April 9, 2024 • 49 mins
Have you ever watched someone turn their love for makeup into a thriving beauty business? That's exactly the journey Kelsey Rae, the makeup virtuoso and brainchild behind KR Cosmetics, takes us on during our latest episode. As we chat, Kelsey unveils the pivotal moments from her modest beginnings as a makeup enthusiast to gaining acclaim as a professional artist, ultimately becoming an entrepreneurial maven. Her tale is a vivid illustration of adaptability in a fluctuating industry and the ingenious tactics employed in diversifying.
Kelsey's narrative continues as she divulges the strategy behind building a resilient personal brand and the significance of an online presence. She recounts how she leveraged the quieter seasons to diversify her offerings, from makeup tutorials to collaborating on intimate photography sessions, all while nurturing her brand through the savvy use of social media. Her evolution from offering hands-on services to launching a cosmetics line is nothing short of inspiring, demonstrating the balance between artistic passion and the savvy required to navigate the business world.
Kelsey imparts crucial lessons on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, from the nuances of international product development to the celebratory moments at local markets. Her experiences highlight the essence of patience, the potency of self-promotion, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Kelsey's parting wisdom to our listeners is a reminder of the importance of continuous learning and growth. Tune in to witness the landscape of innovation and determination that defines the journey of a creative entrepreneur like Kelsey Rae.
Mackenzie Kilshaw Co. offers comprehensive business coaching, and consulting tailored to your needs.
With Mackenzie's award winning entrepreneurial expertise in strategy, leadership, business development, branding, website development, social media management, SEO, sales and customer service training and more, clients receive personalized guidance to drive growth and success.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Shauna Foster (00:06):
Winning is your guide to making it in business.
Join our award-winning host andentrepreneur, Mackenzie Kilshaw
, and special guests in casualconversations that will educate
and inspire you on your businessjourney.
Winning will help you learn thehard lessons the easy way, with
guidance from celebratedentrepreneurs and business
(00:26):
leaders.
It's fun, it's informative,it's winning.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:31):
Hello, welcome to Winning.
I'm your host, MackenzieKilshaw, and my guest today is
Kelsey Rae.
Hi, Kelsey.
Kelsey Rae (00:36):
Hello, thank you for having me.
Yeah, thanks for being on.
How are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
How are you?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:44):
I'm so good, I'm so happy to have you on.
Kelsey is an award-winningmakeup artist.
She seamlessly transformed herpassion for cosmetics into a
career, which I love when peopletake their passion and make it
their life.
Really, she is a thrivingmakeup artist career and she
actually is ventured intoanother point of
(01:05):
entrepreneurship with the launchof her own cosmetics line, KR
Cosmetics.
So we're going to talk a lotabout that today.
But, Kelsey, why don't you justgive the audience a little bit
more about who are you?
Kelsey Rae (01:16):
Okay, well, my name is Kelsey.
I'm from Saskatoon.
I don't think being a makeupartist was ever something that I
planned out for myself.
It was something that just kindof happened.
I have been a makeup artist nowfor almost 10 years, which is
(01:36):
crazy, and, yeah, I never reallythought that this would be my
journey.
I went to school for somethingcompletely different.
I kind of was always the friendthat did people's makeup before
they would want to go out andbefore events and things like
that.
So more and more people juststarted asking me to do their
makeup and then all of a suddenI was like I think this is my
(01:58):
job.
So, yeah, that's kind of how myjourney started.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (02:04):
I love that.
I love that.
And you're self-taught, right?
Like you said, you didn't go toschool for this, but you've
done my makeup, which I'vealways loved, but you've
literally taught yourself how todo this.
Kelsey Rae (02:16):
Yeah, I'm completely self-taught.
I had my daughter when I wasabout 19, and I feel like that
time was kind of I was just homewith a baby.
That's kind of when the firstworld of YouTube kind of started
and all the YouTube tutorials.
(02:37):
So during my free time I wouldjust watch tutorials and
tutorials and practice on myselfbecause I was bored and at home
.
So that's kind of where itstarted from.
And then I had a friend who wasdabbling in photography.
She needed makeup done for amodel.
So I was like, sure, why not?
I had like five makeup brushesand probably like a dirty
(03:01):
Sephora palette, like definitelynot professional at all, but we
kind of played around and thatturned out good.
And then another photographersaw and then asked me, and then
another one.
So I was like, okay, I guess Ishould probably start taking
this a little bit more seriously.
Yeah, and it just kind of grewfrom there.
It's quite crazy actually.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (03:24):
That's you know what it's such a great
thing.
Like, I love hearing whatpeople's journeys and how they
took something, they love doingit and made it into their career
, and clearly this is a talentfor you, so you took your talent
also and made that your job,which is fantastic, yeah.
Kelsey Rae (03:41):
And I think it's just something like I never
thought could be a career, likeI'm sure if someone told me like
in high school or somethinglike, oh, you should be a makeup
artist, that would be a greatcareer.
But that just like wasn't anoption really Like.
It was like go to school, youknow, like just entrepreneur,
just wasn't really quite what itis now, and even just it just
(04:05):
always seemed like a side thing,like it was always just like my
side thing while I'm in schoolor while I figure out my next
step.
But I think it was only aboutlike two or three years into it
and then I was like full time.
So it happened pretty quick,thankfully, because makeup is a
very seasonal job so it is hardto, you know, make it your full
(04:29):
time career.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (04:33):
But you've done it, and I mean, we're going
to talk a lot about buildingyour brand today.
But something else I know thatyou've done in the past, which I
think is really interesting,when you do say it seasonal,
because, let's be serious, aphoto shoot can happen anytime,
but you do a lot of weddings andthings like that Well, those
are typically like, probablywhat May through October, you're
(04:54):
probably going to be swampedand then it gets quiet, right,
yeah?
So I know one thing you've doneis destination.
Kelsey Rae (05:03):
Yeah, you've gone on location.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (05:06):
Do you want to talk about that a little bit,
because I think that's such acool way that you've taken those
slow times and still makingyourself able to have some
revenue.
Kelsey Rae (05:14):
Yeah, totally.
So that's been a definitely bigkind of milestone in my career
was be able to travel.
Who doesn't want to travel fortheir job and get to travel to
beautiful destinations and, youknow, just be a part of people's
special day?
So I've been fortunate enoughto travel lots to the States, to
(05:36):
travel lots to Mexico.
Lots of winter destinationweddings, which is perfect
because that is kind of like theslower time here.
I've gone to travelinternationally I went to Norway
this last summer.
I'm going to Scotland thissummer.
So, yeah, definitely someopportunities that I didn't
(05:56):
think were possible for aSaskatchewan makeup artist.
You know you have these artistsin like Toronto and Vancouver,
but yeah, I didn't think thatthat would be possible.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:10):
But here we are.
Yeah, no, it's fantastic, andwhat a great way to have that
revenue right when it's quiet.
You've done such a great job ofmaking sure that you still have
an income when it's not busy,right.
Kelsey Rae (06:24):
Yeah, totally, that's fantastic, and I think
that's kind of where I have tostart getting creative too.
So it's, you know, not justmakeup applications in the
winter, there's a lot of likemakeup lessons or makeup classes
, like it definitely issomething that's just like an
ongoing, an ongoing kind of keepthe ball rolling, don't just
(06:49):
get stagnant and you're, youknow, busy, May to September
kind of months.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:56):
Yeah, I think too.
I feel like you're one of thosepeople that's really proactive
and you've kind of created theseopportunities for yourself,
like you don't sit around andwait for the phone to ring or to
get a message through Instagramhey, are you available, you're
making these opportunities andyou're really going out and
(07:16):
looking for, okay, how can I?
Okay, make up lessons.
I'm going to do that.
I'm going to do I know you dolots of makeup for, like,
boudoir sessions and things likethat.
That's really you've createdthat yourself and that's
fantastic.
Kelsey Rae (07:29):
Yeah, I have a problem where, when things are
slow, I get.
I don't know if I get bored orif I am like, oh no, because you
know if you're not workingyou're not making money.
Really, as a makeup artist it'sa very like hands on job.
So I don't know if it's likeyou know, oh, I'm not very busy
this month, might not have likethe income I want, or if I just
(07:50):
get bored or what it is, but I'mnot good at not doing anything.
So it's kind of a blessing anda curse for sure.
So, yeah, you feel me, but yeah, that's help.
Yeah, learning to slow down.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (08:07):
Well, that is true, taking time to rest and
relax is good, but you said it'sa problem you have.
I think that's actually asolution.
I don't think it's a problem,but I can say I understand you
because I'm the exact same.
I'm like how can I make moneywhile I sleep?
How can I make money while Inot have to physically be there?
And I think that's actually anasset to your career and your
(08:29):
brand is that you've done thesethings that have really helped
you built right.
Kelsey Rae (08:36):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, and I think that that is, I
think, where a lot of people Ithink any job that you like
physically have to be there,like serving people.
So, like you know,photographers, makeup artists,
jobs that you like really needto be there.
It is true, and especially inthis industry, if you're only,
you know, busy between X amountof months and X amount of months
(09:01):
, if you're not proactive, thenI think that's when people get
scared that they can't make ittheir full time job or can't
make it a career, and it justdoes end up being like a side
thing, which is totally fine.
Nothing wrong with, like havingother jobs or other things that
you're doing as well, but, yeah, you do.
You have to be proactive andyou have to, and I think, with
(09:24):
the way the world is now,there's so many more
opportunities to make moneywhile you sleep, which is the
goal.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:31):
Yeah, I know, that's what I always say.
