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A customer-first approach, luxurious experience and Afterpay have helped grow this Bendigo hair salon.

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They say that location is everything, and that was certainly the case for <a href="https://www.hairfolk.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hairfolk</a> founders Jemma Lea and Georgia Hosking.The pair had both worked as hairdressers for 15 years when Lea happened to spot a beautiful, vacant heritage building on the main street of Bendigo.“I drove past one day and saw that it was for lease and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, that would make such a great salon’. I called Georgia and was like, ‘Do you want to open a salon together?’”That was in 2018. Fast forward four years and their hairdressing salon Hairfolk is a huge success, welcoming 150 clients, including 20 first-timers, through its doors every week.

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<h3>Growing the business</h3>Instagram played a huge role in the early days of Hairfolk. Although Lea and Hosking were able to bring their existing clients to Hairfolk, social media enabled them to showcase their work.“Having a good presence on <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/social-media-tips/small-business-social-media-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">social media </a>really kick-started the business. We knew Instagram was going to be a big part of our journey,” says Lea. “Obviously word of mouth and your reputation plays into success, but when people can actually see your work, it makes a big difference.”Right from the start, Lea and Hosking were also focused on offering more than just a haircut or treatment, and instead providing a luxurious, <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/customer-service/customer-centricity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer-centric</a> experience that clients would want to return to.

<h3>How Hairfolk puts clients first</h3>At Hairfolk, <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/customer-service/customer-service" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer experience</a> is everything. Not only is the salon set in a striking heritage building, with sleekly luxurious and light-filled interiors, but upon arrival, clients can enjoy a complimentary espresso or glass of bubbles. When they’re ready to leave the salon, looking and feeling fresh, they can choose to use <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay</a>.“People want experiences and they're happy to pay for them,” says Lea. “When someone comes in after having their kids all day, or they’re with their girlfriends getting ready to go out, they want that extra luxury.”Lea understands that for many of her clients, a visit to the salon can be a vital act of self-care or a splurge they’ve been looking forward to for weeks. Afterpay allows clients to enjoy this experience while paying off the cost in instalments.&nbsp;

<h3>Afterpay enables high-end treatments</h3>Hairfolk is known for its on-trend offerings such as balayage and hair extensions – both of which can be costly, especially when specialist products are required for maintenance. Afterpay allows clients to pay for these services over time.“Afterpay is something we always wanted and needed within our business,” says Lea. “Particularly for those bigger jobs, like hair extensions, we definitely notice it can extend people’s spending further. Afterpay can be the difference between someone taking home some shampoo and conditioner or opting out completely.”When it comes to smaller services, like haircuts and blowouts, Lea says Afterpay can still be the reason their clients choose Hairfolk over other local salons. She also notes that the increased spending she sees from clients using Afterpay more than makes up for the product’s service fees.

<h3>Afterpay eases friction</h3>For the last six months, Hairfolk’s clients have been able to use Afterpay just by tapping their phone on the salon’s EFTPOS terminal. It’s a process that Lea believes further removes anxiety around spending money at the salon.&nbsp;With Afterpay, clients can just tap their phone and go, without the team even realising they opted to use the buy now, pay later service.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I definitely recommend Afterpay to other salon owners,” she says.When it came to building their business from the ground up, Lea and Hosking relied on the loyalty of their clients from previous salons, the curiosity of Bendigo locals (who are always keen to check out a new opening), and the power of social media.&nbsp;“Having a good presence on social media really kick-started the business. We knew Instagram was going to be a big part of our journey,” says Lea. “Obviously word of mouth and your reputation plays into success, but when people can actually see your work, it makes a big difference.”With thousands of followers, the Hairfolk Instagram account shows off the team’s best work and reminds the salon’s clients that Afterpay is available.

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A customer-first approach, luxurious experience and Afterpay have helped grow this Bendigo hair salon

A customer-first approach, luxurious experience and partnering with Afterpay have helped grow Hairfolk, a Bendigo L'Oreal hair salon.

How Hairfolk salon keeps clients coming back

How Hairfolk keeps clients coming back

When Taryn Richardson took over <a href="https://www.jadshairdressers.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">JaDs salon </a>in South Australia, she immediately introduced a range of new tech solutions.

