Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Joi Mebane
She is a trailblazing entrepreneur and beauty educator with over 21 years in the industry. As the visionary behind The Look by Joi, she’s crafted signature brow techniques and an innovative beauty line, featuring the popular 60 Second Brow Kit and signature lipsticks.
The Look by Joi is a leading beauty brand founded by acclaimed makeup artist Joi Mebane. Known for its innovative brow and beauty products, The Look by Joi empowers individuals to define their unique look with ease and confidence. Rooted in Joi’s artistry and extensive industry experience, the brand offers a curated selection of high-quality, user-friendly tools and cosmetics, from brow kits to vibrant lip colors. At The Look by Joi, we believe in effortless beauty that’s accessible to all, with each product designed to enhance natural features. From the runway to everyday, The Look by Joi is transforming beauty routines with expert innovation and a personalized touch.
1. Building The Look by Joi Brand
- Joi’s journey from makeup artist to entrepreneur, founding The Look by Joi to empower beauty professionals.
- The creation and success of her 60 Second Brow Kit and signature lipsticks as staple products.
2. Beauty Education and Mentorship
- Joi’s role as a beauty educator, with a community of over 10,000 professionals.
- Her mission to teach strategic business and self-care practices that help professionals succeed in beauty and business.
3. Global Inspiration and Product Development
- Joi’s travels abroad to source materials and gain inspiration for her beauty line.
- How her global perspective influences product design and enhances the brand’s self-care mission.
4. High-Profile Media Features and Bravo Appearance
- Joi’s media exposure on NBC, Fox News, and Bravo’s *Below Deck Mediterranean*.
- The impact of these appearances on brand visibility and credibility in the beauty industry.
5. Atlanta Fashion Week Partnership
- The Look by Joi’s exclusive makeup partnership with Atlanta Fashion Week, providing beauty services and brand exposure.
- Joi’s approach to leveraging high-profile events like Atlanta Fashion Week to strengthen brand awareness and influence.
6.Balancing Leisure, Business, and Self-Care
- Joi’s dedication to incorporating leisure and self-care into business, balancing work with wellness and travel.
- Tips on how other entrepreneurs can achieve similar balance in their careers.
7. Future Growth and Goals for The Look by Joi
- Joi’s vision for the brand’s growth, upcoming product lines, and new initiatives.
- Long-term goals for expanding her influence in beauty education and product innovation.
#SHMS
#BEST
#STRAW
Welcome to the show. I am Rashan McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success stories and start planning their own. Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs from around the country, talk to celebrities and ask them how they are running their companies, and speak with dog profits who are making a difference in their local communities. Now, sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome to Rushan McDonald. That's right, and as you know, I host the weekly Money Making Conversations Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. It's time to start reading other people's success stories and start living your own. If you want to be a guest on my show, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and click the be a Guest button. Let's get this show. I got some fantastic guests on the show, and uh let's start. My guess is a she's on call, she's on the holders, she's here, right great. My guess is a trailblazing entrepreneur and beauty educator, with over twenty one years in the industry as the visionary behind the Look by Joy, She's crafted signature brow techniques as eyebrow Techniques, and an innovation innovative beauty line featuring the popular sixty second Browkit and signature lipsticks. Please work with the Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Joy me.
Membing? Did they say that right, Joe? No, it's Joy maybe jar maybein?
Please work with the Money Making Conversation master Class Joy Maybein? And Joe got it out here phonetically spelled out. I did all this big speech and I just messed it up. I apologize. Work with the Money Making Conversation master Class.
Joy.
How you doing.
I'm great, I'm gray. I'm so happy to be here.
Well, thank you. You know, because of the fact that you know this is a this is an entrepreneurial show. And I and I you know, I have six sisters or passed away to of them, I passed away, but I have sisters all in my life, so I always makeup was all around. I had a daughter, she's twenty seven, so you know, beauty and fashion and looks and skincare has always been a part of my life growing up. Now tell us about a little bit about your background, because I what do your website. You're a very fashionable person. You seem to really lock into that culture of beauty. What got you started joy?
Well, you know, I always was a makeup girl. But you know, back when I was coming up, you know, makeup wasn't really considered a career, you know what I'm saying. So I always was into makeup. I was always into nails, hair, right close all of this. I was a really really girly girl. Even in how high school. I used to do the makeup for my drill team sisters, for our drill team performances. I did my friends makeups when we you know, when we went out. And when I got to college, I actually turned my my dorm room into a eyebrow, like so long. I know it sounds no no, because.