How can I make money withouthaving to like do something
right?
And I think you have done such.
Yeah, like that's the goal,that's success.
To me, it's not like that Ihave so much money in my bank.
It's like not having tophysically be somewhere.
And we're going to talk a lotabout your personal brand, which
now has led into your owncosmetics brand.
(09:54):
But I think you are a reallygreat person to talk to about
this, because, of course, you'restill doing makeup and that's
that's obvious.
But you're your own personalbrand that you have built.
I really want to talk aboutthat.
Your social media presence.
I don't know if it startedthere.
Maybe you want to talk aboutthat.
(10:14):
But, yeah, what did you do tobuild this brand?
Because it's it's well knownyour name right.
Kelsey Rae (10:22):
Good question.
I feel like I want to say I'mlucky, but I know that there's
obviously hard work that goesbehind it.
But I want to say I'm lucky inthe fact that my social media
really grew quite early, in theearly stages of Instagram, when
I feel like it was easier togrow.
I didn't have to really therewas no reals, there was no you
(10:46):
know, things like that.
I just posted my work andpeople followed me and it was.
It was great, it was easy.
Now I feel like it's kind oflike a learning curve again,
because now I'm like oh, I haveto actually like work for this
now, like I to get those newfollowers, like I have to do
reals, do like there's just awhole nother part of social
media now, which is amazing, butalso it's like a full time job.
(11:10):
But I think like the main thing, I say social media.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (11:16):
Yeah, it's a job that you literally could pay
somebody a full time wage to dothat.
Kelsey Rae (11:22):
Totally, and they deserve it because it's so much
work.
Shauna Foster (11:27):
But what I tell?
Kelsey Rae (11:29):
people the most when they're like first, no matter
what like business they're in is, put your face out there.
People want to see you, theywant to connect to you,
especially when it's somethingkind of intimate.
Like you know, I'm this closeto your face doing your makeup
for your wedding day.
You want to know me before I'mthere for your special day.
Or even, like I always say likeeven like a massage therapist,
(11:52):
like I want to kind of know whoyou are before I just lay down
or my waxer or really anythingLike.
I just feel like I know you alittle bit.
So I was really good at that atthe start.
I still am doing stories, doing.
I used to do lots of like lives, youtube, like basically any
(12:15):
platform I could get on.
I was on, yeah.
So just making your face partof your business, I think is
huge.
It can be awkward at the start,but people want to see you,
they want to connect to you.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (12:31):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
When I had my clothing stores,I always did try-on videos where
I literally took a selfie videofor a story.
It was like, hey, it's me,here's this outfit.
This is why I like it here'soutfit.
Yeah, honestly, I felt so sillythe first probably 100 times,
obviously that I did thembecause I'm like no one cares,
(12:52):
no one wants to see me, and thenI would get messages where
people are like thank you forsharing this.
It was so great to see what itwas like on a real person, or to
get to know you.
Yeah, or you liked it orwhatever you've realized, then
you've built that connectionwith the person and that
connection and being genuine, Ithink, is actually what gets you
(13:12):
yeah it gets you further.
Kelsey Rae (13:13):
I think so too, and I always say talent is easier to
be taught than your presencearound people or how people feel
when they're with you.
There's so many people that aretalented all over the world
everyone's, especially withInstagram now you can see it.
But if they don't have thatconnection with you or that
(13:36):
personality, or if they're justnot showing you their
personality at all, if someoneelse is just as good and you
feel that connection with them,why wouldn't you go with them?
So yes, I think gettingyourself out there is huge for
sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (13:53):
I agree, and that's what, especially now, you
talked about how Instagram,especially, has changed even in
the last five years, really, andI think there are so many
people that you almost can tellthey just want to be like an
Instagram star.
They don't actually have thatconnection.
Yeah, you can feel it righttotally.
(14:13):
When it's genuine, yes, whenit's genuine, you're like oh, I
really like this person.
That's why people want tofollow you and see what your
next thing is.
You do such cool, I know,especially around Halloween.
I don't know why I always thinkof that, but you do all of your
transformations of your faceusing makeup and I'm kind of
(14:34):
waiting for the next post fromyou to see what cool thing you
did.
Now, and I think that goes backto that having that connection.
Yeah, I should comment on yourpage and tell you that, because
other people are saying the samething, but it's true, it's like
okay, what's she going to donext, right?
Yeah, yeah, so you built youractual physical brand doing
(14:59):
makeup in Saskatoon.
You built your online presenceand then you branched into
actually having your own beautyline, your own cosmetics.
So let's talk a little bitabout that.
How did that come about?
Kelsey Rae (15:14):
Okay, so good question.
I had a lash line years ago.
You carried it at your boutique, actually Wink Luxury Lashes.
I think I started that when Iwas like 23 or 24.
And I had no idea what I wasdoing and I loved them.
(15:37):
They were great.
I had them up until like maybelike two, three years ago, so
like I had that business forabout five years, Just like
reusable lashes that my bridescould wear for their you know
engagement photos, abachelorette party, their
wedding.
I'm like they're using them allthe time in my services anyways
(15:58):
.
It just kind of made sense.
So that was great.
I loved that.
And then, just about oh gosh, ayear and a half ago, I kind of
got rid of that because I hadbigger dreams for more.
Like Wink Luxury Lashes justkind of kept me in a box.
It's just lashes, so I kind ofalways knew I wanted more.
(16:19):
So I scratched that, startedfrom scratch and I created KR
Cosmetics, Kelsey Rae Cosmetics.
Yes, that was about a year anda half ago.
I started out with brushes, abrush line, because I do a lot
of makeup lessons and peoplewould come to me with like one
(16:40):
eye shadow brush and one mascarawand and one powder brush and
they're like teach me.
And I'm like, well, I can'tstart with the tools right.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (16:50):
Yes.
Kelsey Rae (16:51):
You need good tools to get good makeup.
So I started with that tocreate some really good quality
brushes that were at anaffordable rate.
I find that locally it's veryhard to find good quality makeup
brushes.
They're either stupidlyexpensive, like 60 bucks for a
brush, or stupidly cheap andcheaply made.
(17:15):
So, anyways, started with thatand then it just kind of
expanded from there.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:21):
So when you okay, so you have this thought
of like okay, I want to do morethan the lashes, I'm going to
start with brushes.
Do you like go onto Google andsay like my own brushes.
How do you start that like?
What steps did you take?
did a lot of research.
I have zero business background.
(17:44):
I probably should, but I don'tever like starting your own
business as a, you know, solebusiness is one thing, but then
once you kind of start like aproduct line, it's a very
different, very different.
I've learned, but, yeah, justhonestly, a lot, a lot of
(18:04):
research.
I was in a contact with a lotof different factories and
places that create differentproducts and I would try samples
and I tried, like so many,until I found ones that I
actually liked and liked workingwith.
Being in Saskatoon, I find, isa little tricky because shipping
(18:29):
takes forever to get here fromanywhere, so it was like it was
probably a full, full yearprocess to get the brushes out
at least.
No, at least yeah, yeah, butyeah, just finding, yeah, it
seems.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
yeah.
Kelsey Rae (18:47):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (18:49):
Sorry.
Kelsey Rae (18:50):
I'm just saying it seems like a long time.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (18:52):
No, it seems like a long time, but that
probably went by in a flash.
Kelsey Rae (18:55):
Totally yeah.
And so once I kind of found youknow the quality of brushes
that I liked at the facilitythat I liked and agreed with and
liked their you know kind ofcompany structure because that's
another thing I obviouslywanted things to be as like
ethically sourced as possible.
It's very easy to just findthings on you know from, you
(19:17):
know from who knows where, sothat was really important to me.
So that took a lot of time andeffort, a lot of well, my
brushes especially come fromoverseas, so there's a time
difference, so I would text themin the morning, they would text
me the next night, soeverything took very long, yeah.
And then, of course, then it'sthe fun stuff like getting to do
(19:42):
like you know your logo anddesigning it and colors, and so
that was really cool.
I love, I definitely love theproduct development side of this
business, I've realized.
But I've also realized I reallyreally like kind of like the
e-commerce part too, like I lovefulfilling orders and I love
(20:07):
you know all the like analyticsbehind the scenes.
So, yeah, it's been a learningcurve, that's for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (20:15):
Well, and that's one thing that I think
it's like a lot of people don'tthink about.
They think like, okay, I wantto have, I have an idea, or I
want to have my own, whatever itis, and they think of the end
result, but they don't think offinding those ethical companies
testing the brushes, figuringout, okay, what's the name of it
(20:37):
going to be, what's my logolook like, what are my colors?
Oh wait, I need a website.
I also need to sell on there.
How am I shipping?
How am I fulfilling these?
What packaging do I use?
And there's such a long list ofthings that you usually don't
even realize until you actuallyjump into it totally.
Kelsey Rae (20:55):
And then it's like, oh, I need you know stock photos
and photos now and content.
I need another Instagram andI'm running too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (21:03):
Yeah, yes.
Kelsey Rae (21:05):
It is, it's a lot and I think it's something that
I I've learned that so solelyright now, it's just me I
haven't asked, is it just youlike, it's just me all my stocks
back there in that closet.
I have a desk over there that Ifulfill the orders I like, run
(21:27):
them to the mailbox and shipthem out.
Yeah, so I, I, I know I need tojust learn to give some control
away, and that, I think, willbe the next step in my business
eventually.
Is, you know, yeah, letting goa little bit, delegating tasks
and because I can't do it all,and I'm learning that if I need,
(21:49):
if I want my business to grow,you can't do it all on your own.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (21:54):
Yeah, so, slowly learning Kelsey.
