Tell us about Runway Room.
Runway Room is an Australian Made cosmetics line founded in 2012. It started as a Hair & Make-up Bar offering the signature service of ‘The Lux Make-over’. The convenience and affordability of this service was a huge hit and the brand grew quickly. After seeing a space in the market for affordable, Australian Made Cosmetics, I decided to launch Runway Cosmetics. Having had many years of unofficial market research under my belt, I had a great understanding of the general consumer and what works in a professional sense and what sells. Our customer is a woman who wants great results without the time consuming and complicated routine. Runway Room Cosmetics has been designed with this in mind, an easy to apply, uncomplicated range that is ageless.
What inspired you to start Runway Room?
I was a make-up artist who had worked with many different products over the years and most of them were manufactured overseas. I wanted to create a truly authentic Australian brand that I could have complete control over formulations and know exactly what was in my products. I also wanted to create a brand that was luxe and premium in look and feel but affordable for everyone.
Tell us about your career and background.
I started out as a model, signing with Vivien’s when I was just 14 and quickly realised that I was going to be more successful on the other side of the camera. I worked in various studios throughout Melbourne and quickly gained a love for photography as well. I just loved being able to create an entire look from hair styling, make-up artistry through to the photography. It is great to have a vision and be able to implement the whole thing yourself, it’s hugely satisfying. Whenever I would make-up people for photoshoots, they would always comment about the convenience of having their hair and make-up done at the one location. As a busy mum myself, I knew how precious time is. I had so much faith that women would appreciate this service, I just had to get the word out. It was out of both necessity and passion that I decided to take the risk of opening one of Australia’s very first complete make-over bars. I was separated at the time and needed to support my kids and needed to pursue my lifelong dream of opening the ultimate one stop beauty shop – Runway Room was born!
Describe a typical work day for you.
Meetings, emails, more emails! Shooting tutorials, shooting content for social media. I’m also testing new packaging, new formulations, my job is super creative and every day I feel grateful for getting to do what I love.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
You must believe in your vision, and so must your team, if you waiver, if your confidence waivers, you will fail. There has been many points in my business journey where if I had followed my head, I may have thrown the towel in, but I followed my heart and my gut and truly believed in my vision. I’ve experienced many sceptics during my journey and a lot of people who deep down don’t want to see you succeed but I always kept believing in the brand. The products have been developed with so much love and care, I knew that our customers would appreciate the quality and the ethics of the brand. Obviously you also must take calculated and educated risks, it’s a delicate balance between being sensible and insane!
What’s next for you, and Runway Room?
Well I’m finally officially launching our beautiful products nationally and hope to take the brand international one day! I have huge aspirations for Runway Room and if I keep believing, hopefully we will get there!
For more information on Runway Room, please visit www.runwayroom.com.
