Today we’d like to introduce you to Yena Kim.
Hi Yena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Moving from Seoul Korea during my teen years was a difficult transition and one that may have started my confusion in self-identity and purpose in life. Since I was 16, I started working and have worked in almost every job you can think of.
No matter where I went or which position I took, I just knew I was destined for more than this. I’ve tried the nine to five job for a couple of years and was stuck in the service industry for nearly 10 years before I was able to “find” my passion in cosmetic tattooing which was completely an accident and had I not stumbled upon this opportunity, I would still be a server to this day being miserable with what I do day in and day out. Now, I wake up and do what I love. I serve women (mostly) to look their best selves through permanent makeup and lash extensions.
I also educate people of the same opportunities I was fortunate enough to have – and the plan is to be able to help more people so, by the end of this year, my company will launch an online education platform that will teach how to do permanent makeup as a career as well as business-related courses that align with what we do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. When I first began this journey, I could literally feel the doubt in the air when I would talk about my vision with my close ones. On top of the fact that I was hopping jobs left and right, whenever I didn’t appreciate a certain aspect of the job I’d have.
Because it was such a new industry even 2-3 years ago, people did not understand why I would leave a “stable” job to go try out something that may or may not even have worked. Then I had to manage full-time school and full-time work in order to support the apprenticeship I was doing in order to get my license. A few months into my apprenticeship, the pandemic shook up our world leaving me jobless and with no school.
I started an e-commerce business, as well as the permanent, make-up “business” at my apartment which was slowly growing so that would be the biggest obstacle I had to face. Also, another challenge is that I have absolutely no clue what I am doing but am taking it day by day like most small business owners by watching hours of YouTube videos on my day off to educating myself by paying for classes to further my knowledge in my profession now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a cosmetic tattooing studio that offers lash extensions to permanent makeup classes for people who want to learn how to do these. I specialize in permanent makeup and microblading so mostly women’s brows. What sets me apart is my passion for other women to achieve everything they have ever wanted as I have. I try to give my clients an experience instead of just a service they paid for.
I pay special attention to detail in my work and my client leaves feeling more whole than when they first walked into the studio. My brand is all about women empowerment and making women feel more confident in their skin/themselves. I offer microblading, lash extensions, permanent eyeliner, neutralizing lip blush tattoo, and class training (brow, lash, and business).
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think my business had great timing. While everyone was freaking out during the pandemic, I was busy starting two businesses (although I dropped out of school). Although I was also not in the best shape mentally, I knew I had no other income once the unemployment ran out and that I was never going back to the service industry or any other company that doesn’t offer stability other than my own company.
So, that is exactly what I had in my vision and now I am graduated with my bachelor, and am in my own studio and working for my own schedule. I think luck follows you if you take the opportunities that are coming your way.
Pricing:
- Microblading $400
- Ombre Powder Brows $450
- Lash Extensions $109+
- Permanent Eyeliner $200
- Class Training (special discount) $999
Contact Info:
- Email: info@browswithyena.com
- Website: browswithyena.square.site/
- Instagram: Instagram.com/browswithyena
- Facebook: Facebook.com/browswithyena
