We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful AnnaBeth Guillory. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with AnnaBeth below.
Hi AnnaBeth, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
When I was young my father always said “The worst anyone can tell you is no. You’ll never know if you don’t ask or try.” Hearing those words as a young child gave me courage.
As an entrepreneur, in my twenties, I had more time but limited funds. I love building and creating. So, if the risk created a spark in me and I could make it work financially, I would dive all in! May have not always been the best approach but, I learned, I grew, made mistakes, but also had some wins!
As an entrepreneur, in my thirties, if something makes me want to take a risk, I must be comfortable with the time and the financial commitment of that risk. Having a family now it’s not just about what I am comfortable with. If I can get comfortable enough with both and I have the support of my family, its game on!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
-Born and raised in Baton Rouge – I am executive in Health Care and have been working in the industry for 14+ years
– I graduated with a Bachelor of Science and minor in business from LSU and MBA with a concentration in Healthcare from Southeastern University.
– I am a wife and mom of two little girls, Emmaline and Ellie Kate (4 years old and 15 months old).
– You’re probably wondering how a gal in healthcare ends up a salon owner and now an app developer. I was inspired by an article in the Wall Street Journal that featured Alli Webb and the Drybar. I remember thinking that is brilliant and loved the concept and having blowouts!
In 2016 before the age of 30, I co-founded Blush, the first blowdry and beauty bar in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Fast-forward 8 years, I saw an unmet need in the industry for both the beauty service professionals and the consumers which led to me creating the BeautyFindr app – an app that connects people requesting beauty services to Beauty Service Professionals (hairstylists, estheticians, barbers, & makeup artists). Simply put, its Bumble meets Uber meets OpenTable. I remember as an early business owner, wishing there was an easier way to connect with a larger clientele without having to spend a ton of dollars on marketing (which we did not have). That is when the idea first sparked in me. In 2018, as a consumer, I found myself in a frustrating position the day of my maternity pictures and gender reveal party when my stylist canceled 30 minutes before my appointments. Long story short, most salons were not open yet, so I messaged everyone I knew in those 30 minutes, but I was only able to find someone to curl my hair but, not my makeup. I remember thinking again, there must be an easier way to connect with stylists especially when you are in a bind or need a last-minute appointment. That is where the SOS “Urgent Request” feature came from, designed for beauty emergencies, or last-minute requests that can ONLY be found on BeautyFindr.
BeautyFindr’s goal is to make it easy and less time consuming for people to find beauty service professionals to provide the services they need when they need them especially when they are in a bind or wait until the last minute while helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and beauty service professionals grow their client network and business revenue.
BeautyFindr is using technology to expedite and transform the way consumers and beauty professionals connect. No more having to spend your time researching online or calling a million places to be told they do not have an appointment at the time or date you need. Instead in less than a minute you can submit a request to a large network of beauty services professionals.
Services Include – Hair, Makeup, Permanent Makeup, Lashes, Spray Tans, Skin – Facials, Hair Removal, Peels.
When: Launches this month in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana, with the plan to expand across Louisiana into gulf region states and more!
How it Works:
Step 1: user (client) makes a request.
Step 2: beauty service professionals (hairstylists, makeup artists, permanent makeup artists, estheticians, barbers, lash artists, salons, and spas) on the platform are alerted.
Step 3: user is then notified as beauty service professionals accept the request.
Step 4: user chooses who they want to provide the service and beauty service professional is notified – connection made!
BeautyFindr’s purpose is to facilitate the connection. Then the beauty service professional adds the user to their booking system and follows their client intake process.
BeautyFindr offers three request types – same day, future day, or SOS “urgent.” For SOS requests, users may be willing to pay more in addition to the service price and tip due to the urgency.
Benefits to the User:
• TIMESAVER – FASTEST way to Connect to a Large Network of Beauty Professionals
• EASY to Use
• CUSTOMIZABLE Service Requests – Upload or link inspo images and include a message
• LIFESAVER for Urgent or Last-Minute Beauty Appointment
• TRANSPARENCY of Starting Service Price and Beauty Professional’s Star Rating
• FREE to Request Services
Benefits to the Beauty Service Professionals:
• INCREASE Clientele – Connect to a Large Network of Beauty Consumers
• INCREASE Revenue / Income
• INCREASE Brand Exposure
• INCREASE Social Media Followers
• TRANSPARENCY of User’s Star Rating
• No Contract Required
• Cancel your account anytime
• Free to Try – First 5 Connections are FREE for a Limited Time Only!
If Beauty Service Professionals are interested in joining BeautyFindr, they can do it all through the app with a 3-step process, 1. register 2. create a profile 3. set notifications
Why Would Consumers use BeautyFindr?
• In a Bind and Need a Last-Minute Appointment
• Special Occasions (Mardi Gras Balls, Galas, Weddings, Prom, etc)
• Traveling
• Just Moved
• Go to is Booked up
• Just Because
• Need a New Stylist
Want a Beauty Expert for a specialized service
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Staying Curious – those that know me know I ask lots of questions. 3 words I say frequently is “tell me more.” I am always wanting to learn and seek to understand the current state so that I can know how to improve future state. I love listening to podcasts, masterclass, & audible when I am exercising, driving, or getting ready. 2. Building my Network –building relationships not only helped with my development but it has opened more professional growth opportunities. As a young professional, I invested time in developing my network both professionally and in my community. Developing those trusting relationships has allowed me to influence change faster.
3. Connect with your clients/customer directly – nothing substitutes hearing from the voice of the customer firsthand. It typically sparks new ideas; it keeps you grounded and connected.
4. Take Time to Reflect – Time is the one thing you can’t get back so be intentional with it. If you don’t take time to reflect then you literally can go through life on autopilot and wake up and wonder, why am I not any closer to where I thought I would be. I am always on the GO so I like to take time early in the morning before my house wakes up to reflect and pray. I write down 3 wins or gratitude’s. This helps me prepare my mind and spirit for the day. During times of reflection, that is where most of my creative ideas have come from. If you are ever struggling to solve an issue most of the time, taking a step back will bring new insights.
5. Being consistent – commit to doing 1 thing daily that will help you get closer to achieving your goals. Give time time, write down what 1 thing you did, so you can visualize your progress and when you look back a 1 week, 1 month, or 1 year you will have achieved or be closer to reaching your goals.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love connecting people so of course I am always looking to collab! The goal is to grow BeautyFindr nationwide. Beauty Service Professionals, Business owners in the tech and beauty industry, Beauty Schools, Influencers with a focus in beauty, beauty consumers, entrepreneurs, and consultants.
They can connect with me on the contact page on beautyfindr.com
Facebook: BeautyFindr
Instagram: BeautyFindrapp
TikTok: BeautyFindr
Email: Contact@beautyfindr.com
Contact Info:
- Website: beautyfindr.com
- Instagram: beautyfindrapp
- Facebook: beautyfindr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabeth-scarle-guillory-07849112/
- Other: tiktok – beautyfindr
Image Credits
Kimberly Meadowlark
