Meet Founder & CEO Jennifer Cooper an award-winning stylist hailing from Barrie, Ontario. She is a second-generation stylist & salon owner. Jennifer has been licensed in the beauty industry since 2011 graduating with honours. She grew up in the world of hair art, creativity and salon business firsthand. Jennifer currently resides in Sudbury, Ontario with her husband and two children.
Jennifer Cooper created The Northen Dream Weaves an online teaching tool for hair stylists looking to improve their skill set course to help support ambitious stylists all across Canada. This course is for a stylist employed by a salon, a commissioned stylist, apprentice, booth rent owner, salon owner and even beauty school students. Northern Dream Weaves is a digital course for anyone in the beauty industry looking to expand their skillset by offering their clients an exclusive alternative to hair extensions. Made by stylists for stylists.
”This opportunity is one of a kind.. We know first hand how valuable word of mouth referrals are so let’s get you to be one of the first in your area on our map. So you have nothing to lose! My hindsight is your foresight and that is why I’m so passionate about launching this Canadian brand for stylists. Adding this skillset has been a lucrative addition to the salon and I’m excited to show you how to do the same.” Jennifer Cooper
In your own words, what do you do?
I am a mentor, educator, and hair stylist. I love teaching my hairstylist students something brand new, bringing new concepts and innovation to life, and showing them how they can work smarter, not harder. I’m a passionate educator and I love helping my hair students along their own unique journeys in the hair extension world.
Tell us something about your online education program for hair stylists what does it contain?
Northern Dream Weaves is an online education program specifically for the professional hairstylist looking to advance their skills in hair weft extensions. This method is taught online through our module step-by-step program. We additionally offer wholesale support for products and tools. This program is self-paced so the stylist can take it at a time that best suits their needs. This move online was needed as we shift things to fit a more digital world, also we can reach more hairstylists in more remote communities. This allows hair stylists from literally anywhere in the world with digital access to be able to be certified in our technique.
What drove you to set up your own company?
The desire to start my own education company in hair weft extensions was to create something here that hasn’t yet been created. Years ago I was looking for something similar, but at that time my only option was to travel far and wide to be able to attend in-person courses that were going to also cost traveling fees in addition to the course fees. I saw a gap in the marketplace, especially here in Canada, where education needed to be shifted online. It will never replace the in-person aspect however it is the second-best option and hopefully soon we will also be able to start incorporating in-person classes with the online support being an addition to the students learning in an ongoing manor.
What are your top three tips for success?
I would recommend to-be open-minded and coachable. Success is a constant state of learning, and you must be open to pivoting your learning style. I would also recommend to-be patient. There are certain situations that are out of our control, but with a good attitude and lots of patients it will happen. Stay the course and stay focused. The third tip for success is one of my favourites and most important, surround yourself by people who support you, encourage you, uplift you, and really have your back. A support group to lean on or staff members who believe wholeheartedly in your business and mission make you want to be the best boss, it also encourages you to always work harder because you don’t want to let them down, you want them to be proud of you as a successful leader.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
My daily inspiration comes from my customers who wear these extensions, my students’ success stories after implementing the online training and of course the amazing mentors in the beauty industry. I am constantly listening to business podcasts, attending online webinars, and reading or watching inspirational quotes and stores online. Feeding my brain and soul positive and uplifting content.
Any advice for entrepreneurs on moving beyond a failure?
My advice to entrepreneurs who are moving beyond a failure or setback is to always ground yourself in your WHY. Things happen, and sometimes they aren’t good. But if you know your reason why then what you failed at is another opportunity to shift to get it right. As the owners of our companies, we have to be the masters at pivoting. We almost need to foresee the future in every-which way so that we can expect setbacks to happen, but we can make the right moves beforehand to avoid that all together. Come up with a solid contingency plan, stick to the process. Most importantly believe in yourself.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
My best piece of advice is, do not be afraid of doing it alone. We always talk about teams and the advantages, but no one really talks about how scary starting up a new brand can be when you’re the only one making the decisions in the beginning and calling all the shots. You can be a solopreneur and still be successful. You can start small and still be successful. Set goals for hiring, and leverage things that you know you don’t have the capacity for. As someone once told me, be good at hiring slow and firing fast. In the beginning I would also recommend contract other small businesses to help you get started. We are expected to know everything, but we’re just really-good at figuring out what we can do well and what can be contracted out. Time leverage your time.
How do you balance work and Life? Can you tell us how?
I balance work and life by staying to a very strict schedule. Everything we set aside for family time or activities gets put into the calendar, and work schedule gets added around that time. Everything gets written into the calendar. From scheduling work meetings, Salon appointments, gym time, and kids’ hockey tournaments. We stick to this routine because it works the best for our family & my customers. Time is so very precious to us, and we only get so much of it to spend with the family. The balance of the two have led to a more fulfilling love for my career, as the breaks taken are meaningful and resting. The equal balance has me looking forward to the time with the family after work or the time back behind the chair after meaningful time and rest with the family.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
This credit must go to my parents. They have been and continue to be self-employed entrepreneurs. Growing up, I was always imagining myself operating a business rescuing animals or taking over my mom’s salon. But ultimately, I did start up my own salon, three hours away and now I have pivoted to my new business of online education @NorthernDreamWeaves for professional hairstylists and I am so glad I did. I have quite a few friends who also own their own businesses and I aspire to be just as amazing of a CEO as they are. I love working the hardest for myself.
Share with us some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Tip 1. Work at your new business every single day.
Tip 2. Figure out if the reward is greater than the risk.
Tip 3. Start by doing both, set a timeline, and once you get to the stage of leaving the secure job, work as hard or more for yourself then you did for anyone else.
Tip 4. Save for a rainy day. Have a savings that you can use as a cushion in-case times get tough.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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