Update: How We Doubled Sales And Enrolled 100,000+ Students In Our Makeup Academy
This is a follow up story for Vizio Makeup Academy. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published almost 5 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
Hi guys! My name is Alfredo Andreani, the co-founder of Vizio Makeup Academy, an online professional accredited makeup academy that allows individuals to take our professional makeup courses online. Being a photographer, graphic designer, web developer, videographer, editor, and business owner gave us the edge to start this company from scratch over a decade ago.
We have enrolled hundreds of thousands of students so far, and I am honored to have such an impeccable graduate success rate. We offer four professional makeup courses for students to choose from.
After successfully completing a makeup course, students receive a professional certification. Vizio Makeup Academy is an accredited school and a partner of the California State Charter Schools. One of the main aspects that sets us apart and puts us above our competitors is our professional makeup kit, which has been manufactured and personally designed by us. It is the highest quality pigment, with seven palettes that include colors for every skin tone.
We have gotten so many raving reviews and positive feedback about how great our makeup kit is! Another aspect of our academy that sets us apart is the individualized feedback students receive on their makeup looks and assignments from our pro makeup artist instructors.
Tell us about what you’ve been up to! Has the business been growing?
We are so proud of all the many positive reviews we have received. We have increased enrollment exponentially, doubling our sales per month. We have been putting a lot of our efforts into our franchise concept, which will allow students to open their own academies worldwide under our Vizio Makeup Academy umbrella. Franchise owners will take a course teaching them how to set up their school, and we will teach them the unique Vizio Makeup Academy formula so they too can run a successful makeup academy.
We have hired new and amazing team leaders for many of our departments, including customer service and web design. Debbie has been one of our top customer service gals; she has been amazing and has worked numerous hours. When you find loyal and great team players, you should always value them as they are the core of your business. This is why we give out bonuses every 2-3 months, depending on how great they did.
Last year we learned to always think ahead. If you always plan ahead this will always give you an extra edge. Your business will never be caught by surprise.
Vizio Makeup Academy has been working very closely with our graduates and getting a lot of feedback to better our courses. Graduates always seem to care so much and are so grateful for such an amazing makeup education; their feedback is gold. With small fixes every day, you will have a fantastic product in the long run.
2022 has been the year for us to get into TikTok. It has been amazing; we have met so many students there. It’s such a great platform, and it lets us showcase our students even more. We love this young platform because we can create unlimited content, and everyone loves it.
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
Last year we made many great partnerships. Partnerships are great because it lets you see your business through another eye. The best partnerships are the ones both parties benefit greatly from. Our focus has been on our students. We have focused very hard on all our students and listen to their ideas and suggestions. This has helped us greatly with our business making it each year better and better.
Last year we learned to always think ahead. If you think something like lets say Covid, will last 1 year, plan for 2 years. If you always plan ahead this will always give you an extra edge. Your business will never be caught by surprise.
The best way to offer a more personal customer experience is using the customer’s name when talking with them, in person, over the phone, or by email.
On a personal note, I have been studying a lot this year on new technology that’s about to explode. Like for example Metaverse, we have put together a team to develop our space in the metaverse and get us ready for this. We are always seeking new opportunities and now we are getting our business ready to be part of this great new technology.
What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?
We are focusing very hard on our franchise model. We have had so much support from our talented students who are eager to teach. VMA is expanding in every city, creating more and more opportunities for individuals to open their own makeup academies.
Our long-term goal is to become the largest makeup academy franchise in the world. We are also finalizing various new makeup palettes that we will be launching in collaboration with some amazing influencers and artists that we have partnered with. We are very excited about the new makeup palettes that include original design, colors, and pigments. The makeup palettes will be completely customizable, which has been a huge hit!
We are very excited to see what new technology will bring us in the future. Technology is coming very fast, faster than you think. Things evolve at a higher rate than before. If you stay up with technology, you will always be able to adjust your business and adapt to new things.
Our five-year goal is to always keep evolving and keeping up with technology, social media, and the latest trends. We are now working on new products to launch and have the ability to teach live makeup classes all over the world. Also, we are working on several top-secret projects we will be adding to Vizio Makeup Academy, things no one has ever seen before in the makeup education industry. We are extremely excited about all these, and soon we will be sharing with you all details.
Vizio Makeup Academy has also been very busy with launching its affiliate program for students. After students graduate from Vizio Makeup Academy, they can now make extra money as professional makeup artists. We have had students make more money with our affiliate makeup program than the makeup application itself. If you are interested in making extra income and you are already a professional makeup artist, please email us for details at [email protected]
Have you read any good books in the last year?
I highly recommend Anthony Robbins' new book LIFE FORCE; it will Transform your life or the life of someone you love. Talks about the latest breakthroughs in health technology to help maximize your energy and strength, as well as prevent disease.
Life Force will show you how to wake up every day with increased energy, a more bulletproof immune system, and the know-how to help turn back your biological clock. This book is for everyone, from peak performance athletes to the average person who wants to increase their energy and strength, to those looking for healing. Life Force provides answers that can transform and even save your life or that of someone you love.
Another great book is Choose Your Story, Change Your Life: by Kindra Hall. It is more important than ever to focus on positivity daily. It’s time we stop telling ourselves negative self-stories. The truth is, each person has the power to create their own lives and make their dreams come true, like one of my favorite quotes “This world is but a canvas to our imagination” by Henry David Thoreau.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?
Focus on positive reviews for your business. Build your social media and be personable. Always provide excellent customer service. You could have the coolest, highest quality product out there, but it means nothing if your customer service experience is poor. Your business needs a stellar customer service process in place. If customer service isn’t a priority for your business, you could risk your reputation going down the drain, losing both current and potential customers.
The best way to offer a more personal customer experience is using the customer’s name when talking with them, in person, over the phone, or by email. A friendlier approach to talking directly to your customer over the phone is always 100% better than anything else.
Take risks, even if they fail. Trust me; you will have learned. Many entrepreneurs are so afraid to take risks. If you are afraid of taking risks, take small baby steps and go small at times. Taking small steps and small risks will not hurt your bottom line, but it will help you move forward and not stay at the same place. Staying at the same place is terrible and should never happen. Always move forward and take risks!!!! Don’t forget; you are an entrepreneur at heart!
Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?
Vizio Makeup Academy is always hiring customer support, teachers, and developers. Please email us at [email protected]. Bilingual is a plus for customer service positions. We have a lot of Spanish and so many other language-speaking students.
Where can we go to learn more?
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
