Amanda Jacobellis, CEO of the Makeup Mandy Los Angeles boutique, also known as The Eyelash Bar to the Stars͟ -E!, and creator of LAshX, The Luxury Brand in Eyelash Extensions and After Care, believes first and foremost in the health, safety and education of eye lash care and has built her brand and the LAshX collection around these values. Mandy is considered a pioneer in the field of eyelash extensions and has revolutionized the industry with the LAshX System. With the mission of providing the highest quality and health behind product use, she creates products that deliver the most realistic and longest lasting results in the world of lashes and beauty.
HBM: Please share your story. What were you involved in prior to launching Makeup Mandy and LAshX?
Jacobellis: “Prior to having my own company, I worked a freelance job in the entertainment industry doing makeup and eyelashes.”
HBM: What inspired you to launch your businesses Makeup Mandy and LAshX?
Jacobellis: “Working for other people who just didn’t have the right motives made me want to venture off on my own. I really wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and I knew I could create something better than anything else on the market.”
HBM: How did you get your start?
Jacobellis: “This is a tricky question. I started learning the art of makeup at the age of 12, studying all I could and performing makeovers on my little brother. At 16, my first job in the beauty industry was working for multiple modeling agencies, doing the models makeup, hair and styling. By college, I was working on creative Indie films, working with top tier photographers and even working Chanel fashion shows. Ultimately, what pushed me to open my own Lash Bar and Makeup Studio, was working for a crazy boss! I quit with no back up job. I just couldn’t take it anymore. Following these great achieves, clients and contacts kept emailing me out of nowhere. I increased my film and television work, as well as the number of celebrity clients I had. I was so busy that I eventually needed to open my own location to accommodate the number of clients that I had. The LAshX products were born a few years later. Ultimately, the reason for creating the product line, was because I had become allergic to the lash extension products that were on the market. My eyes would swell shut and many of my clients had previous allergic reactions. This is when I started working with chemists to make a healthier and safer lash extension system that would prevent allergies and discomfort.”
HBM: What are your strategies for managing your company?
Jacobellis: “My strategy for managing Makeup Mandy salon is to make sure my whole team is working toward a single vision, which is that every client needs to leave feeling beautiful. My team and I make all the decisions that need to be made with that vision in mind. It keeps us moving in the right direction and reminds us of our purpose. Also, having a single vision helps reduce stress. I may not get everything on my to-do list done, but if I can make significant strides toward that vision than I feel fulfilled.”
HBM: What are some hurdles you overcame?
Jacobellis: “As a young entrepreneur, the biggest hurdle I personally overcame was opening my beauty salon at 24 years old. Cash flow with a small budget were huge hurdles for me, constantly at different stages in my career. Other challenges include bringing the right team on board. It really takes a while to learn how to hire the right people and protect yourself. Lastly, finding the mom-work life balance!”
HBM: How have you revolutionized the industry with your eye-health care line?
Jacobellis: “Our company’s mission is to improve the lash extension industry’s health and safety. I think Makeup Mandy and LAshX have made great progress already, but this work is not done! Through education and product creation, we offer clients and professionals healthy options that improve natural eyelashes and eyebrows, while extending the eyelash extension life. This may seem like a silly thing, but for anyone who has lost their facial hair before, it’s a huge deal.”
HBM: Do you have advice for other entrepreneurs looking to start a business?
Jacobellis: “Make sure you know what your end goal is and make sure you are doing something that you are passionate about, because you will work harder than you ever have before.”
HBM: Where do you see your companiesin three years?
Jacobellis: “In three years, my eCommerce business will be thriving, as it is already growing at such a rapid rate! Professionals want to learn more online through webinars, blogs and through social media. They want to be able to order products easily at their convenience. With our help, I feel that the industry is becoming better educated and are learning about the ingredients they are using. We are striving for the industry to use healthier safer alternatives. Lastly, I hope to have launched a range of new products and online training courses.”