It took me about five years tofigure that out, so I think
you're a bunch ahead of thecurve there.
But it's true, especially whenyou well, when you first start
because you want everything.
It's your dream and it's you'relike okay, I'm doing this.
You want everything to be donelike really perfectly in your
(22:15):
head, right?
Yeah, you think okay, it'seasiest if I just do it, plus
you probably you have to knowwhat's going on, like.
You have to know like how manysales am I getting and how many
people are engaging, how manypeople are visiting the website.
Kelsey Rae (22:29):
So it's kind of easiest when you first start to
do it yourself totally, and thenI feel like you do kind of need
to dabble in all areas to know,then, what is easiest to give
up or what you know yourstrengths or weaknesses are.
I've noticed that my weaknessesare like the content part, like
(22:49):
just, you know, constantlyhaving to make new content.
I'm like I think that's goingto be the next thing I can like.
There's so many great peopleand that's people's jobs now is
to be content creators and, youknow, social media managers and
that kind of stuff.
So, yeah, knowing yourstrengths and weaknesses is key
for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (23:09):
Yeah, yeah, no, I get it, I totally get it.
And I think, too, you made areally good point when you said,
if I want to grow, I have togive some of these things up,
and giving them up it's justhaving somebody else do them.
And I think that's so true,because it's really hard to grow
anything when you're soliterally just busy.
(23:30):
You're busy doing so manythings that it's like, okay,
tomorrow I'm going to, I'm goingto.
You know, I have this on mylist and that just keeps getting
bumped to the next day and nextweek and next month, and,
before you know it, you haven'tdone it and you're like you know
because you're, you'rephysically, you can't do it, and
you have a family and friendsand you want to do something
(23:51):
else too.
You can't just work all the timeright.
Kelsey Rae (23:54):
No, and I think that's the thing like when
you're spread so thin, you'renot giving your best to any area
, right.
You're just kind of likesprinkling what you can, but
you're not really like fullygiving your all to the area
that's needed.
Or at least that's just mybrain, because I'm just here,
there and everywhere.
Yeah, I get you, though.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (24:15):
Do you find it hard like you are a mom and a
wife?
Do you find it hard when youhave that business is literally
in the room next door?
Do you find that hard toseparate or say like, okay, I'm
not doing that, I have to, or isthat been ?
Kelsey Rae (24:32):
I think it's just, I don't know, I think it's just
kind of the way it's always been, yeah, and I think I kind of
like that a little bit too, thatit is very flexible.
So, you know, if I have a sparemoment, I can run in here and
do something quickly, or versuslike if I was at like a full
(24:55):
time like nine to five.
I don't know, I just kind oflike spread my hours differently
, I guess.
So also Ella, she has 11 now.
She loves to help me, so shelike always gets so excited when
an order comes through.
She's like can I help pack itup?
I'm like sure.
So she's kind of gotteninvolved now, which is which is
cute.
So I don't know.
I mean, yeah, it definitely issomething that like having those
(25:19):
like boundaries are good, but Idon't know, I just love work,
so I will never really not work.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (25:31):
Yeah, I think too it's part of that, I'm
assuming is because you're sopassionate about makeup and
outcomes that you get it'sprobably not like it is work,
but it's probably not so muchlike work.
Kelsey Rae (25:44):
Exactly like it's definitely my passion, like it's
also my hobby too, like I don't, it's just, it's something I
love.
Yeah, it doesn't feel like worksome some days maybe more so
than others, but yeah, I feellike I would be doing something
like this regardless.
Yeah, I just like to be busy.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:07):
Yeah, I think too.
It just shows that when you dosomething that you love it, you
probably put in more hours in aday than someone going to an
office job.
That they just it's a paycheckright, but you look at it, so
you don't feel like you'respending that much time.
Kelsey Rae (26:23):
Yeah, exactly, and I think that's it like it just it
doesn't feel like work, it'sfun.
I love it, even, like you know,physically, like doing the
makeup.
I get to be a part of people'slike special days and I get
everyone around me.
Yeah, I think the most that islike it's work, but it I love it
.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:43):
So yeah, yeah , that's awesome.
I love hearing that.
That just makes me so happy,because that's why we do these
things, that's why we'reentrepreneurs and why we have
these lives.
Yeah, you have one life ispretty short, really to think
about it, so you might all enjoyit, right?
Kelsey Rae (27:00):
Yes, exactly.
I don't think I would be goodat working for anyone anymore.
I don't know I could go back tolike a norm quote-unquote
normal like nine to five job.
I don't know.
That was never really Somethingthat I saw for myself, so I'm
(27:20):
glad it turned out this way.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (27:23):
You knew right, you knew yeah, um, okay.
So you, you build the brand, soyou start with the brushes and
you obviously have to market it.
Like you have to do somemarketing, you have to build
awareness now for you being sogreat in the community, well
known the community of Saskatoon, but also your online presence.
(27:47):
Did you use that to market?
Or how did you build awarenessof your new cosmetics line?
Kelsey Rae (27:55):
Yeah.
So after brushes, that took offquite well and then I started
getting into a little bit morelike color products.
So I started with like lipglosses which I was super proud
of and I think to market it Ikind of took a little bit of my
like influencer background.
(28:15):
So I've done kind of likeinfluencing a little bit.
Other brands have sent meproducts.
I do unboxings, I, you know,test it, do try on things like
that.
So I kind of did that a littlebit and reached out to some of
my favorite like influencers orjust like favorite people in the
community that have a followingof the market that I'm kind of
(28:36):
going for Also, which, which ishuge, that definitely like
helped get my name out there andmy my cosmetic business out
there.
But for me also, I see so manymakeup lovers and makeup clients
in a day, in a month, in a yearthat yes in person sales work
(28:58):
quite easy because you know I doa wedding of eight every
weekend or of 16 every weekend,and of course the bride's gonna
want something to touch up withand then, you know, maybe a
bridesmaid or two, and then fromthere it just kind of kept
snowballing and snowballing.
So I'm my online.
Online sales do quite well, butmy in-person sales do really
(29:23):
well as as well.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (29:25):
So yeah, and you know why?
Right, it's you.
It's because you're there andyou can show them the product
online sale.
I mean, I don't online storefor years and online stores are
great, but at the end of the day, it's you that does the best
selling of your own productright totally, and then you can
(29:45):
like feel it and swatch it andsee it and, you know, hold it or
whatever.
Kelsey Rae (29:50):
I think also I so I created.
So, yes, I have brushes, lashes, lip glosses and lip liners so
far, and my lip glosses I reallycreated with my clients in mind
.
I know what I use on them.
For the most part, I alreadykind of have my favorite shades
(30:15):
that I used on them, so then Ikind of knew what they would
gravitate towards.
So I have this one color calledBliss and it's like the perfect
wedding shade and I swear I useit on like 80% of my brides.
It's just that perfect bridalcolor that I know every bride,
(30:36):
or most brides, are gonna want.
So I think definitely knowinglike my clientele helped a lot
too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (30:43):
Oh, for sure, and that's so smart to
basically create something thatyou already know is gonna be a
seller.
What a great, that's a greatthing about having your own
right.
And I know, when I got married,before you had your makeup line
, but I was looking for likethat perfect nude lipstick and I
swear that I had to try on likeI bet you're trying on 50
(31:06):
different colors because, yeah,I just you know, I think I went
and this is all spring covid, sobut I think I went to like
Sephora and you know just swatch, swatch, swatch.
But you already have that.
You probably know the top 10for like skin tones and hair and
all that stuff, right?
Kelsey Rae (31:23):
Yeah, it's quite funny because, like most of the
time like bright a bridal inparticular they want the same
Kind of look like.
Obviously it's gonna bedifferent on every person, but
for the most part it's kind ofthe same Handful of looks that I
just kind of do, depending onwhat they're wanting.
So, yeah, that was a.
(31:44):
That was a really kind of easytransition for sure.
Same with lashes, because it'ssomething that they're gonna use
, they're gonna want.
I know what looks good inphotos, I know what styles,
tends brides tend to gravitatetowards, or just clients in
general.
So I think just having thatknowledge of what people want is
(32:10):
has helped a lot.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (32:13):
Yeah, that experience.
You, you couldn't tradeanything.
Like you were so smart to useyour past experience to build,
like you weren't like, okay, myfirst color is gonna be hot pink
and whatever.
Yeah, orange because, yeah, notthat you can't have those, but
you probably know, like the likethe nude Shade is gonna be the
best one and the easiest for youto sell and going back to your
(32:36):
online store and Make moneywhile you sleep, right, like you
know that's gonna sell becausewhen they run out of it, they're
ordering another one.
Kelsey Rae (32:44):
Exactly.
So, yeah, that that's been.
That's been a like such a dream, especially, you know, during
the, the slower months.
Um, that's been really good.
One thing that I've kind ofstruggled with with my like next
step in it is I feel like I'vegotten the Saskatchewan market
(33:05):
pretty good.
Obviously lots of likeIn-person sales, which is great,
but now it's going to be theexpanding.
How do I get it?
Yes, you know, across.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (33:21):
Do you think that was the was harder or what
was the hardest part?
Like, was it harder to actuallylike be like, okay, I'm doing
this and get going, or do youthink the expansion part is
gonna be harder?
Kelsey Rae (33:33):
I think for me I I'm so funny because I never really
have like high expectations forthings I just like, I'm not
like, I'm just like, oh well,just like see what happens.
And then things start goingwell and I'm like, okay, this is
great.
