It is no secret that the beauty industry is booming. Meet Atiqah, a local player among the global field who started Revered Artistry who also created an alternative for the famous beauty blender.
1. How did you come up with the idea for Revered Artistry?
We wanted to create a community of like-minded people from all walks of life that shares the same value as us in wanting to be revered for who they are. When we started, we were at a makeup academy and was looking for beauty sponges that were super soft and affordable to replace our old sponges. So we set out to produce our own by sourcing for a supplier that could produce a beauty sponge according to our specifications in terms of softness, shape and colour. We found an opportunity to turn our passion into business by first selling our beauty sponge which we called Plush Sponge to our makeup artist friend to get their feedback before putting them in the market and that was how it all started.
Since there was a lot of focus on perfecting our artistry in the academy, I thought Revered Artistry was perfect to embody that value of being respected for our skills. And we call our customers Revered Artists.
2. Did you start the venture alone?
Yes, started this on our own without any backers. Spend a lot of time, effort and money to run this business, from the research, marketing, graphic/packaging design and even logistics, all done on our own but we love it.
3. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the company’s growth?
Running the business alone and trying to gain more awareness was hard especially for an independent brand like us. It requires great perseverance, some positivity and a lot of faith.
Gaining awareness was the hardest especially when the beauty industry is saturated so we focused on our core product which is Plush Sponge; a super soft beauty sponge.
Once we have gained some awareness, our next task was to convert them to our customers so we have to build their trust. This is an ongoing process, you have to constantly maintain a good relationship with your customers but our customers are amazing.
4. Do you think luck played a role in the success of Revered Artistry?
The following quote is the most apt at answering this question, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” and we agree.
We were “lucky” because when we first started, we could not find any local brand focusing on selling beauty sponges. So we saw that there was a void and decided to pursue this venture. Coincidentally, we were in a makeup academy and needed new sponges. We feel like we make our own luck, we make it work for us.
We are grateful for the success we have had so far, we owe it to our customers who showed their support by constantly showing up at our Pop-Up booths, purchasing every new launches we have and sharing about us to their friends and families. We still have a long way to go and a lot of room for improvement.
5. How has the beauty industry changed in the last year?
Brands are moving towards being more inclusive in producing their products. Gone are the days where it is acceptable for a brand to produce only three or four shades of foundation. We think this shift is amazing and we are all for it.
6. What advice would you give to a beauty company just starting their business online?
Know and understand your niche really well, know what your customers want and deliver. It is also important to be authentic, to understand why you’re doing something and this will guide you in the choices you make and will show through your actions.
If you are keen to try any one of their products from their collection, you can do so on their website!