Taryn Richardson vividly remembers the first time a client used Afterpay at her salon in Victor Harbor, South Australia.&nbsp;It was three years ago, and the client in question was a regular whose ghd hair straightener had stopped working that morning.&nbsp;“[The client] was already signed up for Afterpay and was so happy to be able to leave the salon with her new straightener,” recalls Richardson, before adding, “I was just as happy to have the funds in my account overnight."

Richardson has been the owner of <a href="https://www.jadshairdressers.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">JaDs hair salon</a> for 14 years. Before that she worked on the salon floor, and it was only when her marriage broke up that the newly single mother of two decided to use her divorce settlement to buy into the business.&nbsp;A few short years later she was the outright owner of JaDs – and since then, Richardson has worked tirelessly to modernise the business, and set a positive example for her two daughters, Maddison, now 14, and Ruby, 12.

Since taking over JaDs, Richardson has introduced a raft of new tech innovations. She launched online booking for customers (via <a href="https://www.gettimely.com/?keyword=timely&amp;ads_cmpid=1301542467&amp;ads_adid=80776094307&amp;ads_matchtype=e&amp;ads_network=g&amp;ads_creative=597465617443&amp;utm_term=timely&amp;ads_targetid=kwd-120550200&amp;utm_campaign=AUBrand&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwnNyUBhCZARIsAI9AYlG47HYmKSA4-i56YHYNvpR26OxH8C5RJQpBkJEvxJeZPVdKu81UbOwaAhsqEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Timely</a>), revamped JaDs’ social media channels, opened an e-commerce shop and introduced Afterpay.While all of these elements undoubtedly helped boost JaDs’ bottom line, Richardson says that it was Afterpay that doubled revenue in parts of the business.<h2>Afterpay allows customers to upgrade&nbsp;</h2>She explains that revenue from colour services has doubled since introducing Afterpay, with more clients choosing to upgrade from a basic colour service to a high fashion colour service. “Afterpay makes paying for often costly modern colour services easier for clients.”

But clients aren’t simply using Afterpay for treatments. “Our retail and electrical sales like straighteners, curlers and dryers have gone up considerably, too,” she says.Would she recommend Afterpay to other salon owners? “In a heartbeat,” she replies. “You’re only charged for fees as the services are used, and the potential new clients and increased revenue make it a no brainer. Consumers recognise and trust the brand.”<h2>Afterpay minimises cancellations</h2>Richardson adds that Afterpay also reduces cancellations as customers feel confident they can cover the costs of their treatments.

“Our Afterpay customers are our higher serviced clients usually, as they keep appointments irrespective of cash flow. They’re also more likely to purchase investment pieces like extensions and electrical in the salon, rather than sourcing them online later.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Innovation and investing in people</h2>Richardson believes that what sets JaDs apart is her drive to innovate, including adopting new tech and investing in her team.“Employing the right people has been crucial, from those in the salon to the accountant, tech people and suppliers like Afterpay. It all plays a part in how I can function as a leader and keep progressing,” she says. “I’ve been smart enough to admit when I don’t know something and source the right people and training to learn it.”

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“Employing the right people has been crucial."

This February, Richardson and JaDs hit another business milestone, when she purchased the commercial premises in which JaDs operates. “It’s a proud moment,” she confides. Progress and proactivity, just as Richardson likes it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How tech helps this salon succeed

Sharyn Black of Vivid Hair and Beauty offers a range of services for men and women suffering hair loss.

One of Sharyn Black’s earliest memories is standing behind her father’s chair playing with his hair as he watched TV. She was four and it was the beginning of a lifelong passion. “I always knew I wanted to be a hairdresser,” she explains, “even when I was really young.”&nbsp;Black’s first styling job was in 1975, back when clients were asking for perms, soft curls, and shag haircuts. These days, it’s more likely to be balayage and blowouts.<h2>A specialist salon</h2>But that isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Over the years, as the owner of <a href="https://vividhairandbeauty.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vivid Hair and Beauty</a> in Gregory Hills, south of Sydney, Black has become known for working with clients suffering from hair loss problems. It’s a passion borne from personal experience.

“Around 15 years ago my mum had breast cancer,” explains Black. “She lost her hair while going through chemotherapy and it really affected her. Watching [that] experience inspired me to become heavily involved with supplying high-quality wigs to [people] going through cancer therapy treatment.”Today, Black, who is a master stylist, offers premium wigs and a hair thickening service called Microline for men and women experiencing traumatic hair loss, such as female pattern baldness, male baldness, alopecia and hair loss due to scarring.﻿“We are now the only salon in Australia licensed to offer Microline,” she explains. “It’s non-invasive and very effective.”