So I think it's now thestarting.
(33:54):
It wasn't that difficult for me, it was fun, it was exciting.
I did like I said I didn't have, I didn't know what my goal was
for it.
I'm like I'll just sell it tomy brides, it's perfect.
I don't have to like you knowwholesale something else.
I'll cut out that middleman, noproblem.
But now I'm like, okay, thereis potential for a lot more.
(34:15):
So now it's like getting it tothe next, the next step.
So I know I'll come.
Yeah, that's one thing that Ithink my like non business.
I'm a creator more than abusiness.
I'm great at creating.
I'm great at developing thecreative stuff I love.
(34:37):
It's the like business sidethat sometimes I'm like I don't
know what the next thing is.
Yeah, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (34:46):
Well, and most people don't right, because
for most people, you have theidea and you're like okay, I
know how to do.
Like for you it's like I knowyou know the colors I want to do
, or maybe you want to branchinto, you know palettes and all
like different lines within yourproduct, and that is exciting,
it's fun and you're good at that.
(35:07):
But it's like, oh, how do Iprice it or how do I market it?
And for most people, that's thestuff that, right, that causes
the like, oh, the grief.
Like you said, you weren'treally nervous.
You're like well, we'll see howit goes.
I think probably you knew you'dbe able to sell it because you
already had the clients.
You know it's a good product.
(35:28):
But now it's like okay, how doI sell it to people that maybe
don't know me?
Or how do I get?
Maybe you want to get into astore, how do I do that?
Right, and I think that's maybethis is, yeah, this is maybe
where you pass that off, right,you get somebody to do the
business side and you keep doingthe creative and that's okay,
(35:51):
exactly, yeah, totally.
Kelsey Rae (35:53):
So I think that that is kind of the next kind of
step or just, you know, kind ofseeing, like I said, I've always
been a one woman show, evenwith my makeup artist business.
I am a very I don't want to saystubborn person, but I'm very
just, I don't like asking forhelp.
(36:15):
That is one thing that I'vestruggled with with business is
I just I can do it on my own,it's fine, I can just keep
powering through.
I don't want to like botheranyone or like ask questions.
I've never really like, youknow, messaging those people on
Instagram, being like how youknow which is which?
That's what the community isfor.
(36:35):
And there's mentors and there'speople that do this.
As you know, their job is tohelp other entrepreneurs.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:54):
Well, Kelsey, it's you and about 80% of
everybody else that has theirown business, because we don't
want to ask, but you're likeI'll figure it out or I won't
bother doing it, or whatever itis, and most people are the same
.
Right, it holds us back forsure.
Yeah, totally okay.
(37:16):
So you can now say you makemoney while you sleep because,
technically, you have an onlinestore so your orders can come in
.
What other successes have youfound with having your own line
now, which is really just addingto your brand, which is you
right?
Kelsey Rae (37:32):
Yeah, I think, just I think just seeing like,
especially those like likesecond orders coming in, you
know, when people have startedrepurchasing, or it's huge, just
like knowing that the productis good and people do like it
(37:56):
and that's been huge.
Also, seeing it on like a few,like I said, as my favorite
influencers.
I did makeup for Sarah from TheBirds Papaya this year and I
used the lip gloss on her andshe looked at her makeup and her
first thing was, oh my gosh, Ilove this lip gloss and I was
like okay, so just kind ofgetting some of that like
(38:19):
reassurance.
Also, like I said, like Iweirdly love like the behind the
scene stuff of it which haskind of made me like surprised
me, but also kind of made meproud.
Like I love the like packagingit up and like the literally
(38:41):
like the not glamorous part ofit.
But I get so excited when anorder comes in and gets like,
yeah, package up the product andlike literally go and ship it
out.
Yeah, I'm currently working onsome new stuff that I'm oh,
that's exciting, that I'mexcited about.
(39:02):
I literally think it'llprobably be another year because
it takes so long, but that'sokay.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (39:09):
Yeah, but that's okay because you know
what you can build theexcitement now and that's part
of your marketing strategy,right?
Build it up and then, when youhave the product, yeah, that's
awesome.
Kelsey, do you have a mostimportant lesson that you've
learned along the way?
Kelsey Rae (39:30):
Yeah, I think definitely it's taught me
patience for sure, because somuch of it is out of your
control.
I'm used to working by myself,so it's you know just me, but
now I work with like a factoryand other developers and I'm
(39:51):
talking with them all the timeand my last order got messed up
and got lost and I still don'tknow where it is and like things
like that that are just out ofyour control, and I'm also like
a very impatient person.
I want things now and that'sjust not the way life works.
(40:13):
So when things are out of stock, you know it's not always on my
end.
It's waiting for shipments andwaiting for things that you just
can't control.
So I definitely think patiencehas been the biggest thing that
I've learned.
Also, one thing I will say I'mlearning and working on is to
(40:38):
I'm not a great salesperson.
In the fact that I'm not, Idon't want to say pushy, because
, like, no salesperson is pushy,but I'm just I need to be more.
So many people are like I don'teven know you had a makeup line,
so I'm like, yeah, I know it'sjust like a thing I do, like I
(41:01):
need to be more confident inmyself and in my product and be
like yeah, here it is, it'sgreat Like.
Sales has just never been mystrong seat, which is funny
because I sell things all thetime to people, whether I know
it or not, just by showing amascara online, but it's that,
(41:25):
it's so.
That's so natural to me.
So the actual like I did at myfirst like in person market this
year and I'd never done onebefore, didn't know what I was
doing and I was like I'll justlike go and like see what
happens.
And it did.
It did very well, better than Ilike thought it was going to,
(41:49):
but I had to be on it like, Ihad to be that salesperson.
I had to be the like come to mybooth, come check this out,
which is so outside my comfortzone, but I think that's also a
good thing.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:02):
Yeah, I agree , and I think sales are hard.
Say it like sales are, becauseI think we all have that thought
in our head of like kind ofthat negative stereotype of a
salesperson.
And then you're like I don'twant people to yeah, like I
don't want people to think I'mpushy, or I don't want people to
be like oh my God, that Kelseygirl or whatever.
Kelsey Rae (42:23):
Yeah, I feel you.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:25):
I think you have such a talent that you're
right.
You can actually probably sellthings without even being a
seller per se, and I think youyou'll get there with experience
.
But you've got it.
Yeah, I can tell.
Kelsey Rae (42:40):
Oh well, thank you.
Yes, it's definitely.
Yeah, you're welcome.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:46):
Is there anything you wish you had known
or something you would like totell your younger self?
Kelsey Rae (42:55):
That's a really good question.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:56):
I know everything.
So many people say everything.
Kelsey Rae (43:00):
Yeah, literally everything.
I think I always kind of knew,without knowing that I would
work somewhat in a entrepreneurkind of fields, like I never
really saw myself working toomuch for someone else or too
(43:21):
much.
So I wish I would have takensome kind of like business
course right off the bat, rightout of school, whether it was
just like a bookkeeping courseor a admin course or I don't
know, just something related tobusiness, not that I mean,
obviously I've done it as I'vegone, so and it's worked out
(43:42):
fine for me.
But whenever I like think aboutwhat my daughter's going to do,
I'm like just take something inbusiness first and it's going
to help you in some aspect ofyour life, regardless whether
it's your own personalorganization skills or you know
admin stuff in your own personallife like you're going to use
(44:02):
it.
So I think if I could go back Iwould do that.
I went to school for somethingin the medical field, so very
different than what I'm doingnow.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (44:12):
Yeah, well, I think that's great advice and
the great thing about educatingyourself is you always have that
right.
So you're right, take abusiness class or a course.
It's not like you need to go tofour years of university for it
, but take something that canhelp you.
And those classes, honestly,they help you in your own life
too, like especially financialthings.
Yeah, they just help you alongyour way anyways, so you're
(44:36):
never behind like taxes.
Kelsey Rae (44:37):
I actually taxes with business.
I don't know like I still don'tknow.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (44:43):
I send that away because I don't want to do
that.
Yeah, but this year I actuallyhave taken, I'm just finishing
up a course at York Universityand I actually just got accepted
into a course at HarvardUniversity.
So I am, yes, amazing good foryou, thank you, but this is what
(45:05):
you just said, because there'sareas that I'm like I know that
I like this and I know I'm kindof good at it, but I don't have
as much knowledge as I want to.
And so even me at I've been outof school for 20 something
years I'm still learning morebecause it's just going to help
me, right?
So, yeah, exactly.
Kelsey Rae (45:24):
That's great advice.
I think that's a great thingabout just like there.
There are so many options.
Yeah, even whether it's likeyou know, like no education bad
education, that's for sure.
Even if it's just an onlinecourse from your favorite, or
you know a business owner youlook up to or a makeup artist
(45:44):
you look up to, whoever, yeah, Idefinitely think like keep
learning for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (45:52):
I love that advice and I think that's a
great way for us to wrap thingsup.
I know people are going to wantto know more about you.
They're going to want to knowmore about KR cosmetics.
Where can they find you?
Where's the best place for themto go?
Kelsey Rae (46:05):
So my Instagram is definitely where I'm the most
active, and that's @KelseyRae_MUA and then my cosmetic one
is @Kelsey RaeC osmetics onInstagram, and then all my
websites are linked on there aswell.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (46:22):
Yeah, Thank you, Kelsey.
I am going to be going onlineand ordering one of your Bliss
lipsticks or lip glosses becauseI know that, I know that I know
that I need to have it, sothat's my next step after this,
but thank you so much, Kelsey.
I really appreciate you beingon and for everybody listening.
