| Designing a life that you love with The Eco Makeup Bar

10 years ago when I had my son, I first heard that phrase. Just hoping that one day I could do something like that.  Work but have freedom.  Build something for me but be a mum.  Have a life and a career. That I could create a business with balance and choice.

I work hard every day to make my business happen.   For the small business owner and multi-passionate amongst us I know the frustration of being ‘the everything’ for your business.  The web designer, customer service, the maker, bookkeeper, operations, the IT guy (hi google), event planner, the absolute ‘everything’.   You get in what you get out.  It’s true. 

I feel like the longer I have been in business the more people tell me how much harder I have to work.  Get up earlier than everyone else in the house.  Forget the sleep and the opportunity to laze.  Get out that laptop, pop on the concealer later and smash through it.  Then there’s the over-romanticized labels of GIRL BOSS, MUM BOSS, CHOOSE YOUR OWN HOURS that I see fly around social media.  I am all of the above and I’m telling you now I find myself scrolling through pages and pages on SEEK because honestly, sometimes I feel working for someone else probably would be much easier.  

I know you are reading wondering where I am going with this. What’s the point of your story caller? “Amy, this is not very inspirational”.  After COVID I knew some things were going to change around here. So 2021 has been the year that I am reclaiming my life, my business and getting organised!

I have launched a monthly pop up shop for my clean beauty business, The Eco Makeup Bar, and I am loving every minute of these events. I always wanted my own shop….until I got one!  Very early on I realised what a ball and chain it could be.  Kiss goodbye to weekends and flexibility, ad hoc plans and surprise play dates with bubbles!  Until you are at the stage of being able to afford staff getting your own shop is quite the risky business.  The impact of COVID closures in our local Brisbane community hasn’t been huge but it definitely took some businesses down and helped me realise my idea of building the life that I love was a solid one.

The humble Pop Up Shop has its perks that’s for sure (read more here) and of course, it doesn’t suit every business type.  For makeup, it makes sense.  How often do you need to buy new makeup?  Not every day that’s for sure.  Monthly just fits.  If you are anything like me you’ll run out of everything at the same time and you can treat yourself to a restock on the regular.  If you are a conscious consumer I know you’d rather buy local and invest in a community business than head to a Mecca or a Myer.  Our free demos are a way of giving back to you and saying thanks for supporting us.  As makeup artists we are always about the technique.  The products are just a fun add on. Our lovely customers come for the connection, the experience and the how.  

I had flirted with supporting local for a while but I fell in love with it as soon as I realised how important it is for making our world go round.  If I need to buy a present I want to support local, if I need to get new shoes for my kids I’ll go to the local boutique.  Where possible I will choose to invest in the person plus I kind of love to know who I’m buying from!  It’s true that when you support local you are investing in your community.  It’s not always instant and sometimes I make tiny little compromises in my shopping decisions (maybe I get the rose gold sandals instead of the gold!) or you may have to pop back in to collect your favourite SPF because I order it in for you. 

If you are wondering if you can run a pop up shop, whether monthly or a one-off, I’m here to tell you you can and the freedom it allows is pretty great.  We pop up monthly at Heart Centred Creative. A Brisbane Based boutique pop up studio designed to be a home for your passion.  You can also shop online at The Eco Makeup Bar. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming dates we’d love to see you here.