her lungs (hashtag happened). We’re thinking the holidays. Who’s in?”
Unexpected inspiration, an undeniable opportunity
Great business ideas can start in the most unexpected places.
For me, it was at a hair salon.
I was getting my hair cut and asked my stylist about a new type of business I had noticed in the area: places where customers can get their hair done rather than cut. I was fascinated to learn that this was a huge market. Then, I started seeing similar businesses open that offered makeup services.
Soon after, a friend brought an idea to me. In Las Vegas, a former makeup artist with Mac Cosmetics could not accommodate all the VIPs who wanted her to do their makeup. She’d send them to salons, only to find that those were booked. That led to a smart new way to fill the demand.
beGlammed can do much more than bring glamour to customer’s doorstep. The unique business can teach us a lot about how to be successful entrepreneurs. Read my post next week to see why the beauty of this business is more than skin deep.