(46:43):
We'll see you.
Yeah, thanks.
We'll see you guys on the nextepisode.
Thanks for listening to Winning.
Be sure to subscribe to get allof our new episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode andyou'd like to help support the
podcast, please share it withothers, post about it on social
media and leave a rating andreview wherever you listen to
Winning.
To catch all of the latest fromus, you can follow Winning
(47:06):
Podcast on Instagram @Winning_podcast, Facebook at Winning
Podcast and on Twitter @Winningpod.
Winning was created and isproduced by me, Mackenzie
Kilshaw Music, created by SummerFirby, editing by Seth
Armstrong.
Special thanks to Shauna Fosterfor voicing our opening and, of
(47:27):
course, a huge thank you tothis episode's guest.
Thanks again for listening andI'll see you on the next episode
.
Winning is your guide to making it in business.
Join our award-winning host andentrepreneur, Mackenzie Kilshaw
, and special guests in casualconversations that will educate
and inspire you on your businessjourney.
Winning will help you learn thehard lessons the easy way, with
guidance from celebratedentrepreneurs and business
(00:26):
leaders.
It's fun, it's informative,it's winning.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:31):
Hello, welcome to Winning.
I'm your host, MackenzieKilshaw, and my guest today is
Kelsey Rae.
Hi, Kelsey.
Kelsey Rae (00:36):
Hello, thank you for having me.
Yeah, thanks for being on.
How are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
How are you?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:44):
I'm so good, I'm so happy to have you on.
Kelsey is an award-winningmakeup artist.
She seamlessly transformed herpassion for cosmetics into a
career, which I love when peopletake their passion and make it
their life.
Really, she is a thrivingmakeup artist career and she
actually is ventured intoanother point of
(01:05):
entrepreneurship with the launchof her own cosmetics line, KR
Cosmetics.
So we're going to talk a lotabout that today.
But, Kelsey, why don't you justgive the audience a little bit
more about who are you?
Kelsey Rae (01:16):
Okay, well, my name is Kelsey.
I'm from Saskatoon.
I don't think being a makeupartist was ever something that I
planned out for myself.
It was something that just kindof happened.
I have been a makeup artist nowfor almost 10 years, which is
(01:36):
crazy, and, yeah, I never reallythought that this would be my
journey.
I went to school for somethingcompletely different.
I kind of was always the friendthat did people's makeup before
they would want to go out andbefore events and things like
that.
So more and more people juststarted asking me to do their
makeup and then all of a suddenI was like I think this is my
(01:58):
job.
So, yeah, that's kind of how myjourney started.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (02:04):
I love that.
I love that.
And you're self-taught, right?
Like you said, you didn't go toschool for this, but you've
done my makeup, which I'vealways loved, but you've
literally taught yourself how todo this.
Kelsey Rae (02:16):
Yeah, I'm completely self-taught.
I had my daughter when I wasabout 19, and I feel like that
time was kind of I was just homewith a baby.
That's kind of when the firstworld of YouTube kind of started
and all the YouTube tutorials.
(02:37):
So during my free time I wouldjust watch tutorials and
tutorials and practice on myselfbecause I was bored and at home
.
So that's kind of where itstarted from.
And then I had a friend who wasdabbling in photography.
She needed makeup done for amodel.
So I was like, sure, why not?
I had like five makeup brushesand probably like a dirty
(03:01):
Sephora palette, like definitelynot professional at all, but we
kind of played around and thatturned out good.
And then another photographersaw and then asked me, and then
another one.
So I was like, okay, I guess Ishould probably start taking
this a little bit more seriously.
Yeah, and it just kind of grewfrom there.
It's quite crazy actually.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (03:24):
That's you know what it's such a great
thing.
Like, I love hearing whatpeople's journeys and how they
took something, they love doingit and made it into their career
, and clearly this is a talentfor you, so you took your talent
also and made that your job,which is fantastic, yeah.
Kelsey Rae (03:41):
And I think it's just something like I never
thought could be a career, likeI'm sure if someone told me like
in high school or somethinglike, oh, you should be a makeup
artist, that would be a greatcareer.
But that just like wasn't anoption really Like.
It was like go to school, youknow, like just entrepreneur,
just wasn't really quite what itis now, and even just it just
(04:05):
always seemed like a side thing,like it was always just like my
side thing while I'm in schoolor while I figure out my next
step.
But I think it was only aboutlike two or three years into it
and then I was like full time.
So it happened pretty quick,thankfully, because makeup is a
very seasonal job so it is hardto, you know, make it your full
(04:29):
time career.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (04:33):
But you've done it, and I mean, we're going
to talk a lot about buildingyour brand today.
But something else I know thatyou've done in the past, which I
think is really interesting,when you do say it seasonal,
because, let's be serious, aphoto shoot can happen anytime,
but you do a lot of weddings andthings like that Well, those
are typically like, probablywhat May through October, you're
(04:54):
probably going to be swampedand then it gets quiet, right,
yeah?
So I know one thing you've doneis destination.
Kelsey Rae (05:03):
Yeah, you've gone on location.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (05:06):
Do you want to talk about that a little bit,
because I think that's such acool way that you've taken those
slow times and still makingyourself able to have some
revenue.
Kelsey Rae (05:14):
Yeah, totally.
So that's been a definitely bigkind of milestone in my career
was be able to travel.
Who doesn't want to travel fortheir job and get to travel to
beautiful destinations and, youknow, just be a part of people's
special day?
So I've been fortunate enoughto travel lots to the States, to
(05:36):
travel lots to Mexico.
Lots of winter destinationweddings, which is perfect
because that is kind of like theslower time here.
I've gone to travelinternationally I went to Norway
this last summer.
I'm going to Scotland thissummer.
So, yeah, definitely someopportunities that I didn't
(05:56):
think were possible for aSaskatchewan makeup artist.
You know you have these artistsin like Toronto and Vancouver,
but yeah, I didn't think thatthat would be possible.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:10):
But here we are.
Yeah, no, it's fantastic, andwhat a great way to have that
revenue right when it's quiet.
You've done such a great job ofmaking sure that you still have
an income when it's not busy,right.
Kelsey Rae (06:24):
Yeah, totally, that's fantastic, and I think
that's kind of where I have tostart getting creative too.
So it's, you know, not justmakeup applications in the
winter, there's a lot of likemakeup lessons or makeup classes
, like it definitely issomething that's just like an
ongoing, an ongoing kind of keepthe ball rolling, don't just
(06:49):
get stagnant and you're, youknow, busy, May to September
kind of months.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:56):
Yeah, I think too.
I feel like you're one of thosepeople that's really proactive
and you've kind of created theseopportunities for yourself,
like you don't sit around andwait for the phone to ring or to
get a message through Instagramhey, are you available, you're
making these opportunities andyou're really going out and
(07:16):
looking for, okay, how can I?
Okay, make up lessons.
I'm going to do that.
I'm going to do I know you dolots of makeup for, like,
boudoir sessions and things likethat.
That's really you've createdthat yourself and that's
fantastic.
Kelsey Rae (07:29):
Yeah, I have a problem where, when things are
slow, I get.
I don't know if I get bored orif I am like, oh no, because you
know if you're not workingyou're not making money.
Really, as a makeup artist it'sa very like hands on job.
So I don't know if it's likeyou know, oh, I'm not very busy
this month, might not have likethe income I want, or if I just
(07:50):
get bored or what it is, but I'mnot good at not doing anything.
So it's kind of a blessing anda curse for sure.
So, yeah, you feel me, but yeah, that's help.
Yeah, learning to slow down.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (08:07):
Well, that is true, taking time to rest and
relax is good, but you said it'sa problem you have.
I think that's actually asolution.
I don't think it's a problem,but I can say I understand you
because I'm the exact same.
I'm like how can I make moneywhile I sleep?
How can I make money while Inot have to physically be there?
And I think that's actually anasset to your career and your
(08:29):
brand is that you've done thesethings that have really helped
you built right.
Kelsey Rae (08:36):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, and I think that that is, I
think, where a lot of people Ithink any job that you like
physically have to be there,like serving people.
So, like you know,photographers, makeup artists,
jobs that you like really needto be there.
It is true, and especially inthis industry, if you're only,
you know, busy between X amountof months and X amount of months
(09:01):
, if you're not proactive, thenI think that's when people get
scared that they can't make ittheir full time job or can't
make it a career, and it justdoes end up being like a side
thing, which is totally fine.
Nothing wrong with, like havingother jobs or other things that
you're doing as well, but, yeah, you do.
You have to be proactive andyou have to, and I think, with
(09:24):
the way the world is now,there's so many more
opportunities to make moneywhile you sleep, which is the
goal.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:31):
Yeah, I know, that's what I always say.
How can I make money withouthaving to like do something
right?
And I think you have done such.
Yeah, like that's the goal,that's success.
To me, it's not like that Ihave so much money in my bank.
It's like not having tophysically be somewhere.
And we're going to talk a lotabout your personal brand, which
now has led into your owncosmetics brand.
(09:54):
But I think you are a reallygreat person to talk to about
this, because, of course, you'restill doing makeup and that's
that's obvious.
But you're your own personalbrand that you have built.
I really want to talk aboutthat.
Your social media presence.
I don't know if it startedthere.
Maybe you want to talk aboutthat.
(10:14):
But, yeah, what did you do tobuild this brand?
Because it's it's well knownyour name right.
Kelsey Rae (10:22):
Good question.
I feel like I want to say I'mlucky, but I know that there's
obviously hard work that goesbehind it.
