Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Kapsalis-Riordan andKelly Carr.
Holly and Kelly, please share your story with us.
Blush&Burgundy was created to provide on-location beauty services, classes, and events in Chicago and other destinations. With over ten years of experience in the beauty and event industry and many conversations of fulfilling our career dreams, we decided to take this leap to share our passion with the world. Through expanding our experiences in special events, film, print, and other genres, we were fortunate enough to recognize our love for being a part of peoples most memorable life moments. We are not only business partners and cousins but also best friends who share a love for the little things in life. We have a true passion and love for life, which is why we make a choice to wake up happy every day doing what we love. In fact, we believe this is what sets us apart. We genuinely want to make connections and provide the most intimate experience. We have been so lucky to grow primarily on the referrals of our clients, which is such an amazing compliment and inspires us to continue making Blush&Burgundy a name that will become a well-recognized brand in the industry.
Our mission is to provide a fun, comfortable, and enjoyable experience that will leave you feeling beautiful, calm, and confident! We strive to share our positive, contagious energy which is reflected in the work we do, no matter what the occasion. Enhancing natural beauty inside and out is what we do, but our favorite part is the whole journey we share with our clients when they invite us to be a part of their most important moments. The Blush&Burgundy experience will always be professional, exciting, and stress-free because we work with each guest on a personal level to carry out a vision that is unique and unforgettable.
Has it been a smooth road?
We would be lying if we said it was or is always a smooth road. In fact, we laugh all time about how people comment about us looking as if we always “have it together”. I mean, we try, but just like everyone else, we definitely have many moments of… let’s call it “organized chaos”. But, I will say, it just works for us and adds to the level of relatability and personal approach we have developed. As cliché, as it sounds, struggles really do strengthen our character and challenge us to continuously learn and grow. We both came from working in other places under other people and knew that building our dream career together from the ground up would require us to take an all out, blind, a leap of faith. Also, working with someone so close to you can also have its challenges. Sometimes, we need to take “time outs” from each other or offer some tough love, but our family and friends can attest that we are quite the entertaining duo. Never a dull moment! We both bring something to the table that you can’t necessarily teach, and bond over that “wildflower” view of life, which allows us to share our passion for what we do with others in a different way.
Taking the time to step back and reflect on your goals and where you want to be is so important. The hardest part can be listening to what everyone else says you should do or where you should be, but that is where the inner strength comes in. That when it gets hard, you are just being tested how much you really want it, not being shut down. Our advice is to remember to enjoy the whole process, remember you can’t please everybody, and honestly, just go for it. Just thinking and dreaming about it will only get you so far. Action is key. Trust me, we have been there. But then time went by and we realized we weren’t reaching our potential, so… we jumped again and will continue to. You can always adjust your steps along the way. It is hard work, long hours, and sometimes difficult to maintain a work/life balance. But, if you are doing it for the right reasons, and your heart is in it, then you start to create a lifestyle that works for you and you can’t imagine anything else. We wouldn’t change a thing, and the bumps in the road create an even greater appreciation than anything that ever came easy.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Blush&Burgundy story. Tell us more about the business.
When we were doing our research about similar hair and makeup companies or brands around us, we had to sit and really think about what we could offer that no one else could replicate, and honestly, what is motivating us to grow this brand in the first place. We specialize in on-location hair and makeup services such as weddings, photo shoots, film, special events, classes, and pretty much any exciting project that comes our way. There was a huge need for beauty services that could be more personalized and unique. So, we decided to take our beauty experiences, love for working with people and each other, and passion to the next level.
What sets us apart is the experience you get from beginning to end. We are not just a vendor. We become a part of each person or client’s journey, and to us, it’s so much more than just a beauty service. We never want to get to a point where we do not know who each one of our clients is. Getting to know them is one of our favorite parts, and the comfort and trust that result are priceless. As a brand, we are most proud of seeing our business grow especially because of this, and the overwhelming number of new clients we receive from referrals. It is nothing less than inspiring.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
We always find ourselves reading, sending each other, or posting life quotes and inspirational words because it is motivating to know that others have gone through similar situations. We definitely would not be where we are without the support of the people along our journey, including mentors. When we mention “mentor”, I think a lot of people assume they need to be in your field or have the same goals. Speaking with and shadowing these people is a huge benefit, but it is important not to forget about those closest to you such as friends and family. When we got started, decided we wanted something bigger, and defined our goals, we found that seeking out opportunities to work with others to gain experience was a game changer. There were many unpaid jobs such as working on photo shoots, film, and events that we did in the beginning not only to network, build our portfolio, and meet people, but to gain experience in different environments. By doing this, we started to make a name for ourselves and build many connections. Now we are actually getting hired for this work, which is so exciting for us. We also recommend going to many different events and seeking out other activities related to your industry. You really never know who you will meet or what opportunities will present themselves. The first step is just showing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.BlushandBurgundy.com
- Email: BlushandBurgundy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blushandburgundy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlushandBurgundy/
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/blushburgundy-chicago/4dfd062d5a2803f8.html
Image Credit:
Timothy Whaley, Rachael Osborn Photography, Anitra Isler, Dana Richards, Brooke Alaina Photo
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