﻿Vivid Hair and Beauty is also one of the few Australian salons to offer Hairdreams hair extensions, which are made from luxury, high-quality human hair sourced from Europe (and are popular among celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lawrence.)&nbsp;“It’s the very best human hair in the world. It's never been coloured, so the brown hair has come from a person with brown hair, the blonde has come from a [natural] blonde,” Black explains.

<h2>&nbsp;Afterpay helps clients access services</h2>However, both Microline and Hairdreams hair extensions are priced at the higher end of the market with hair extensions ranging from $250, for example. This, says Black, is where Afterpay comes in.﻿“Afterpay has given a lot of women and men the opportunity to have beautiful hair without having [to pay] the full upfront cost,” she says. “That allows them to consider this life-changing service.”

"Afterpay allows them to consider this life-changing service.”

For Black, introducing Afterpay for her clients four years ago was a “no-brainer”, and she estimates that the service has increased her business turnover by around 10 to 15 per cent.<h2>Afterpay helps upsells</h2>In addition, Black explains that Afterpay can be used as an upselling tool.“Afterpay has allowed me to upsell to my customers. I can say to my client, ‘Yes, we can give you the style that you want or the colour that you want, or the hair extensions that you want, and you can pay for it with Afterpay’,” she explains.﻿For other clients, especially the younger ones, Afterpay has enabled them to add something else to their purchase such as a better-quality shampoo and conditioner to take home.

And when it comes to the Afterpay fees, Black’s relaxed approach is grounded in solid business acumen.“I don't worry about the Afterpay fees at all because they are a business cost, and running a business comes with costs,” she says.﻿“Afterpay gives me the benefit of being able to make more money through my business and it also gives my clients the opportunity to be able to get the service that they really dream of having. It’s a win-win. You’re crazy if you don't use Afterpay as a hairstylist.”

Inside the salon giving customers their confidence back. 

Sharyn Black of Vivid Hair and Beauty supports men and women suffering hair loss. She explains how Afterpay helps her business.

Vivid Hair And Beauty: The salon changing clients' hair styles - and lives

The hairdresser changing clients’ hair styles - and their lives, too

This hairdresser is changing customers’ hair styles - and lives

Business is better than ever at this Cairns hairdressing salon, which took on Afterpay during the pandemic.

They say you should never mix business and pleasure, but for mother-daughter duo Lynn Hutchinson and Shalee Lewis, blending family and work has been a winning combination.Although Hutchinson has been a hairstylist for 30 years, it wasn’t until 2019 that the pair decided to go into business together, and their salon <a href="https://merakicurlz.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Meraki Curlz</a> was born.“We realised that what works best for us is sticking to our own areas of expertise,” says Lewis, who manages the salon. “Mum runs the salon floor and the hairdressing side of things, while I control everything in the background: marketing, social media, accounting, team management, that sort of thing.”

Located in Mount Sheridan Plaza in Cairns, Queensland, Meraki Curlz attracts between 10 and 20 clients a day, who are taken care of by a staff of six. “Our clients are like our family,” Lewis explains. “And, as a family run business, we love to bring a welcoming, family vibe. We have many clients that we call our friends.”But even friends had to adjust when COVID-19 emerged in 2020. While many online businesses flourished during lockdown, hairdressing was one of the industries hardest hit due to widespread salon closures.

“With COVID and increased living costs, everyone has been unsure about spending.”

In addition, many customers have been cutting back on discretionary spending. “Over the past two years with COVID and increased living costs, everyone has been unsure about spending,” says Lewis.

<h2>Afterpay as an alternative to discounting</h2>As the pandemic progressed, rather than resorting to lay-offs or discounts, Meraki Curlz chose to implement Afterpay instead. “Afterpay has helped our business immensely,” Lewis says, continuing, “clients are open to spending more when they see we have Afterpay as a payment option.”The result has been an increase not just in the sale of haircare products, such as shampoos and treatments, but styling tools as well.&nbsp;“I love watching clients say ‘Oh, I will take those products then if I can Afterpay it!’ It’s wonderful to see them come to the counter and find out Afterpay is an option.”

"The increased revenue we receive from Afterpay outweighs the fees!"