But I want to say I'm lucky inthe fact that my social media
really grew quite early, in theearly stages of Instagram, when
I feel like it was easier togrow.
I didn't have to really therewas no reals, there was no you
(10:46):
know, things like that.
I just posted my work andpeople followed me and it was.
It was great, it was easy.
Now I feel like it's kind oflike a learning curve again,
because now I'm like oh, I haveto actually like work for this
now, like I to get those newfollowers, like I have to do
reals, do like there's just awhole nother part of social
media now, which is amazing, butalso it's like a full time job.
(11:10):
But I think like the main thing, I say social media.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (11:16):
Yeah, it's a job that you literally could pay
somebody a full time wage to dothat.
Kelsey Rae (11:22):
Totally, and they deserve it because it's so much
work.
Shauna Foster (11:27):
But what I tell?
Kelsey Rae (11:29):
people the most when they're like first, no matter
what like business they're in is, put your face out there.
People want to see you, theywant to connect to you,
especially when it's somethingkind of intimate.
Like you know, I'm this closeto your face doing your makeup
for your wedding day.
You want to know me before I'mthere for your special day.
Or even, like I always say likeeven like a massage therapist,
(11:52):
like I want to kind of know whoyou are before I just lay down
or my waxer or really anythingLike.
I just feel like I know you alittle bit.
So I was really good at that atthe start.
I still am doing stories, doing.
I used to do lots of like lives, youtube, like basically any
(12:15):
platform I could get on.
I was on, yeah.
So just making your face partof your business, I think is
huge.
It can be awkward at the start,but people want to see you,
they want to connect to you.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (12:31):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
When I had my clothing stores,I always did try-on videos where
I literally took a selfie videofor a story.
It was like, hey, it's me,here's this outfit.
This is why I like it here'soutfit.
Yeah, honestly, I felt so sillythe first probably 100 times,
obviously that I did thembecause I'm like no one cares,
(12:52):
no one wants to see me, and thenI would get messages where
people are like thank you forsharing this.
It was so great to see what itwas like on a real person, or to
get to know you.
Yeah, or you liked it orwhatever you've realized, then
you've built that connectionwith the person and that
connection and being genuine, Ithink, is actually what gets you
(13:12):
yeah it gets you further.
Kelsey Rae (13:13):
I think so too, and I always say talent is easier to
be taught than your presencearound people or how people feel
when they're with you.
There's so many people that aretalented all over the world
everyone's, especially withInstagram now you can see it.
But if they don't have thatconnection with you or that
(13:36):
personality, or if they're justnot showing you their
personality at all, if someoneelse is just as good and you
feel that connection with them,why wouldn't you go with them?
So yes, I think gettingyourself out there is huge for
sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (13:53):
I agree, and that's what, especially now, you
talked about how Instagram,especially, has changed even in
the last five years, really, andI think there are so many
people that you almost can tellthey just want to be like an
Instagram star.
They don't actually have thatconnection.
Yeah, you can feel it righttotally.
(14:13):
When it's genuine, yes, whenit's genuine, you're like oh, I
really like this person.
That's why people want tofollow you and see what your
next thing is.
You do such cool, I know,especially around Halloween.
I don't know why I always thinkof that, but you do all of your
transformations of your faceusing makeup and I'm kind of
(14:34):
waiting for the next post fromyou to see what cool thing you
did.
Now, and I think that goes backto that having that connection.
Yeah, I should comment on yourpage and tell you that, because
other people are saying the samething, but it's true, it's like
okay, what's she going to donext, right?
Yeah, yeah, so you built youractual physical brand doing
(14:59):
makeup in Saskatoon.
You built your online presenceand then you branched into
actually having your own beautyline, your own cosmetics.
So let's talk a little bitabout that.
How did that come about?
Kelsey Rae (15:14):
Okay, so good question.
I had a lash line years ago.
You carried it at your boutique, actually Wink Luxury Lashes.
I think I started that when Iwas like 23 or 24.
And I had no idea what I wasdoing and I loved them.
(15:37):
They were great.
I had them up until like maybelike two, three years ago, so
like I had that business forabout five years, Just like
reusable lashes that my bridescould wear for their you know
engagement photos, abachelorette party, their
wedding.
I'm like they're using them allthe time in my services anyways
(15:58):
.
It just kind of made sense.
So that was great.
I loved that.
And then, just about oh gosh, ayear and a half ago, I kind of
got rid of that because I hadbigger dreams for more.
Like Wink Luxury Lashes justkind of kept me in a box.
It's just lashes, so I kind ofalways knew I wanted more.
(16:19):
So I scratched that, startedfrom scratch and I created KR
Cosmetics, Kelsey Rae Cosmetics.
Yes, that was about a year anda half ago.
I started out with brushes, abrush line, because I do a lot
of makeup lessons and peoplewould come to me with like one
(16:40):
eye shadow brush and one mascarawand and one powder brush and
they're like teach me.
And I'm like, well, I can'tstart with the tools right.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (16:50):
Yes.
Kelsey Rae (16:51):
You need good tools to get good makeup.
So I started with that tocreate some really good quality
brushes that were at anaffordable rate.
I find that locally it's veryhard to find good quality makeup
brushes.
They're either stupidlyexpensive, like 60 bucks for a
brush, or stupidly cheap andcheaply made.
(17:15):
So, anyways, started with thatand then it just kind of
expanded from there.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:21):
So when you okay, so you have this thought
of like okay, I want to do morethan the lashes, I'm going to
start with brushes.
Do you like go onto Google andsay like my own brushes.
How do you start that like?
What steps did you take?
did a lot of research.
I have zero business background.
(17:44):
I probably should, but I don'tever like starting your own
business as a, you know, solebusiness is one thing, but then
once you kind of start like aproduct line, it's a very
different, very different.
I've learned, but, yeah, justhonestly, a lot, a lot of
(18:04):
research.
I was in a contact with a lotof different factories and
places that create differentproducts and I would try samples
and I tried, like so many,until I found ones that I
actually liked and liked workingwith.
Being in Saskatoon, I find, isa little tricky because shipping
(18:29):
takes forever to get here fromanywhere, so it was like it was
probably a full, full yearprocess to get the brushes out
at least.
No, at least yeah, yeah, butyeah, just finding, yeah, it
seems.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
yeah.
Kelsey Rae (18:47):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (18:49):
Sorry.
Kelsey Rae (18:50):
I'm just saying it seems like a long time.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (18:52):
No, it seems like a long time, but that
probably went by in a flash.
Kelsey Rae (18:55):
Totally yeah.
And so once I kind of found youknow the quality of brushes
that I liked at the facilitythat I liked and agreed with and
liked their you know kind ofcompany structure because that's
another thing I obviouslywanted things to be as like
ethically sourced as possible.
It's very easy to just findthings on you know from, you
(19:17):
know from who knows where, sothat was really important to me.
So that took a lot of time andeffort, a lot of well, my
brushes especially come fromoverseas, so there's a time
difference, so I would text themin the morning, they would text
me the next night, soeverything took very long, yeah.
And then, of course, then it'sthe fun stuff like getting to do
(19:42):
like you know your logo anddesigning it and colors, and so
that was really cool.
I love, I definitely love theproduct development side of this
business, I've realized.
But I've also realized I reallyreally like kind of like the
e-commerce part too, like I lovefulfilling orders and I love
(20:07):
you know all the like analyticsbehind the scenes.
So, yeah, it's been a learningcurve, that's for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (20:15):
Well, and that's one thing that I think
it's like a lot of people don'tthink about.
They think like, okay, I wantto have, I have an idea, or I
want to have my own, whatever itis, and they think of the end
result, but they don't think offinding those ethical companies
testing the brushes, figuringout, okay, what's the name of it
(20:37):
going to be, what's my logolook like, what are my colors?
Oh wait, I need a website.
I also need to sell on there.
How am I shipping?
How am I fulfilling these?
What packaging do I use?
And there's such a long list ofthings that you usually don't
even realize until you actuallyjump into it totally.
Kelsey Rae (20:55):
And then it's like, oh, I need you know stock photos
and photos now and content.
I need another Instagram andI'm running too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (21:03):
Yeah, yes.
Kelsey Rae (21:05):
It is, it's a lot and I think it's something that
I I've learned that so solelyright now, it's just me I
haven't asked, is it just youlike, it's just me all my stocks
back there in that closet.
I have a desk over there that Ifulfill the orders I like, run
(21:27):
them to the mailbox and shipthem out.
Yeah, so I, I, I know I need tojust learn to give some control
away, and that, I think, willbe the next step in my business
eventually.
Is, you know, yeah, letting goa little bit, delegating tasks
and because I can't do it all,and I'm learning that if I need,
(21:49):
if I want my business to grow,you can't do it all on your own.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (21:54):
Yeah, so, slowly learning Kelsey.
It took me about five years tofigure that out, so I think
you're a bunch ahead of thecurve there.
But it's true, especially whenyou well, when you first start
because you want everything.
It's your dream and it's you'relike okay, I'm doing this.
You want everything to be donelike really perfectly in your
(22:15):
head, right?
Yeah, you think okay, it'seasiest if I just do it, plus
you probably you have to knowwhat's going on, like.
You have to know like how manysales am I getting and how many
people are engaging, how manypeople are visiting the website.
Kelsey Rae (22:29):
So it's kind of easiest when you first start to
do it yourself totally, and thenI feel like you do kind of need
to dabble in all areas to know,then, what is easiest to give
up or what you know yourstrengths or weaknesses are.
