Ravy and Amy are a dynamic duo – sisters and best friends with an entrepreneurial edge. They always knew they wanted to start a business together, with one main focus: to make people feel good about themselves.
Passion of Business
“The business idea came from my obsession with eyebrows,” describes Ravy. “I love that brows can transform your face by enhancing your features. They can give you an instant eye lift and leave women looking and feeling beautiful.”
And what better business is there to open, than one that you’re obsessed with? The sisters took their passion and looked for support from the business community, calling upon the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), Women’s Enterprise Centre, Success BC, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) and of course our team here at Small Business BC.
Asking for Help
When asked what the biggest lesson they learned when first starting, they responded, “Find a mentor!” Ravy found her mentor and inspiration in Blo Blow Dry Bar co-founder and Small Business BC board member, Judy Brooks. When the two met in 2010, Bombay Brow Bar was just a concept, however with their passion for beauty and business, it didn’t take long to make that concept a reality.
Developing a Plan
The sisters took time to develop their business plan, with the help of their mentor. When refining the concept for their plan, they decided to concentrate on what they do best: brows. A decision, which has obviously served them well, with multiple client reviews describing them as a “total brow experience” and that “you will become a BBB (Bombay Brow Bar) addict in no-time”. Now what better press can you ask than that?
Rapid Growth
The pair have built on this success, rapidly expanding their business to three locations in the last three years.
They opened their first location in the middle of the 2010 Winter Olympics in stylish Yaletown, alongside fellow entrepreneur Joyce Poon, owner of Noir Lash Lounge. Enjoying the success of their venture, the sisters opened their next location in hip Kitsilano in June 2011. The most recent addition to their company is their downtown Vancouver location in the Shangri’La Hotel, which opened in February 2012.
Each store is styled to create a memorable experience. With their signature lilac, pink and gold walls, the salons’ give you a feeling of Bollywood boudoir; a perfect haven on one of Vancouver’s many rainy days.
When asked what advice they would give a new entrepreneur starting out, Ravy is quick to reply “Dream big, but start small. Take time to get to know your community.”
Looking to the Future
Ravy has big plans for their business. She confesses, “I’m very ambitious. I want to create a positive change in the world, not just Vancouver.”
And when looking for inspiration of where to take their business next, she once again looks to her mentor who has expanded Blo Blow Dry Bar across both Asia and North America. “I want Bombay Brow Bar to be the next ‘leading global beauty concept’.” So look out world, here they come, ready to change people’s lives – one brow at a time.