In college I turned my dorm room into a piece of shop. So I know exactly you an entrepreneurial spirits start somewhere, you know what I'm saying.
Yeah, it's a sweet We had sweets before sweets was even Invina.
Come on, now, come on now, let's let's let's talk about you and that entrepreneurial spirit that early on because I tell everybody it's not easy cutting hair, it's not easy doing makeup. That's a gift. How did you really start realizing that you had a talent to be able to look at a person's face and put the right tone, the right color, structure and bring out their their overall beauty.
I mean, I guess since I you know, I start doing it as a child, and then I started doing my friends, so you know, we started. I guess I started. I was self taught and was learning as I was going, you know. And then eventually when I got to as I opened up the the my suite in the dorm. I ended up working at a Cosmic Encounter while I was in college, so that's when I started actually doing makeup for the first time professionally or you know, at somebody's business. And then I ended up working in the salon. And that's when I at the salon, our main thing was brows and lashes, so we were doing brows and lash yeares before browse and lashes was a thing right right about like twenty five years ago. Don't add my age, Okay, I don't add up my age. I am telling you how long it was, but only started doing and that you said you had a math degree.
All right, don't worry about that. You look fantastic, joy but your you know, the entrepreneurial spirit is what gets to me is it's like, Okay, for instance, you have licensings for cosmetology, cosmetologists licensing that you can go to. Now when you come to makeup and all that, do you have to go through any special training or get license to do makeup?
So back in the day, if you want to work on set, yeah, you would have to are working a salon, you would have to have a license. So I am a licensed cosmetologist and I got my license in the during with an apprenticeship at the salon. So I'm licensed in the state of Georgia. But but if you work at a makeup counter, you do not need a license.
Okay, cool. So that means that anybody that can. So when we go into these stores, these high end stores, I see them all the time. They want you to sniff some into some cologne, or want to come over here for someone.
Have a license to sell person or put some lipsticks on someone or anything like that. But you do have because they're actually just testing it on you. You do you're supposed to have a license to charge. So really cosmetology is if you read the fine print, is these reluicious services that you charge.
For right now, that's why you need Let's talk about you. You like you said your girlfriends in high school, you know, making everybody. Oh yeah, what Chorgie? You do my makeup? Don't you mess with my page?
You go to college?
Now, how did you start setting rates though? You know, like my pizza was just five dollars. I had a little, little small pizza. I made it there five dollars. I had a line out to do it. That was my number because the crust only cost me twenty five cents. Okay. I got made some ragu sauce. Okay, it was a big old jaw, did about ten pizzas with that large jaw. Then I put like about ten slices of pepperone ale, and then I had my ground beef. You know, So I had my price point. So I charged five dollars, but I probably only spent by seventy five cents a pizza. That was my price. So I was making probably about four twenty you know what I'm saying about four twenty five a pizza. So how did you get your price point?
I was kind of me and you were similar. We probably was. We probably was in the dorm next to me because I so I used to charge five dollars if you bought your own razor, okay, in seven if I had to supply one. Okay, So you know the same thing the Raisors. You know, back then, a box of Raisors is probably like fifty cent, right, you know what I'm saying. So we were we were on the same markup right, and it was on the same markup you know, I mean, you know, it's you know, back then it was kind of like, okay, let me see where they charged. Okay, I'm a charge here, so you know, And but as I got, as I got you know, license, I got more experience, I was like, you know, were going up, well the twenty five, you know, because this is this is all these years in the game, all this education. I'm quick, you know, I can get you in and out. So you know, that's how the rates are going up. And of course you know with time they go up anyway. But you know, if somebody's out there and they're trying to figure out how much you charge, yeah, you can do like an analysis of what's around you, but to still see what you have to offer, because if you were, if you're the elite in the game, then you are the lead in the game. It's like, you're just talking about this these department stores, Well, the same white T shirt is in that store and the one is Target. They made by the same main factor. It's just this, you know, how it's presented.
You're right, and that's important people understand. Branding is the case, you know. So that's why you have your brand called the Look by Joy. Now what is that look? Before we go to break I want you to break that down to us. And when did you really believe that you had a brand that you could say basically and it be a difference maker because you're a very competitive feel beauty. Talk to us about that as an entrepreneur.
