Finding beauty amid the beast me & my business
When one door closes, another opens, or so the old cliché goes.
This certainly rings true for 37-year-old beautician Tuelo Monare.
When Covid-19 hit the country in March, the versatile Serowe native was made redundant from her accountancy job a month later.
Rather than feel sorry for herself, Monare focused her energies into what up until then had been a part-time occupation: beauty therapy and make-up.
Now in is the fourth year of existence, Monare operates Touch of Glow (TOG) from her home in Gaborone’s Block 7 location. The company concentrates on nails, waxing, make-up, pedicure, manicure and also offers image consulting.
“Covid-19 has been a catastrophe as I lost my job as an accountant at Mmokolodi Nature Reserve back in April as the tourism industry was greatly hit; we were told to stay home until the situation gets better.
“However, that worked in my favour as I got to fully focus on growing my business. Even though it’s still a work in progress, I believe with God everything will be put in place very soon,” noted the glamorous businesswoman, whose striking, polished appearance and fashionable dress sense is the perfect advertisement for the services she offers.
Reflecting on her enterprise’s journey to date, Monare told Voice Money, “I started my company back in 2017. It was more like part-time as I was employed as an accountant at Limkokwing University at that time. The passion grew as I did short courses such as Image Consulting, Make-up and Nail Technician to equip myself with necessary skills that would ensure my success.”
And success is on the very edge of her manicured fingertips.
Although she currently runs the business solo, Monare plans to start hiring imminently.
“I am currently operating my business in my garage and I have not hired any employees as yet. But I hope I will do that very soon as the business continues to grow,” revealed the TOG owner.
In the vastly oversubscribed beauty market, Monare says standing out from the crowd is crucial for survival.
“There are so many make-up artists in the country but I do not see them as direct competition as I learn from those who are better than me to become a great make-up artist as well. And as for aspiring make-up artists, they must never lose hope and always create room to learn fresh ideas which can stand out in the industry.”
Proving her point, as well as making clients look great physically, Monare also offers image consulting
“This deals with your wardrobe and what one can wear for certain events or meetings, as well as teaching people how to prepare for interviews and others,” explained the woman who has turned the beast of Coronavirus into a beautiful blessing.
