Minkie a single mother succeeding in the beauty trade
The dedicated owner of Trendy Beauty Salon and mom believes in empowering women by helping them be independent and taking care of themselves.
POLOKWANE – Minkie Molepo is not only a successful salon owner, she is also a Jack, or rather Jill, of all trades as her skill set at her salon ranges from hair, nails and makeup to massages, among others.
“I love to inspire and encourage women to be independent and successful in life, especially if they are a single parent,” she said.
Originally from Ga-Molepo in Ga-Rampheri, she now resides in Luthuli Park and believes one should never stop studying which is why she is currently enrolled to study building and civil construction at a college in the city while also doing her N5.
Minkie discovered her passion for beauty in 2013 and decided she wanted to become a beautician.
“I love looking beautiful every day and as a beautician I help other women look and feel at their utmost best. I’m inspired by beauty as a whole and I personally love and admire beautiful people when I see them,” she added.
“In my salon I always make sure I am a part of everything and I make time for my clients. I do have women assisting me in the salon but I’m also hands-on in every department. I don’t just sit back and let them work, I make sure everything runs smoothly. I’m a perfectionist and a professional individual; I want my clients to leave here satisfied and come back again and again.”
Being a single mom while juggling a full-time job is not easy, Minkie explained, which requires one to work on a ‘time budget’.
“I have a time budget which means I do my best to use my hours wisely. I made a weekly schedule for my employees, considering my work hours, my daughter’s activities and other commitments and so far it works well for me.”
She believes the beauty industry is a great field to work in as it is fun and allows one to explore their creative side and one can also become her own boss. “As therapists we must always have a smile. It can be really difficult at times to maintain a cheerful position while dealing with clients if you are having problems in your personal life. Don’t bring them to work, rather leave them at home and enter your salon with a smile, that way you will keep many customers. Some of the clients come to the salon to relieve their stress through nails, makeup or massages, and your smile will top it up,” she advised.
“As beauty therapists we are expected to be excellent listeners and we must never impart our own woes on our clients. I feel this is one of the most difficult parts of the job. Also, keeping my calm when clients are rude and demanding, or dealing with any complaints, can be incredibly stressful and a challenge. Above all, however, it is fulfilling to keep my customers happy at all times.”
As a businesswoman, Minkie said she loves competition as her job allows her to compete with others as, she added, the beauty industry is highly competitive. By taking courses she can keep up with the latest technology and learn new things every day.
“I love improving my own skills and knowledge and I’m also a proud and God-fearing Pedi woman,” she added. For more information on Minkie’s salon, follow her on social media on Facebook: Minkie Mochipa Molepo, Twitter: @minkiemolepo and Instagram: minkiemolepo or send an e-mail to trendybeauty22@gmail.com.
