Clarissa Malek @ Bloom Beauty Lounge is devoted to embracing natural beauty
BASED IN: NEW YORK
What do you do? What does your company stand for?
As an empowered female I decided at a young age I would be an entrepreneur. I founded Bloom, a Beauty Lounge and Boutique in 2010. More recently I started Lavender & Oak a naturally & organically derived, sulfate, paraben and petro-chemical free product line. Both businesses are devoted to embracing natural beauty.
Do you have entrepreneurs in your family and did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I didn't have any entrepreneurs in my family but I always felt empowered by my mother. She made me believe anything was possible. I also surrounded myself with friends who also felt empowered to create.
What is the best thing about having a team? Any tips on how to grow a healthy culture that people want to be a part of?
It's incredibly inspiring to see your hard work pay off through team work. If one week I'm feeling low I take a step back and see the creativity and teamwork produced at Bloom. That's enough to remind me how hard work really pays off. It's so important to create a culture that your staff fits into. Hire when you find the right person not when you need someone.
How important is having a good network as an entrepreneur?
The most important part of opening/running a business is having a network of people you trust and are unbiased. You need help and you need to know the hard truth sometimes even if you disagree. I have made decision that I have disagree'd with at first and I did it because it was the better decision for the business.
What does it mean to be "successful"? It is a constant process or do you just arrive at that point one day?
Success happens immediately and it's constant. It's not based off of profit and returns. You had an idea and you tried it. That to me is success. No regrets ever!
What is one piece of advice you could give another entrepreneur?
Have an unbiased mentor who will always be honest with you even if it hurts your feelings. I have grown so much personally not only by my experiences but by being able to ask "real" questions and receive "real" answers.