So the Look by Joy, you know, it started off with just makeup. We'll start off with just brows. And brows are my thing. People know me. If somebody see me and they say where I know you from, I just automatically say I've done you eyebrows and they're like yeah, because I am clearly the brow lady. But and I've always been quick. So a lot of people used to come to me. Now I would. I am good, and you know I haven't always been this good, but they would come to me because I was quick. So when I came out with my sixty second brow kit, that's kind of where I got the name from, because somebody was like, yo, I'm gonna take you a minute due do a brow if that and I was like, okay. So during COVID, when my clients couldn't get to me, I put it to yet They're a kid for them to you know, feeling their brows in less than a minute, because that's what their thing was. They was like, okay, we can we at home, we can feeling in. But it's just taking me like ten minutes. It's taking me fifteen minutes. I don't know where to start. So me as a brand, of course, I'm known for brows, but I'm also all I'm known for speed too. So yeah, now.
Let's talk about it. Because you you educated me here a little bit. Here, Now you say fill it in, because you've said that several times. What do you mean when you say feel it in?
Now?
I'm sorry if my listeners are saying he don't know nothing, because I don't.
Okay, it's stealing in just like if you go to the barbershop and they feeling your hairline.
Okay, okay, okay.
So we're stealing our eyebrows with makeup.
Okay, okay. Now let me ask you this before we go to break.
Should I be telling the girls secretly?
Well, you just live. You can't take it back. Now it's out there now, Joy, look by Joey is telling the truth. That's why she's on Money Making Conversation. It's just masterclass. She been telling you. She's been in high school telling everybody about beauty and joe you know, first of all, what stands out to me is your personality. That has to be a high end part of your brand build correct.
Yeah it is, Yeah, it is. I mean I have fun with it, you know. It's something I like doing. I like interacting with my clients. And it's one thing when I do teach my classes and I talk to my mentees, I tell them that you you have got to start being nice to people and you gotta start having fun with people, because it's it's it's so many people out there, but people want to come and look good and feel good and It's transferable, especially as a person is doing your services. They you know, feel good too, you know, so I always you know, my mama gave me the name Joy, so I just live up to it. So when people come and they sit in my chair, I like for them to leave happy, you know, to.
Look by Joy. We all gonna learn more about that sixty second brow kit. And also she's gonna she gonna tell me why why people whatch Some women in the removed their ad lashes, they eyebrows, removed their eyebrows and then draw them back. I gotta find that out too. I gotta find that out.
Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations Masterclass, hosted by Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
She's been a joy? Did you like that Joy? Did you learn to like?
Okay?
She's a visionary behind the Look by Joy. She's crafted signature brow techniques and an innovative beauty line. Now Joy Mentorship Mentorship that's really key. I talk about that line on the show. And you know, you come into this business young who had an impact on you, like maybe pointed you in the right direction or really told you to go for your your ideas and put in and writing the business side, who's your mentor.
Well, So back in the day, I don't know if the kids know that, we used to work in like salons and it was all open, so you could go and talk to the next person, the person next to you, across from you, or in front of you. You know. Now everybody had a sweep, so it kind of kind of you know, in their own world. But we had our own, you know, we were in the salon, so a lot of the older stylists, you know, they gave me a lot of tips on you know, what to do, how to handle clients. My family, I come from an entrepreneurial family, so my mom she used to have her own home childcare. My aunts and uncles they own businesses, so I would go to them ak them, you know, on the business side. You know things that I needed to know. And I always tell people I am a business person first. I just have a my niche is beauty, so whatever it is I go into it thinking about from the business side. It's kind of like how you were saying you knew the numbers for how much you was making out for each pizza, and I knew how much I was making out for each brow. But a lot of people and I'm sure your listeners notice, and they probably I'm probably calling them out. They don't know they numbers. They don't know how much money, how much it costs. They just know that they ain't in the red or they are in the red, but they don't know how far they are in and those numbers. And that business is key.
It really is that that that price point of what your services costs. Well, especially if you if you deal with a service that provides a product, you know, making food or like in your case, you know you're involved in makeup, chemicals, all kinds of things. You know, your servicing, your delivering things, all that's taken into you know. I've known some people that made mistake not knowing that they should, you know, allow the customer to pay for the delivery. They thought they were so nervous, they didn't they didn't know how to break that out. They put that into their product. They eventually realized that was mistaken. People used to paying for shipping and handling. But if you don't, like you said, Jord, if you don't do your research, that's a big mistake that people make on a regular basis. Now let's talk about you and your business mind. Why did you set up your business?