The salon has become so busy that Lewis, who used to live 40km away from work, has moved to be closer to the business.Life is busy, and there’s been a learning curve. “The Afterpay fees took a little while to understand at first [but] the increased revenue we receive outweighs the fees! All sales on Afterpay are over $250, with our average sale around $300, and our biggest so far, an $880 sale."It’s something both mother and daughter believe would not have happened without the implementation of Afterpay.

<h2>How Afterpay helps upsell&nbsp;</h2>Another happy change is upselling. Before Afterpay, a client might limit the number of foils or highlights in their hair. But when given the option of spreading out their payments over four separate installments, many now choose to have a full head of highlights or foils – and spend almost double what they previously had.It also means that any awkwardness — when the hairstyle or colour costs more than anticipated — is no longer a concern. Afterpay allows clients to experience a frictionless, more luxurious experience.

And the best part? Clients who leave happy after a few hours of peace at the salon... Lewis and Hutchinson understand all too well how often women — and mothers, especially — will often put themselves last when it comes to the household budget.&nbsp;“Having Afterpay as a payment option absolutely eases the pressure for our clients and allows them to still take time out for self-care,” explains Lewis.

Business is better than ever for this Cairns salon

Meraki Curlz is run by mother-daughter duo Lynn Hutchinson and Shalee Lewis. They talk business and payments.

Meraki Curlz: How Afterpay helps avoid discounting

How Afterpay helps Meraki Curlz avoid discounting

Making convenience a priority - and a commitment to doing the right thing for the environment - has helped this purpose-led hygiene care brand soar to success.

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As a three-time start-up founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn is no stranger to making quick decisions.&nbsp;So, when a conversation around the family dinner table turned to the Great&nbsp;Pacific Garbage Patch&nbsp;— the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world – Ongonga-Daehn immediately started thinking of ways to take action around climate change.Over the next few weeks, her family started making positive changes around their home and improve their impact on the environment, from switching from clingfilm to beeswax wraps in the kitchen to being diligent about recycling and food waste. But when Ongonga-Daehn turned her attention to the bathroom, she realised that the only reusable alternative to buying single-use hand soap that she could not recycle involved driving to a refill station in Melbourne, which wasn't only inconvenient, but also consumes energy that could be better spent elsewhere and a demanded addition to her carbon footprint.

“It’s not convenient for me to drive into Melbourne all the time to go to the refilling station and I don’t have space to keep litres of hand soap stored away.”&nbsp;“I thought, ‘This is crazy! There are so many sustainability solutions ready for the kitchen and nothing really for the bathroom where we wash our hands and bodies every day?’”.So ensued a two-year journey of researching sustainability, environmental and green business solutions that would have a minimal climate impact, reduce waste, recycle, and offer a genuinely helpful solution in the form of an eco-friendly company with management who believed in its ethos.&nbsp;﻿The result? The company's first green&nbsp;product launched in November 2020: a waterless plant-based handwash powder concentrate delivered in a certified home-compostable sachet that is environmentally sound and climate-friendly and designed with sustainability in mind.

Made sustainably in Australia to reduce carbon emissions, the eco-friendly sachets are delivered us carbon-offset shipping to reduce environmental impact and the industry's often heavy carbon footprint. All users have to do is add one of the environmentally green sachets to 300ml of water and voila! A sustainable foaming handwash perfect for your family, the environment and your skin is created.&nbsp;&nbsp;The product was an instant sell-out, leading to the company's recent expansion into body wash, with plans to launch a shampoo and conditioner this year.&nbsp;Since the launch of her sustainable business, Ongonga-Daehn has had time to reflect on what makes a successful climate-conscious brand.Her conclusion? Convenience is key for sustainable brands that want to succeed in the sustainability industry. In an increasingly busy world where more and more people are thinking about climate change and searching for reusable and environmental products for homes that they can recycle, engaging with technology and doing resource research is key.&nbsp;

<h2>Why customer convenience is key for sustainable brands</h2>The secret to convincing consumers to try a new product – particularly one that is sustainable – is to make the experience as convenient and simple as possible, says&nbsp;Ongonga-Daehn.

“What do we have to do to make it a no-brainer solution?”

When it comes to designing products, the question Ongonga-Daehn always asks her team is “What do we have to do to make it a no-brainer solution? That’s our challenge.”

