20 Questions with Tahlia Jayde
If you are an aspiring make up artist, you would know of Tahlia Jayde! Celebrity makeup artist to the stars. Usually this time of year, Tahlia is off to Europe for weddings, Cannes film festival - all the fun stuff.
I have followed Tahlia for a while now and when she asked me to design her new website I was so stoked! Her branding and aesthetic is beautiful and the stunning models in her portfolio means it was an easy task to make it a stunning website.
Find out whats she’s up to currently and how Tahlia Jayde MUA became the success it is today!
WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR SIDE HUSTLE BUSINESS AND WHAT INDUSTRY ARE YOU IN?
TAHLIA JAYDE Makeup / Hair/ Beauty industry
HOW LONG HAS YOUR SIDE HUSTLE BEEN RUNNING?
6 years
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
It was always going to happen, 2014 just seemed like the right year for me to step out on my own.
DO YOU STILL WORK FULL TIME ANYWHERE ELSE?
No, I've worked for myself for 5 years now, 6 years ago I left my full time job, took up a part time job so I could utilise the other spare time to plan and within a year I was full time self employed.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT YOU'VE MADE IN YOUR BUSINESS?
Myself. For me I love working on other people however building the confidence to use myself as a tool to explain why and how I do what I do, and the tools I use to achieve my looks has been priceless. Its also allowed me to build a strong network based on trust and authenticity with my audience and clients.
DID YOU INVEST IN BRANDING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED YOUR BUSINESS?:
I didn’t, social media had just started taking off so I relied on my own creativity and word of mouth. I didn’t even have a website until I decided to launch my own product line.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU REGRET OR WISH YOU HAD DONE DIFFERENTLY IN YOUR BUSINESS?
Yes, a few things. Ive always been too trusting however its those little mistakes along the way that allow room for growth. It also gives you a different kind of motivation. I'm a very resilient person so even whilst there has been some regret I'm also grateful for the learning process.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
The people I've met and the places I've seen. Ive met some of my best friends through my line of work and my job has taken me world wide, Ive had so many incredible experiences in some of the most beautiful places in the world that I'm so grateful for.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Work life balance has always been my biggest struggle.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR SELLING YOUR PRODUCT SERVICE?
Consistency and staying authentic.
IS THERE SOMEONE WHO ORIGINALLY INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR SIDE HUSTLE?
Not necessarily. I think I was inspired coming from a family where majority were self employed and I always knew I would have my own business. When I'm truly passionate about something I don't really think about it, I just do it and figure out the rest later. You learn along the way and if you sit back looking at all the things that could go wrong then you'll never start. If you want something bad enough you'll figure it out.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE STARTING A SIDE HUSTLE?
Don't compare yourself to others too much. Stay in your lane, stay motivated and just make it happen. Remember to always learn from your mistakes, chances are they happened for a reason.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
Depends what day you catch me on! Every day for me is completely different, its part of why I love my line of work. I could never do the 9-5, I hate repetition! I could be on a photoshoot, on location at a wedding, at an event, on the other side of the world working out of a hotel room or back stage of an event, the most consistent day is a Saturday - once I've finished a bridal client you'll always find me studio based in the afternoons, probably on my 4th coffee for the day.
HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED NOW THAT YOUR PURSUING YOUR PASSION AND LIVING YOUR DREAM?
I guess you could say almost every element of my life has changes, when youre building a brand youre always working. You literally never stop. Your business becomes your way of life, some of my catch ups with girlfriends are resorted to having them book in for an extra long appointment so we can work and catch up at the same time. It's pretty crazy but I love it.
HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN MADE TO PIVOT OR ADAPT SINCE COVID19? DO YOU OFFER DIFFERENT SERVICES/PRODUCTS NOW?
100% I've been hit pretty hard! This time of year for me is my busiest time for international weddings, unfortunately they were all cancelled and my line of work wasn’t permitted to be active at all so I've been out of work now for 5 months. The positive side is that its allowed me to spend time on my online business, sit down and analyze my current products and I've been working on developing some new ones too. I've been concentrating on getting through all the little things I put off from normally being too time poor and educating myself in areas that I'm not particularly strong in.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN 5 YEARS?
I'm hoping that my product line would have expanded and that I still get to work alongside people I love, but have the luxury to be more selective and strict with how much physical work I do. I still see myself travelling a lot.
BEST TIP FOR BUILDING/GROWING A COMMUNITY/FOLLOWING ONLINE?:
Just don't try to hard. Always have reason behind what you're doing and try to portray that as best as you can. Bring something refreshing and new to the table, be yourself and you'll find your tribe.
ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU, YOUR BUSINESS, OR BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN GENERAL?:
Every experience is a learning experience, always be striving to do better but never push others down to get in front. Its always quality over quantity.
HOW DO YOU REST, RECHARGE?:
I fly back to my home town, Perth and hang out with my family :)
ONCE COVID IS ALL OVER WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL TO?:
ANYWHERE BUT VICTORIA!! haha ideally Adelaide first as my best friend lives there and is currently pregnant and then straight Perth to see family.
http://www.tahliajaydeshop.com.au
Insta: @tahliajayde_mua
