Businesswoman Adele Koolen turns hobby into business

Businesswoman, Adele Koolen shared her journey from being a physiotherapist to an eyebrow specialist.

Being fairly new at Unit D1, The Gantry, The Straight in Lonehill, Koolen opened the Bro Spot studio in November last year.

“I opened in June last year inside Audrey and in November we moved to The Gantry. The move into this new space comes after I felt that we were inside the salon and not many people were seeing us as such and I also wanted to offer more things to my patrons,” Koolen said.

“My journey as an eyebrow specialist started in 2013 when I visited a brow studio to have my eyebrows shaped. I was completely blown away by the brow specialist who was doing my eyebrows and I was fascinated about what she was doing.”

She said that it was then that her eyebrow obsession started. “I then had my own micro-blading done and was so interested in it, that’s when I knew I had to look into maybe doing it on the side as a hobby.”

Last year, Koolen started lash extension courses.

Koolen started her career as a physiotherapist in 2004 and worked in the industry for 15 years. “I come from a medical background, I have a BSc Physiotherapy from Wits University and in 2012 I obtained my MSc (Med) from Wits University. I have practised physiotherapy in private practice and managed to travel with numerous South African sporting sides which I really loved about being a physiotherapist.”

She explained that the career move was motivated by her issues which arose from her left hand. “I started spatting with my left hand, so I had to think long-term and checked what else I could do and I believe that I am very fortunate that I found what I love to do which has now turned into a career.”

Koolen said being a woman in business has taught her to be very stern and firm in her decisions regarding her business. “I don’t allow myself to be shaken as it tends to be quite challenging working with women and people who think a woman cannot run a business but I take every encounter I have with my customers with stride and I make sure that all my customers leave satisfied.”

Koolen concluded with a message for aspiring businesswomen that they need to hang in there. “When the going gets tough just try your level best to hang in there.

“Not all days are great days, as there will be days when you won’t want to get up in the morning which I believe should be the day you actually should get up. I can assure you that it will get better. No one wins the prize without exercise – so keep pushing.”

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