I've noticed that my weaknessesare like the content part, like
(22:49):
just, you know, constantlyhaving to make new content.
I'm like I think that's goingto be the next thing I can like.
There's so many great peopleand that's people's jobs now is
to be content creators and, youknow, social media managers and
that kind of stuff.
So, yeah, knowing yourstrengths and weaknesses is key
for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (23:09):
Yeah, yeah, no, I get it, I totally get it.
And I think, too, you made areally good point when you said,
if I want to grow, I have togive some of these things up,
and giving them up it's justhaving somebody else do them.
And I think that's so true,because it's really hard to grow
anything when you're soliterally just busy.
(23:30):
You're busy doing so manythings that it's like, okay,
tomorrow I'm going to, I'm goingto.
You know, I have this on mylist and that just keeps getting
bumped to the next day and nextweek and next month, and,
before you know it, you haven'tdone it and you're like you know
because you're, you'rephysically, you can't do it, and
you have a family and friendsand you want to do something
(23:51):
else too.
You can't just work all the timeright.
Kelsey Rae (23:54):
No, and I think that's the thing like when
you're spread so thin, you'renot giving your best to any area
, right.
You're just kind of likesprinkling what you can, but
you're not really like fullygiving your all to the area
that's needed.
Or at least that's just mybrain, because I'm just here,
there and everywhere.
Yeah, I get you, though.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (24:15):
Do you find it hard like you are a mom and a
wife?
Do you find it hard when youhave that business is literally
in the room next door?
Do you find that hard toseparate or say like, okay, I'm
not doing that, I have to, or isthat been ?
Kelsey Rae (24:32):
I think it's just, I don't know, I think it's just
kind of the way it's always been, yeah, and I think I kind of
like that a little bit too, thatit is very flexible.
So, you know, if I have a sparemoment, I can run in here and
do something quickly, or versuslike if I was at like a full
(24:55):
time like nine to five.
I don't know, I just kind oflike spread my hours differently
, I guess.
So also Ella, she has 11 now.
She loves to help me, so shelike always gets so excited when
an order comes through.
She's like can I help pack itup?
I'm like sure.
So she's kind of gotteninvolved now, which is which is
cute.
So I don't know.
I mean, yeah, it definitely issomething that like having those
(25:19):
like boundaries are good, but Idon't know, I just love work,
so I will never really not work.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (25:31):
Yeah, I think too it's part of that, I'm
assuming is because you're sopassionate about makeup and
outcomes that you get it'sprobably not like it is work,
but it's probably not so muchlike work.
Kelsey Rae (25:44):
Exactly like it's definitely my passion, like it's
also my hobby too, like I don't, it's just, it's something I
love.
Yeah, it doesn't feel like worksome some days maybe more so
than others, but yeah, I feellike I would be doing something
like this regardless.
Yeah, I just like to be busy.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:07):
Yeah, I think too.
It just shows that when you dosomething that you love it, you
probably put in more hours in aday than someone going to an
office job.
That they just it's a paycheckright, but you look at it, so
you don't feel like you'respending that much time.
Kelsey Rae (26:23):
Yeah, exactly, and I think that's it like it just it
doesn't feel like work, it'sfun.
I love it, even, like you know,physically, like doing the
makeup.
I get to be a part of people'slike special days and I get
everyone around me.
Yeah, I think the most that islike it's work, but it I love it
.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:43):
So yeah, yeah , that's awesome.
I love hearing that.
That just makes me so happy,because that's why we do these
things, that's why we'reentrepreneurs and why we have
these lives.
Yeah, you have one life ispretty short, really to think
about it, so you might all enjoyit, right?
Kelsey Rae (27:00):
Yes, exactly.
I don't think I would be goodat working for anyone anymore.
I don't know I could go back tolike a norm quote-unquote
normal like nine to five job.
I don't know.
That was never really Somethingthat I saw for myself, so I'm
(27:20):
glad it turned out this way.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (27:23):
You knew right, you knew yeah, um, okay.
So you, you build the brand, soyou start with the brushes and
you obviously have to market it.
Like you have to do somemarketing, you have to build
awareness now for you being sogreat in the community, well
known the community of Saskatoon, but also your online presence.
(27:47):
Did you use that to market?
Or how did you build awarenessof your new cosmetics line?
Kelsey Rae (27:55):
Yeah.
So after brushes, that took offquite well and then I started
getting into a little bit morelike color products.
So I started with like lipglosses which I was super proud
of and I think to market it Ikind of took a little bit of my
like influencer background.
(28:15):
So I've done kind of likeinfluencing a little bit.
Other brands have sent meproducts.
I do unboxings, I, you know,test it, do try on things like
that.
So I kind of did that a littlebit and reached out to some of
my favorite like influencers orjust like favorite people in the
community that have a followingof the market that I'm kind of
(28:36):
going for Also, which, which ishuge, that definitely like
helped get my name out there andmy my cosmetic business out
there.
But for me also, I see so manymakeup lovers and makeup clients
in a day, in a month, in a yearthat yes in person sales work
(28:58):
quite easy because you know I doa wedding of eight every
weekend or of 16 every weekend,and of course the bride's gonna
want something to touch up withand then, you know, maybe a
bridesmaid or two, and then fromthere it just kind of kept
snowballing and snowballing.
So I'm my online.
Online sales do quite well, butmy in-person sales do really
(29:23):
well as as well.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (29:25):
So yeah, and you know why?
Right, it's you.
It's because you're there andyou can show them the product
online sale.
I mean, I don't online storefor years and online stores are
great, but at the end of the day, it's you that does the best
selling of your own productright totally, and then you can
(29:45):
like feel it and swatch it andsee it and, you know, hold it or
whatever.
Kelsey Rae (29:50):
I think also I so I created.
So, yes, I have brushes, lashes, lip glosses and lip liners so
far, and my lip glosses I reallycreated with my clients in mind
.
I know what I use on them.
For the most part, I alreadykind of have my favorite shades
(30:15):
that I used on them, so then Ikind of knew what they would
gravitate towards.
So I have this one color calledBliss and it's like the perfect
wedding shade and I swear I useit on like 80% of my brides.
It's just that perfect bridalcolor that I know every bride,
(30:36):
or most brides, are gonna want.
So I think definitely knowinglike my clientele helped a lot
too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (30:43):
Oh, for sure, and that's so smart to
basically create something thatyou already know is gonna be a
seller.
What a great, that's a greatthing about having your own
right.
And I know, when I got married,before you had your makeup line
, but I was looking for likethat perfect nude lipstick and I
swear that I had to try on likeI bet you're trying on 50
(31:06):
different colors because, yeah,I just you know, I think I went
and this is all spring covid, sobut I think I went to like
Sephora and you know just swatch, swatch, swatch.
But you already have that.
You probably know the top 10for like skin tones and hair and
all that stuff, right?
Kelsey Rae (31:23):
Yeah, it's quite funny because, like most of the
time like bright a bridal inparticular they want the same
Kind of look like.
Obviously it's gonna bedifferent on every person, but
for the most part it's kind ofthe same Handful of looks that I
just kind of do, depending onwhat they're wanting.
So, yeah, that was a.
(31:44):
That was a really kind of easytransition for sure.
Same with lashes, because it'ssomething that they're gonna use
, they're gonna want.
I know what looks good inphotos, I know what styles,
tends brides tend to gravitatetowards, or just clients in
general.
So I think just having thatknowledge of what people want is
(32:10):
has helped a lot.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (32:13):
Yeah, that experience.
You, you couldn't tradeanything.
Like you were so smart to useyour past experience to build,
like you weren't like, okay, myfirst color is gonna be hot pink
and whatever.
Yeah, orange because, yeah, notthat you can't have those, but
you probably know, like the likethe nude Shade is gonna be the
best one and the easiest for youto sell and going back to your
(32:36):
online store and Make moneywhile you sleep, right, like you
know that's gonna sell becausewhen they run out of it, they're
ordering another one.
Kelsey Rae (32:44):
Exactly.
So, yeah, that that's been.
That's been a like such a dream, especially, you know, during
the, the slower months.
Um, that's been really good.
One thing that I've kind ofstruggled with with my like next
step in it is I feel like I'vegotten the Saskatchewan market
(33:05):
pretty good.
Obviously lots of likeIn-person sales, which is great,
but now it's going to be theexpanding.
How do I get it?
Yes, you know, across.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (33:21):
Do you think that was the was harder or what
was the hardest part?
Like, was it harder to actuallylike be like, okay, I'm doing
this and get going, or do youthink the expansion part is
gonna be harder?
Kelsey Rae (33:33):
I think for me I I'm so funny because I never really
have like high expectations forthings I just like, I'm not
like, I'm just like, oh well,just like see what happens.
And then things start goingwell and I'm like, okay, this is
great.
So I think it's now thestarting.
(33:54):
It wasn't that difficult for me, it was fun, it was exciting.
I did like I said I didn't have, I didn't know what my goal was
for it.
I'm like I'll just sell it tomy brides, it's perfect.
I don't have to like you knowwholesale something else.
I'll cut out that middleman, noproblem.
But now I'm like, okay, thereis potential for a lot more.
(34:15):
So now it's like getting it tothe next, the next step.
So I know I'll come.
Yeah, that's one thing that Ithink my like non business.
I'm a creator more than abusiness.
I'm great at creating.
I'm great at developing thecreative stuff I love.
(34:37):
It's the like business sidethat sometimes I'm like I don't
know what the next thing is.
Yeah, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (34:46):
Well, and most people don't right, because
for most people, you have theidea and you're like okay, I
know how to do.
