She may be the Boss, but foremost Kristie is a passionate specialist Colour Technician, that lives and breathes
Working in the salon for 8 years before buying Stelios Papas Toowong 3 years ago, Kristie has built a reputation for outstanding
But, during all of this Kristie had a baby and she’s a proud working mum to a 3-year-old boy called Baxter.
I’m building my brand and empire, training and teach as well as raising a family.
Why did you decide to buy Stelios Papas Toowong?
I had worked in the business for 8 years and had worked my way up from
How did you make it a success after being the owner of Stelios Papas Toowong?
It didn’t do it alone. I have a wonderful team right beside me every step of the way. We make it a success together.
Buying an established and an extremely respected and successful salon, there was always that question of how can I better that success that it’s already had. One thing that stuck with me was a handful of people saying I was so lucky to of been able to buy the business. No, I worked my ass off along with my long
To elevate the success I needed to rebuild and reestablish what was import for this next generation of the salon. I included my team in this process. This is just the way I work, I want them to be involved because without them I don’t have a business. From Redoing policies and procedures, values and education, we reassessed every aspect of the business.
We work tirelessly on our customer service skills just as much as our technical skills. Our clients are our main priority.
I also have a business coach Faye Murray. I have been working with Faye for 5 years now and she helps me with everything. I had no business background before I brought this salon. She’s the angel and devil on my shoulder and I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today without her.
This is still a work in progress and the next year is going to be our most exciting in relation to change and growth within the business and brand. Watch this space.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to buy a business they are working at?
Weigh up the pros and cons of buying the one your working in or starting a new one. If you’r buying the one your working in always expect the unexpected. You can never truly know everything even though you may have worked in the business for a long time.
What is it like building your empire while raising a family?
A whole lot of craziness.
I remember having to tell the previous owner ( my boss at the time) I was pregnant when I was 16 weeks. The first thing I said was, but this doesn’t change anything I’m still committed to buying this business. It was a long process. I came back to work full time when my little boy was 8 weeks old and I officially had brought the business when he was 6 months.
Firstly I always say I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if my husband didn’t do what he does. He works full time yet he’s the one that has the days off, he
In saying that he knew who he married. I’m determined and I have goals and being a stay at home mum or not working as much was never going to be the right thing for me.
Secondly, I also have an amazing support network in my family that is always there to help out when we need.
My little boy is now 3 and a half and he loves my team and my team loves him. I take great pride in knowing that he’s growing up with two parents that work extremely hard and I want to be able to show him that with hard work he can achieve whatever he wants to.
For me, work is the easy part, compared to the adventure that is parenting. I have built a strong team that is so supportive of me and my family. We all have a common goal, yet watching them succeed within their own goals and dreams is what drives me.
I’m also proud that I work in an industry filled with extremely successful women that have families. They inspire me. Having a family doesn’t limit you in business, I think it drives you more. I have never felt that I cant achieve what my goals are just because I have a family. I hope I inspire others and show them, you can do it all if that’s what you want.
And lastly I would honestly be bored if my life wasn’t this kind of crazy.
What is your recipe development process? Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere. For most of my creative work, I have an idea an inspiration and then on the day, it will change because I’ve thought of something different. I love looking at nature, art, fashion. I’m a specialist
What are some hurdles an aspiring business owner might not be aware of?
There are hurdles everywhere. Every business owner in any industry will tell you that. It’s not about focusing on those hurdles, because they will appear, it’s about how you overcome those hurdles. If you go into business thinking it’s going to be all smooth sailing and you’re going to make all this money quickly you are going to be disappointed. You need to be ok with failing first, because if you don’t fail along the way, how will you ever learn. Look at some of the most successful businesswomen and men in the world, they all had failures before they succeeded. I take inspiration from that.
Where do you get your inspiration for your clients?
To me when it comes to my clients everything is about personalization. How can I make them the most beautiful version of themselves? So really I look at the individual for a source of inspiration. From that, I adapt trends and techniques to suit that individual.
Would you say you have to have specific potential needs in order to start as an entrepreneur? If so, what are the specific potential needs?
Owning your own business is not for everyone and not everyone has that determination or drive to do so. And that is totally fine. Because if everyone had the skills to do so everyone would have their own business and we wouldn’t have any employees. Owning your own business takes a certain attitude and work ethic that can’t be taught. You can teach business and learn the business but to me, you have to have that certain attitude to succeed.
I’m a creative but I have a business work ethic like no other. I also know my limitations so I surround myself with people that can help me. My business coach, my team, my industry network.
If you could go back by ten years, what would be some of the top tips you would give our audience?
10 years ago I was 22 and it was 2009 and my hair was white blonde. My advice would be don’t follow a trend just because it’s a trend, hair extensions aren’t always the best solution and buy that shitty house which you thought was a bad idea, because it would have
Share two advice for female entrepreneurs:
- Back yourself
- Surround yourself with a network of people you can trust. Ask, questions, listen and share. Knowledge, education,
and support is power. It’s how you will grow.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
I failed in thinking I knew better and that I could trust people. What this taught me though, was that I am stronger and smarter than I ever thought I could be. I am thankful for this failure because I grew from it, and it’s made me so much stronger in business and as a person.
![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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