<h2>1. Boosting convenience with subscriptions&nbsp;</h2>As an online-only, direct-to-consumer business which delivers its products straight to consumers' doors, baresop. is already a convenient sustainability option for consumers wanting to buy environmentally designed toiletries that improve their skin and reduce waste at the same time. But the brand takes this one step further by leading with clever technology options like their&nbsp;<a href="https://baresop.com/policies/subscription-policy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">subscription service</a>&nbsp;option which ensures sachets arrive every few months without customers having to remember.<h2>2. Making sustainability easy with home-compostable packaging&nbsp;</h2>“We have thought about the entire lifecycle of our product,” explains Ongonga-Daehn, who introduced home compostable packaging which allows customers to add the sachet packets to their home compost or green waste bin.<h2>3. How Afterpay makes payment easier&nbsp;</h2>“One of the biggest challenges of running a sustainable business is that people will compare the price of your product to a product that has been produced off-shore in massive quantities, using really harsh, cheap, chemicals or unethical practices,” says Ongonga-Daehn.One way&nbsp;baresop.&nbsp;combats this and makes its green products more accessible is by offering Afterpay.&nbsp;“We are seeing a lot of our customers use Afterpay, especially post-peak pandemic when most people have had their income compromised to some level” notes Prisca, who says that offering Afterpay means that her customers do not have to choose between price and planet.&nbsp;Aside from offering a <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/marketing/customer-centricity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer-centric</a> approach that’s as convenient as possible, Ongonga-Daehn says the other crucial aspect of running a successful sustainable brand is authenticity.

"Your ‘why’ has to be substantive and true."

“As a founder, it's so important to me that we are doing real things that are impacting people's lives and championing change in an authentic way, and not just for PR.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt from starting baresop. is that if you're doing something purely because you can see the dollar amount, or you want to buy a bigger house or a flashy car, don’t do it. Please. Because it’s not enough to get you through the hardships that come with starting a business. This is my third business and it’s harder every single time, so if money is your core driver you’re going to burn out. Your ‘why’ has to be substantive and true.”

baresop. founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn shares her secrets to running a successful and sustainable business. 

baresop. founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn shares her secrets to business sustainability and running a successful brand

Business sustainability: baresop. on how to be more sustainable

Business sustainability: baresop. founder on how to be more sustainable

 baresop. on the secret to creating a successful sustainable brand  

Hairdresser Rumbie Mutsiwa on how Afterpay has helped grow sales.

Rumbie Mutsiwa began offering Afterpay soon after launching her business six years ago – and it quickly proved to be popular. “Some people will call ahead just to make sure we do have Afterpay.”Mutsiwa runs<a href="https://www.rumbie.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> Rumbie &amp; Co</a>, a hairdressing salon in inner-city Sydney catering to Afro, textured and wavy hair. She offers Afterpay instore and online, where the business sells haircare products.For her, offering Afterpay is simply a matter of providing customers with options. “It’s important to give people choice. Everyone’s life is different and how people run their finances is different.”

It's important to give people choice. Everyone's life is different.

“I think it’s really important to focus on customer experience… and Afterpay minimises the uncomfortable part of the transaction when someone feels as though they can’t afford it all upfront or that it isn’t something they can prioritise right now.”&nbsp;It’s a payments solution that’s helped Rumbie &amp; Co grow, too. During Afterpay Day Sale in 2021, Rumbie &amp; Co saw basket size double among customers who shopped with Afterpay. Overall, Rumbie &amp; Co experienced a 583 per cent in sales from Afterpay Day.Offering Afterpay also helps with cross-selling when clients come to pay after their hair cut or treatment and are considering buying haircare products to take home.“You’ll find that some people might come in having budgeted for their hair and then when they see how [well] the products work, they’re like “Can I get them all” And then when they see the price, they say maybe I can Afterpay this.“I think Afterpay is brilliant. It’s genius."

Rumbie & Co founder Rumbie Mutsiwa on how Afterpay has helped grow her business.

Rumbie & Co founder Rumbie Mutsiwa on how Afterpay has helped grow her business by doubling basket size and driving leads

"Afterpay doubled our basket size": Rumbie & Co

Rumbie testimonial

When hairdresser Rumbie Mutsiwa launched her salon, she wanted to creative an inclusive and empowering space for women with Afro and textured hair.

