We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carla Welechuk Kowski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so one thing we think people don’t talk about nearly enough is investments – either time or money. What’s one of the best or worst investments you’ve made and what did you learned from the experience?

My best investment was implementing a CRM to automate my processes. I personally use Honeybook, but there are so many so it’s important to find what system works best for your field. Once I was able to map out and automate my workflows it opened my time up to focus on growing my brand. It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds of the day to day when operating a business. Technology is very much your friend. If you are not the most tech savvy person, I surely am not, look into local or online classes to build those skills. Many organizations even offer free classes to new businesses so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and learn something new.

Carla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 20 years working as a beauty educator for Chanel, a celebrity personal travel artist, a corporate and personal stylist for Microsoft, the Senior Lead Artist and General Manager for Salon Maison in Seattle, WA, and in Orange County, CA, as well as serving in various other scopes of the industry.

I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with the industry’s finest while enjoying the space to grow. My passion remains in building one-on-one interactions and relationships with clients, helping them reflect on their inner self in all its beauty. I take a holistic approach to one’s outward beauty, knowing that your true glow comes from the inside. I believe beauty and style are all about self-expression as a way to communicate on a visual plane.

After relocating from the West Coast in 2018, I founded Alea Beauty as a way to offer a more personal and specialized beauty service. Since establishing new roots in Ohio, Alea Beauty has expanded to multiple locations across the U.S. and added Glow by Alea Beauty, a spray tanning service in 2021. In 2023 I also launched Kowski Creative, a women’s empowerment and mentorship service for creative entrepreneurs.

About my companies:

Alea Beauty:

Alea Beauty is a luxury hair, makeup, and airbrush spray tanning service that specializes in styling for weddings, lifestyle and special events. We believe in an authentic, effortless and inclusive approach to beauty, and our talented team of professional hair and makeup artists strive to continuously create custom looks that best compliment our clients’ natural beauty.

Glow by Alea Beauty:

Glow by Alea Beauty is an airbrush spray tanning service available for at-home or in-studio appointments. Our spray tanning services are a healthy sun alternative with 100% vegan and gluten-free formulas and the highest quality of natural ingredients. Whether our professionals come to you in the comfort of your own home, or you book an appointment at our studio, we’ll help you look and feel your best so that you can feel confident and carefree in your own skin.

Kowski Creative:

Kowski Creative is an entrepreneur development service focusing on the unique challenges facing women in business. Our mission is to empower women to develop the tools needed to improve their own future and self image through creative coaching and professional mentorship.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As many in the wedding industry 2020 was a huge setback for us. All of sudden overnight everything was shut down, wedding venues were closed and we had hundreds of brides scrambling to figure out what to do about their wedding plans. Many cancelled, others postponed, but some still wanted to marry. We had to completely shift our focus and service model and quickly became experts at elopements and micro-weddings. Alea Beauty is still recovering from this time, but we have learned how to streamline our processes and how to make the most out of precious time. This time also allowed us to expand our horizons and get more creative with our offerings. We implemented virtual appointments and added various retail streams to supplement our business.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Authenticity is key! I fully believe in being true to your own strengths and being fully transparent on any weaknesses. I am very upfront with my clients. If they ask for something that I am not the best at I will tell them and direct them to someone who may be a better fit. Not only does this make you more trustworthy to your clients it also strengthens your connections with your fellow business owners. We all play an important role and knowing when you should direct to someone else will only help you in the long run. If you are pleasing everyone you aren’t being true to yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aleabeauty.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleabeauty.co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aleabeautyco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-welechuk-kowski-0b6a0a18/
• Other: https://glowbyaleabeautyoh.glossgenius.com/

Image Credits
Sylvia Stahl Photography Bethany Little Photography Ashley West Photography Fox and Twig Photography Daylilies Photography Tiffany Chapman Photography