Angelique Velez the CEO of Breakups To Makeup On Her Journey Into the Beauty Industry
This week I got an exclusive interview with Angelique Velez the CEO of Breakups To Makeup. I talked to the CEO about her business ventures and successful endeavors.
Social media: IG:@heangeliquetechnique & @breakupstomakeup
Website: angeliquevelez.com & breakupstomakeup.com
As a multi-entrepreneur what inspired you to develop your company? I actually started Breakups to Makeup after going through a very bad breakup. I was caught completely off guard when it happened and was devastated. I didn’t want to do much of anything, not even leave my apartment. Work, aka being a makeup artist, was the only thing to get me out of bed and keep me going at the time.
How have your priorities changed from when you first started your journey into entrepreneurship? Since launching Breakups to Makeup I became a mom, which has completely changed all of my priorities. Having my son (who is now 5) has shifted the way I approach not only my business, but life. He is my inspiration and he reminds me how important it is to enjoy the journey.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out? What a great question. I would have taken the time to gather more email addresses when I first started out. I relied so heavily on social media and the truth is, as we have seen it happen, we have no control over it. We don’t “own” our followers and we don’t control who sees our content. I would have catered more to my email list and nurtured that in the beginning. I also would have taken my followers/subscribers along my journey more. When I became a mom, a majority of my time was with my son and I thought that wasn’t interesting enough to my followers. I regret not posting about that journey more and the struggles and wins I was having then because so many people could have related, but in my mind I thought no one would want to know about it.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey? Having confidence and believing in myself. Which ironically I still struggle with now, just on a different level. I still get nervous speaking on stages, going live on social media, recording videos or launching a product. I thought that feeling would go away, but it’s just a different level of it now. Feel the fear and do it anyway is my advice for you too.
What is unique about your business verses any other platform? Breakups to Makeup is unique because it is not just an accessory brand. Our products serve as inspiration. They are a daily reminder of who you are and what you are looking to accomplish. They help assist you in reaching your goals by changing your mindset and giving your best self daily.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become an entrepreneur or work in the industry? I would say that if you are sitting on an idea or something that you honestly can’t go a day without thinking about then you have to do it. It is your calling. Listen to it.
Entrepreneurship is never easy. A lot of people don’t have the capital to bring their business to light. How did you raise funding? I used all of the money I had in savings as well as borrowed from my parents when I first started out. When I say we are a family business, I mean it.
What strategies did you first use to market your brand ? When I first launched Breakups to Makeup, Instagram had just become very popular so I used that a lot for marketing. I would post a lot of inspirational quotes about going through a breakup and women empowerment. Also, being in the makeup industry I made sure to give clutches to those working in tv/fim as well as fashion with the hopes that the quotes and products would be seen by others and it worked. I also designed the clutches specifically so that they were square and fit perfectly in an IG post with it’s square shape. I attended any and all networking events that I could and always had cards with me wherever I went.
How do you define success? For me success is living in joy and waking up every day with a purpose. It doesn’t mean that it’s not hard and it doesn’t feel like work, because it is and more times than not it does; but I know that Breakups to Makeup is something bigger than me. It helps inspire and encourages others and that to me is success.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company? I love that I am able to make my own schedule, especially since having my son. I love that I inspire others daily, I can’t believe I get to do what I love and inspire others in the process. Even though it’s a roller coaster of a ride, I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur? I think this can vary depending on the person, but for me it’s never giving up. We may have to pivot, change a plan, tweak something, but I know in my heart of hearts I am in this for the long haul. Knowing that makes all of the “no’s”and closed doors easier to take. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still difficult to receive them, but knowing that I am going to keep going no matter what changes my mindset. To me, as an entrepreneur if you know that, it will force you to keep going.
What are you working on now? Right now I am working on a more educational aspect to Breakups to Makeup where I am infusing courses and curriculum as well as a membership club for entrepreneurs who are just starting out. It’s all the things I wish I had when I first started. It provides direction as well as a community that is there for you which is so important in entrepreneurship.