Step inside <a href="https://www.rumbie.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Rumbie &amp; Co</a> hairdressing salon in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Chippendale, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming – and that’s exactly the way founder Rumbie Mutsiwa wants it.Mutsiwa founded the business in 2014 after discovering how few Sydney salons catered to Afro and textured hair – and after being turned away from several salons because of her hair type.“[Hairdressers] would actually say: ‘We don’t work with your hair texture.’ And the more I experienced this [reaction] the more frustrated I became.”That frustration eventually led to the launch of Rumbie &amp; Co, and today, the business employs two hairdressers, offers a haircare range and works with thousands of clients from a bustling inner-city salon.

<h2>Make it expert</h2>Mutsiwa never set out to be a hairdresser. Originally from Zimbabwe, she migrated to Australia in her teens and studied nursing. But, a few years into her career, her sister began struggling with hair loss due to stress.It was only after she searched, and eventually failed to find a hair specialist who could help, that Mutiswa realised there was a gap in the market.&nbsp;“Eventually, I just thought: you know what? I’ll just do it. It can’t be rocket science.”So, in the evenings after her nursing shifts, Mutsiwa taught herself hairdressing and soon became fascinated by the complexities of Afro, textured and wavy hair. “I just discovered myself in that space. I became a hair nerd,” she says.

I just discovered myself in that space. I became a hair nerd.

<h2>Make it my way</h2>For Mutsiwa, switching from nursing to hairdressing meant breaking with her family’s expectations. “My family convinced me to study nursing,” she says. “My career path was actually discussions with other people.” But after plenty of soul-searching, she decided to forge her own path as a hairdresser.

<h2>Make it inclusive</h2>From the beginning, Mutsiwa was determined to creative an inclusive space that represented the best of Western and African cultures.“Hair is such a huge part of [African] culture. In most African cultures, you usually [devote] a specific day – like Sundays – to hair, where kids get their hair done to look presentable for school. It’s massive. And in most African salons, you’ll find there’s always a lot of people laughing, talking, sharing stories.”<h2>Make it transformative</h2>Mutsiwa admits that the early days of the business were challenging – and, at first, she struggled to set boundaries around her time. “Someone would call me at midnight and say, ‘I need to get my hair done for a wedding tomorrow!” and I’d say, ‘Okay what time? It was an emotional rollercoaster.”But she loves helping women look and feel their best. “I really believe in the transformational power of [good] hair. Our purpose is to build confidence in individuals.&nbsp;

“My favourite thing is those moments where [customers] look at themselves.. and their demeanour changes. I love hearing stories of people feeling more confident, more sexy, more beautiful.<h2>Make it with Afterpay</h2>&nbsp;When Mutsiwa spotted billboards advertising Afterpay, and researched the platform, she immediately realised she wanted it for her customers.&nbsp;

“Afterpay allows us to give our clients more options, so they can get what they need now.” Frequently, she says, clients will budget for their haircut – and then realise they’d like to buy products as well “and then they’ll ask can I Afterpay this?”This year, Mutsiwa participated in Afterpay Day Sale for the first time and saw her average order value double from two products to four. “Afterpay is genius!”

When Rumbie Mutsiwa couldn't find a salon that catered to textured hair, she launched her own. 

When Rumbie Mutsiwa couldn't find a salon that catered to textured hair, she launched her own, and today Rumbie & Co is an inclusive, welcoming space.

Rumbie Mutsiwa: The hairdresser who cares about curls

Meet the hairdresser who cares about curls

Make it diverse: Rumbie Mutsiwa

Topicals skincare founder Olamide Olowe signed up to Afterpay early on.

When <a href="https://mytopicals.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Topicals Skincare</a> founder Olamide Olowe launched her beauty brand, which is aimed at people with chronic skincare conditions, one of the first steps she took was partnering with Afterpay.Why? It’s an expected payment method among Gen Z and Millennials, says Olowe - who is herself just 24. “At this point, if you don’t have Buy Now Pay Later, it’s [comparable to] not having credit card processing, back in the day.”

Olowe adds that Afterpay is especially important for emerging and indie brands, as it eases the path to purchase and makes it easier for Gen Z and Millennials to test new brands. “As a business owner, you’re always trying to [convince customers to shop with you for the first time] to get that first sale.

Afterpay gives people the freedom and the flexibility to try a new brand.

