The Brow Bar Boutique has become synonymous in Cork for delivering the perfect brow. The business first opened its doors in Middleton in 2017 and in just 15 months had opened it’s second and third premises, located in Drawbridge Street in the city centre and Dungarvan, respectively. The elegant boutiques do two things and they do them really well – brows and lashes. At the helm of this successful enterprise is Mel Maverley who we caught up with to give us an insight into her business journey thus far.
Can you describe or outline your typical day?
I get up at 6:30am and the first thing I do is reply to any messages that might have come through to do with the business. If clients have contacted us on social media with any queries, I’ll reply and I will also send a message to my staff in the three brow and lash bars to see if anyone is in need of stock or anything like that. I’m out the door at 7:30 and from there it’s off to visit The Brow Bar Boutique – all three locations! I’m extremely hands-on with the business so it’s all go. Even when I get home after a day’s work, I’m still on the phone!
What was the key driving force behind you becoming an entrepreneur?
I was in business for many years, in property and doing several different things but I was always very interested in beauty. I’m an ambitious and driven person and I was passionate about creating an on-demand service for brows. Now that brows are a part of most women’s regular beauty routines, shaping them should be affordable and convenient. That’s why The Brow Bar Boutique is all about walk-ins – you can come in at your own convenience and in 20 minutes walk out looking like a better version of yourself.
What do you think the key to becoming a successful entrepreneur is?
You have to be focused and take the rough with the smooth. I put in a 70+ hour work week. If it was easy, everyone would do it but if you have the work ethic, the ambition and a great idea, it’s so worthwhile.
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How did you come up with the name for your company?
I originally wanted to call it the Brow Bar, but I couldn’t register the name. I decided to add the word ’boutique’ as it reflects the high end service we offer our clients.
What has been your career highlight to date?
There’s been a few! Winning Hi’s Most Stylish Brow Bar in 2018 was incredible, as was being featured in Xposé, but I ultimately think opening three premises for the business in such a short space of time is what I’m most proud of. People love our services and we get a lot of repeat business. The Dungarvan boutique is only open four months and we’re already seeing returning customers.
What do you look for in an employee?
I’m lucky to have a team of stellar girls behind me who are all creative and enthusiastic and I think these are the two most important traits that I look for during the hiring process. I always say you have to have a creative eye for a brow and this is integral to what makes the Brow Bar Boutique stand out from our competitors. Unlike some beauticians who offer a very speedy service, we create bespoke brows for the individual client. We normally take between 20 and 30 minutes to achieve the perfect brow makeover.
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How does the Brow Bar Boutique manage to stay relevant in a highly competitive industry?
Social media is a very important marketing tool for us. We treat each individual client with care and attention, making sure they feel comfortable and relaxed. We provide individual consultations before each treatment so we know exactly what look the customer would like to achieve.
What drives you to keep going when things get tough or stressful?
The fact that I have 12 staff on my payroll is a big motivator. You have to be resilient and, as I say, take the rough with the smooth because that’s all part of business. I also think it’s important to never become too cocky. As I always say, ‘you’re only as good as your last brow!’
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? (we realise that you probably don’t get a lot of it!)
No, that’s for sure! I do enjoy going to the theatre or on a sunny getaway when the time does permit, however.
In your opinion, which celebrity has the best and worst eyebrows?
Angelina Jolie now (not back in the 90s, though!) has gorgeous eyebrows and while I wouldn’t like to slate anyone, if you google celebrities with no eyebrows, you’ll realise just how important eyebrows are for framing the face!
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What is the most popular service the Brow Bar Boutique offers?
Definitely our signature brow. It’s a ten-step service, using all of our own products and it’s a firm favourite amongst our customers.
What’s the ultimate goal for the Brow Bar Boutique?
I would love to franchise the business and I’ve already made steps to do so. I’d love to turn the Brow Bar Boutique into a household name.
Indeed, the future looks bright for Mel and her team. The Brow Bar Boutique is nominated for two awards in the Tia Maria Hair & Beauty Awards. The sky is the limit for this exceptional business!
- Drawbridge Street, Cork
- 1 Coolbawn, Broderick Street, Midleton, Cork
- Dungarvan
M 086 377 4854