Stacey Banfield - Bridal Beauty and Building a Brand

03/21/24 • 50 min

Meet Stacey Banfield, the founder of Soleil and Soul and an accomplished bridal makeup artist in Aotearoa. Stacey shares her journey from leaving school at 16 to work on a makeup counter to becoming one of New Zealand's top wedding vendors without the need for traditional advertising, relying instead on word-of-mouth recommendations.

Stacey highlights her passion for the transformative power of makeup and explains her preference for freelance over counter work due to its flexibility and freedom from workplace pressure. She emphasises the importance of customer service and interpersonal skills, criteria she priorities in her team of artists.

Discussing entrepreneurship, Stacey outlines her experience in starting a beauty brand, including the time and significant financial investment required to launch a product that aligns with her commitment to sustainability. Sustainability is a core value for her brand, which she strives to uphold in both formulation and packaging.

She offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs based on her own experience of self-funding her business and the meticulous process of finding the right formulator. Stacey also delves into her unexpected role as a social media influencer, which emerged organically from promoting her work and business online.

Furthermore, Stacey shares a personal security concern that arose from working alone, the importance of maintaining booking information for safety, and her aspirations to scale back Saturdays while expanding her beauty brand into the Australian market. She dreams of her products being sold in major retailers like Mecca or Sephora.

Don't miss this intimate conversation with Stacey as we explore her journey from makeup artist to visionary entrepreneur, delving into the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the road to creating Soleil and Soul Beauty.

(00:00:41) Meet Stacey: Bridal Makeup Artist
(00:04:30) Makeup Courses and Career Beginnings
(00:06:12) Choosing Makeup Artistry
(00:08:38) Transition to Freelance Work
(00:10:37) Customer Service for Makeup Artists
(00:12:30) Filling the Market Gap with Soleil and Soul
(00:14:47) Innovative Brush Cleaner Solution
(00:22:09) Sustainability in Beauty Brands
(00:26:43) Connecting with a Formulator
(00:28:57) Investing in a Beauty Brand Launch
(00:35:45) Growing a Social Media Following
(00:39:16) Dealing with Safety Concerns
(00:42:25) Work-Life Balance in Freelance Makeup
(00:45:54) The Three Final Questions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(00:00:41) Meet Stacey: Bridal Makeup Artist
(00:04:30) Makeup Courses and Career Beginnings
(00:06:12) Choosing Makeup Artistry
(00:08:38) Transition to Freelance Work
(00:10:37) Customer Service for Makeup Artists
(00:12:30) Filling the Market Gap with Soleil and Soul
(00:14:47) Innovative Brush Cleaner Solution
(00:22:09) Sustainability in Beauty Brands
(00:26:43) Connecting with a Formulator
(00:28:57) Investing in a Beauty Brand Launch
(00:35:45) Growing a Social Media Following
(00:39:16) Dealing with Safety Concerns
(00:42:25) Work-Life Balance in Freelance Makeup
(00:45:54) The Three Final Questions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Kelly Mitchell - Winning, Wellness, and Kiwi Ingenuity

In this episode, Sophie invites acclaimed makeup artist Kelly Mitchell for an insightful conversation. Kelly shares her inspiring journey, culminating in a double nomination and subsequent win for Best Makeup Design at the TVNZ awards. She discusses her early ambition in fashion, transition to hairdressing apprenticeship at 16, and passion for makeup design. Kelly reveals her personal struggle with depression in the industry and underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy mind, body, and soul, especially given the demanding nature of the work.

Kelly speaks on the career benefits and design inspiration that traveling provides and the necessity to stay local due to the actors strike in 2023. She also touches on the financial constraints within the New Zealand makeup industry and the challenge of negotiating pay rates and time allocations for projects. Despite budget restrictions, Kelly emphasises advocating for proper compensation for makeup designers' extensive kits and prep work.

The episode delves into the nuances of managing timelines for episodic series, embracing New Zealand's resourceful mentality, and exploring avenues for passive income. Kelly also expresses her love for incorporating indigenous techniques into her work, such as ta moko tattoo artistry.

Join us for a down-to-earth chat with Kelly Mitchell, a visionary artist dedicated to the transformative power of storytelling on screen.

(00:00:48) Intro to Kelly: Award-Winning Makeup and Hair Design

(00:02:39) Starting a Hairdressing Apprenticeship at 16

(00:08:30) Dealing with Depression and Breakdowns

(00:13:51) Travel as a Mental Health Balance

(00:15:45) Overseas Training

(00:20:09) Wig Hunting in New York

(00:21:46) Makeup Artist Pay Rate Issues

(00:30:37) Negotiating Time Requirements

(00:33:23) Prepping for Episodic TV Series

(00:37:34) Incorporating Tikanga for Hairdressing

(00:43:14) Moko Artist Collaboration for Film Tattoos

(00:47:20) Māori Woman in Business Development

(00:50:45) Planning for the Future in the Industry

(00:54:59) The Three Final Questions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Kimberley Coleman - From Lashes to Leadership

Kimberley Coleman is the owner and operator of the award-winning Lady Lash Studio in Christchurch. Kimberley discusses her journey of building a successful lash salon and how she began with the modest goal of contributing $150 a week to her family's finances. The episode delves into the educational aspect of Lady Lash, which not only teaches lash extensions but also emphasises the importance of being an effective teacher. Highlighting the lack of government regulation in the industry, Kimberley stresses the necessity of insurance for protecting businesses and staff.

The discussion covers practical advice for makeup artists, including the crucial recommendation of using a lash cleanser for lash and eye care to avoid infection. Kimberley also elaborates on her inspiring ‘Let's Go Wahine' mentorship program that combines beauty training with activities such as yoga, surfing, and self-development to boost confidence and make a positive community impact.

Sustainability in the beauty industry is a key topic, with Kimberley sharing insights on eco-friendly products in the lash world and the importance of recycling and reusing.

Speaking from her own experience as a mother and an enthusiast of outdoor sports, she offers advice to other artists on balancing professional hustle with personal life.

Looking to the future, Kimberley expresses her ambition to have the salon operate independently, allowing her to focus on expanding the ‘Let's Go' program nationwide, empowering young women across New Zealand. The episode concludes with a reflection on the supportive nature of New Zealand's beauty industry and the mutual benefit of fostering a supportive community.

(00:01:21) Kimberly Coleman: NZ's Top Lash Salon Winner

(00:03:06) A Decade of Lash Studio Success

(00:08:48) Expert Tips on Lash Extensions

(00:14:00) Balancing Local Preferences and Global Trends

(00:18:07) Challenge of Dealing with Dirty Lashes

(00:21:35) 'Let’s Go Wahine' Mentorship

(00:28:01) Sustainable Practices in Lash Business

(00:32:01) Juggling Business, Roles, and Family

(00:35:41) The Power of Acting on Ideas

(00:38:58) Future Aspirations for the Salon Business

(00:40:12) Empowering Young Women with 'Let's Go Project'

(00:41:54) The Three Final Questions