Like for you it's like I knowyou know the colors I want to do
, or maybe you want to branchinto, you know palettes and all
like different lines within yourproduct, and that is exciting,
it's fun and you're good at that.
(35:07):
But it's like, oh, how do Iprice it or how do I market it?
And for most people, that's thestuff that, right, that causes
the like, oh, the grief.
Like you said, you weren'treally nervous.
You're like well, we'll see howit goes.
I think probably you knew you'dbe able to sell it because you
already had the clients.
You know it's a good product.
(35:28):
But now it's like okay, how doI sell it to people that maybe
don't know me?
Or how do I get?
Maybe you want to get into astore, how do I do that?
Right, and I think that's maybethis is, yeah, this is maybe
where you pass that off, right,you get somebody to do the
business side and you keep doingthe creative and that's okay,
(35:51):
exactly, yeah, totally.
Kelsey Rae (35:53):
So I think that that is kind of the next kind of
step or just, you know, kind ofseeing, like I said, I've always
been a one woman show, evenwith my makeup artist business.
I am a very I don't want to saystubborn person, but I'm very
just, I don't like asking forhelp.
(36:15):
That is one thing that I'vestruggled with with business is
I just I can do it on my own,it's fine, I can just keep
powering through.
I don't want to like botheranyone or like ask questions.
I've never really like, youknow, messaging those people on
Instagram, being like how youknow which is which?
That's what the community isfor.
(36:35):
And there's mentors and there'speople that do this.
As you know, their job is tohelp other entrepreneurs.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:54):
Well, Kelsey, it's you and about 80% of
everybody else that has theirown business, because we don't
want to ask, but you're likeI'll figure it out or I won't
bother doing it, or whatever itis, and most people are the same
.
Right, it holds us back forsure.
Yeah, totally okay.
(37:16):
So you can now say you makemoney while you sleep because,
technically, you have an onlinestore so your orders can come in
.
What other successes have youfound with having your own line
now, which is really just addingto your brand, which is you
right?
Kelsey Rae (37:32):
Yeah, I think, just I think just seeing like,
especially those like likesecond orders coming in, you
know, when people have startedrepurchasing, or it's huge, just
like knowing that the productis good and people do like it
(37:56):
and that's been huge.
Also, seeing it on like a few,like I said, as my favorite
influencers.
I did makeup for Sarah from TheBirds Papaya this year and I
used the lip gloss on her andshe looked at her makeup and her
first thing was, oh my gosh, Ilove this lip gloss and I was
like okay, so just kind ofgetting some of that like
(38:19):
reassurance.
Also, like I said, like Iweirdly love like the behind the
scene stuff of it which haskind of made me like surprised
me, but also kind of made meproud.
Like I love the like packagingit up and like the literally
(38:41):
like the not glamorous part ofit.
But I get so excited when anorder comes in and gets like,
yeah, package up the product andlike literally go and ship it
out.
Yeah, I'm currently working onsome new stuff that I'm oh,
that's exciting, that I'mexcited about.
(39:02):
I literally think it'llprobably be another year because
it takes so long, but that'sokay.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (39:09):
Yeah, but that's okay because you know
what you can build theexcitement now and that's part
of your marketing strategy,right?
Build it up and then, when youhave the product, yeah, that's
awesome.
Kelsey, do you have a mostimportant lesson that you've
learned along the way?
Kelsey Rae (39:30):
Yeah, I think definitely it's taught me
patience for sure, because somuch of it is out of your
control.
I'm used to working by myself,so it's you know just me, but
now I work with like a factoryand other developers and I'm
(39:51):
talking with them all the timeand my last order got messed up
and got lost and I still don'tknow where it is and like things
like that that are just out ofyour control, and I'm also like
a very impatient person.
I want things now and that'sjust not the way life works.
(40:13):
So when things are out of stock, you know it's not always on my
end.
It's waiting for shipments andwaiting for things that you just
can't control.
So I definitely think patiencehas been the biggest thing that
I've learned.
Also, one thing I will say I'mlearning and working on is to
(40:38):
I'm not a great salesperson.
In the fact that I'm not, Idon't want to say pushy, because
, like, no salesperson is pushy,but I'm just I need to be more.
So many people are like I don'teven know you had a makeup line,
so I'm like, yeah, I know it'sjust like a thing I do, like I
(41:01):
need to be more confident inmyself and in my product and be
like yeah, here it is, it'sgreat Like.
Sales has just never been mystrong seat, which is funny
because I sell things all thetime to people, whether I know
it or not, just by showing amascara online, but it's that,
(41:25):
it's so.
That's so natural to me.
So the actual like I did at myfirst like in person market this
year and I'd never done onebefore, didn't know what I was
doing and I was like I'll justlike go and like see what
happens.
And it did.
It did very well, better than Ilike thought it was going to,
(41:49):
but I had to be on it like, Ihad to be that salesperson.
I had to be the like come to mybooth, come check this out,
which is so outside my comfortzone, but I think that's also a
good thing.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:02):
Yeah, I agree , and I think sales are hard.
Say it like sales are, becauseI think we all have that thought
in our head of like kind ofthat negative stereotype of a
salesperson.
And then you're like I don'twant people to yeah, like I
don't want people to think I'mpushy, or I don't want people to
be like oh my God, that Kelseygirl or whatever.
Kelsey Rae (42:23):
Yeah, I feel you.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:25):
I think you have such a talent that you're
right.
You can actually probably sellthings without even being a
seller per se, and I think youyou'll get there with experience
.
But you've got it.
Yeah, I can tell.
Kelsey Rae (42:40):
Oh well, thank you.
Yes, it's definitely.
Yeah, you're welcome.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:46):
Is there anything you wish you had known
or something you would like totell your younger self?
Kelsey Rae (42:55):
That's a really good question.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (42:56):
I know everything.
So many people say everything.
Kelsey Rae (43:00):
Yeah, literally everything.
I think I always kind of knew,without knowing that I would
work somewhat in a entrepreneurkind of fields, like I never
really saw myself working toomuch for someone else or too
(43:21):
much.
So I wish I would have takensome kind of like business
course right off the bat, rightout of school, whether it was
just like a bookkeeping courseor a admin course or I don't
know, just something related tobusiness, not that I mean,
obviously I've done it as I'vegone, so and it's worked out
(43:42):
fine for me.
But whenever I like think aboutwhat my daughter's going to do,
I'm like just take something inbusiness first and it's going
to help you in some aspect ofyour life, regardless whether
it's your own personalorganization skills or you know
admin stuff in your own personallife like you're going to use
(44:02):
it.
So I think if I could go back Iwould do that.
I went to school for somethingin the medical field, so very
different than what I'm doingnow.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (44:12):
Yeah, well, I think that's great advice and
the great thing about educatingyourself is you always have that
right.
So you're right, take abusiness class or a course.
It's not like you need to go tofour years of university for it
, but take something that canhelp you.
And those classes, honestly,they help you in your own life
too, like especially financialthings.
Yeah, they just help you alongyour way anyways, so you're
(44:36):
never behind like taxes.
Kelsey Rae (44:37):
I actually taxes with business.
I don't know like I still don'tknow.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (44:43):
I send that away because I don't want to do
that.
Yeah, but this year I actuallyhave taken, I'm just finishing
up a course at York Universityand I actually just got accepted
into a course at HarvardUniversity.
So I am, yes, amazing good foryou, thank you, but this is what
(45:05):
you just said, because there'sareas that I'm like I know that
I like this and I know I'm kindof good at it, but I don't have
as much knowledge as I want to.
And so even me at I've been outof school for 20 something
years I'm still learning morebecause it's just going to help
me, right?
So, yeah, exactly.
Kelsey Rae (45:24):
That's great advice.
I think that's a great thingabout just like there.
There are so many options.
Yeah, even whether it's likeyou know, like no education bad
education, that's for sure.
Even if it's just an onlinecourse from your favorite, or
you know a business owner youlook up to or a makeup artist
(45:44):
you look up to, whoever, yeah, Idefinitely think like keep
learning for sure.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (45:52):
I love that advice and I think that's a
great way for us to wrap thingsup.
I know people are going to wantto know more about you.
They're going to want to knowmore about KR cosmetics.
Where can they find you?
Where's the best place for themto go?
Kelsey Rae (46:05):
So my Instagram is definitely where I'm the most
active, and that's @KelseyRae_MUA and then my cosmetic one
is @Kelsey RaeC osmetics onInstagram, and then all my
websites are linked on there aswell.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (46:22):
Yeah, Thank you, Kelsey.
I am going to be going onlineand ordering one of your Bliss
lipsticks or lip glosses becauseI know that, I know that I know
that I need to have it, sothat's my next step after this,
but thank you so much, Kelsey.
I really appreciate you beingon and for everybody listening.
(46:43):
We'll see you.
Yeah, thanks.
We'll see you guys on the nextepisode.
Thanks for listening to Winning.
Be sure to subscribe to get allof our new episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode andyou'd like to help support the
podcast, please share it withothers, post about it on social
media and leave a rating andreview wherever you listen to
Winning.
To catch all of the latest fromus, you can follow Winning
(47:06):
Podcast on Instagram @Winning_podcast, Facebook at Winning
Podcast and on Twitter @Winningpod.
Winning was created and isproduced by me, Mackenzie
Kilshaw Music, created by SummerFirby, editing by Seth
Armstrong.
Special thanks to Shauna Fosterfor voicing our opening and, of
(47:27):
course, a huge thank you tothis episode's guest.
Thanks again for listening andI'll see you on the next episode
.
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