“Afterpay lowers the barriers to entry [especially] for customers who are on the fence about purchasing your product. It’s a huge differentiator - it gives people the freedom and the flexibility to try a new brand.”

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Topicals skincare founder Olamide Olowe signed up to Afterpay early on - and explains that it is a vital payments platform for young customers.

Topicals skincare founder Olamide Olowe signed up to Afterpay early on - and explains that it is a vital payments platform for young customers

Topicals Skincare:  “Afterpay is super important for brands aimed at Gen Z and Millennials.”

 Topicals - “Afterpay is super important for brands aimed at Gen Z and Millennials.”

It takes a lot to win over Gen Z. But skincare brand Topicals, aimed at chronic skin conditions, has done exactly that with an inclusive, innovative approach.

When Olamide Olowe decided to launch a skincare brand aimed at chronic skin conditions, like eczema and hyperpigmentation, she was met with plenty of scepticism.“I had a lot of people saying, ‘How are you going to make chronic skincare cool? [People would say] ‘People don’t want to talk about this. It’s really shameful.”

People would say '‘People don’t want to talk about this. It’s really shameful."

A few short years later, Olowe and <a href="https://mytopicals.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Topicals</a>, the brand she co-founded, has definitively proved her critics wrong. Topicals has raised more than $2m in funding, and in March 2021 it launched in Sephora – and promptly sold out in 48 hours. Meanwhile, Olowe herself was recently included in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce.&nbsp;Olowe also features in Afterpay’s Make it your way series, which celebrates business owners who are forging their own path and building innovative businesses that reflect their personal values and passions.<h2>Make it expert</h2>The concept for Topicals was inspired by Olowe’s own personal experiences. Growing up, the 24 year old struggled with skin conditions including boils and in-grown hairs. “I vividly remember being so embarrassed and not wanting to put on a swimsuit in summer,” she recalls. “It was very painful and very visible."

From, the outset she was determined to make a difference to anyone struggling with skin conditions and only use ingredients that were scientifically proven.<h2>Make it compassionate</h2>Not only that, but Topicals aims to transform the way people feel about their skin through mental health advocacy.“A lot of times, with skin conditions, you’re not just managing the discomfort that comes with the skin condition…but also sometimes having to deal with the shame or the embarrassment [that goes with it].

I grew up thinking that there was such a thing as “perfect” skin.

“I grew up thinking that there was such a thing as “perfect” skin,” adds Olowe, who is passionate about changing the narrative around skin and partnering with mental health organisations. “We’ve donated around $50,000 to mental health organizations so far.”&nbsp;<h2>Make it courageous</h2>As a young African-American woman, Olowe is conscious that she faced challenges that other entrepreneurs haven’t had to deal with. “For example, raising capital was very difficult– investing is really about who you know, and if you don’t have access to networks, people aren’t as inviting. So, getting the capital and resources can take a little bit longer and it can be a little bit harder to get.”

She is also passionate about reaching under-served communities. “We’re a very <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/marketing/customer-centricity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer and community centric</a>-driven brand. We spend a lot of time listening to our customers.”<h2>Make it with Afterpay</h2>Those customers tend to be Gen Z and Millennial beauty lovers – the so-called “Skin-tellectuals” who, have grown up on the internet and who are famously savvy about beauty products and their ingredients.Olowe believes that buy-now-pay-later services are critical for reaching younger consumers, and she and Topicals partnered with Afterpay early on. “Not having Buy Now Pay Later, is [similar to] not having credit card processing, back in the day.”

Not having Buy Now Pay Later, is [similar to] not having credit card processing, back in the day.

As a business owner, she says that Afterpay is important for new and indie brands. “As a business owner, you’re always trying to get customers to make that first purchase – and shop with you for the first time – and Afterpay helps with that because [it lowers the barriers to entry and] customers can break up payments.”&nbsp;

For a brand like Topicals, which places a premium on inclusivity and accessibility, offering a platform like Afterpay to make products more accessible was a natural fit.&nbsp;“To know that so many people I’ve never met are now using [our] products and getting results from it… for any entrepreneur, that’s your fuel.

It takes a lot to win over Gen Z. But skincare brand Topicals, aimed at chronic skin conditions, has done exactly that with an inclusive, innovative approach.

It takes a lot to win over Gen Z. But skincare brand Topicals, aimed at chronic skin conditions, has done exactly that with an inclusive, innovative approach. Founder Olamide Olowe shares her story