Now?
You was, like I said, you talked about your journey, you know, you know, worked at a you know, storefront at the counter excuse me, and then all of a sudden you went to a typical beauty salon with no suites. Everybody has a suite now they are or private booth. How did you decide that? Okay, you know, something is time for me to branch out and trust my instincts.
Now, before I even did that, I was like, I always sold products. Okay, so with any of your listeners that are service providers, you have to always have a product. Now, I probably wasn't as in depth at the beginning as I am now, of course, because I've been like the China, I source my own products and in manufacturers. But I would do something as simple as go to the beauty supply store buy up all the stuff that I was using. Like said, there was a pencil I would buy all the pencils and I would sell them out of salon and they'd be like, well, you got the front of you supply store. And I would tell them, we'll go down there and get it. Of course you can't get it because I bought them off. No, you come back. And then when they come back, they like, ain't have none, So do you want to get this one TOI for ten dollars a night? Like, because you're gonna need it, you know. So I love it. I love it. And the lady, the lady who owned the beauty Splice store, she was like, I know you want all of the pencils, yep, but.
She didn't know your mark up. Though she didn't know your mark up though it.
Wasn't none of her business.
I love it, you know. Me, when I was in uh in high school, I used to go buy the lollipops, you know I used to do. I was to buy them for a nickels or something for a quarter, you know, yeah, and that's what you do. I bought them all and then you control that market chair. You walking around in the high school with lollipops, and then well you're gonna get the lollipops. Were got the lollipops. Okay, it's just twenty five cents.
Brother, simple man, simple man.
And then people understand that once you control the market chair, then you control the industry. And that is so we know we're laughing about it, but that is how business structure comes about.
Yeah, they do get them another on some on some pops, go some lonipops.
Right now, let's talk about you. You know you said you went to China, right.
Yeah, So this was so after I left the salon, I ended up opening up my my counter and I did. I got with the wholesaler and they help you. They help you, you know, open up your business. So you basically buy a product from them, and you know, you sell their product. But I came into the business with the with the product, business with a service. So I was like the number one seller because I had a service and I had a product, and you know, the services are just like an intro to the product. So I always tell people, Uh, the client can only come with one set of brows, but they can leave with several products. Okay, so if you got you one client the cutting his hell, he only gonna come with one head. I never seen nobody come with two heads that you didn't. But yeah, he can leave with shampoo, he can leave with a brush, he can leave with some die, he can leave with a T shirt, he can leave whatever he leave. He told the service is just the intro to the product cells. Okay, right, so that's what people got to that gotta remember. So when once I knew that, my in my mind, I said, I got to get these products. The cost of my goods, the cost of goods, it's the cost of my goods down as much as I can. So I started researching trade shows and reaching out the vendors, and then I ended up going to get vendor trade shows in Las Vegas, China and in Italy.
So yeah, wow, so how can we reach out and get these products that you have to look by Joy, the sixty second browdkit. Uh, these are in signature lipsticks. How can we get this? I can reach out?
Okay, well okay, So of course I have my website Www. Dot the look by Joy and that's Joi dot com. And then all of my social media handles are the look by Joy and that's Joi. So that's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, everything, it's all the look by Joy, And if you want to get on my text message list, you can text the word brows b r o ws two eight four four nine eight seven zero zero for zero and that's eight four four nine eight seven zero zero for zero, and that's the word brows.
I'm gonna tell you some Joy, you are someone else, and I say that as a compliment. You're entertaining your informative, you are inspirational, you're motivational, and you are a Baullifier all your you are. This is what I enjoy by doing this show because I always feel that to be successful you have to be personality driven, and you are truly a personality, but you magined that with intelligence, with cunning strategy, and I think that that's what makes a successful entrepreneur. And I really appreciate you coming on my show, and I definitely want to invite you back in the future because you are somebody that entertains me. And I'm sure if I'm being entertained, the audience is between entertained as well, and I hopefully they will understand there's value in the look by Joy. That's JOI. She's crafted signature brow techniques. The innovative sixty second brow Kit and Signature Lipsticks. Thank you Joy for coming on my show, money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really appreciate you.
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass posted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests on the show today and thank you. I'll listen to Art now. If you want to listen to any episode I want to be a guest on the show, Visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is Moneymaking Conversation. Join us next week and remember to always leave with your gifts. Keep winning.