New Plans and Getting Motivated!

I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. Right after Christmas I get this overwhelming feeling of 'all things possible and new'. I'm think I'm a change-addict. I love doing and experiencing new things and there's nothing like a new year to get me all motivated. 

I'm very lucky that after a four year journey of working all hours, climbing those steep learning curves and realising stress was impacting my health... I've finally gotten to a great place with my work/life balance. I have a wonderful team who look after our premises and customers, leaving me to focus on expansion, strategy and of course... all things NEW!

2015 will be all about my make up range for me. My sister and partner, Diablo Rose and I have been working hard on new product formulas, packaging and broadening our range, we hope to bring all of it to market in the Spring. Here's an exclusive sneak peak of one of the new products I'm very excited about!

One aspect I love about our cosmetics range is that we exclusively use images of customers and staff in our packaging and advertising (with the odd competition winner too!). I love the idea that anyone walking into our salons for a make over could end up adorning our products and walls, and they don't even know it yet!

I'm hoping 2015 will bring the beginnings of new salon location too, we're looking around the South and London for the perfect spot to offer all our services. It's a dream of mine to bring Le Keux to every part of the UK, and the expand to Europe and the US. 

Lastly, I'm starting a new business! Well more of a service. This has been another long-standing ambition of mine. I love all things business and entrepreneurial, besides my family and friends, it's my raison d'etre. Before I took the leap into self employment I had a career in consultancy, project management and process re-engineering/efficiency. I really enjoyed so many aspects of my jobs and aside from every cell in my body screaming to be my own boss (no exaggeration), I did love going into teams, working with people and creating improvements, helping make them more efficient, creating better processes and helping them manage that change. So I am starting up as a Business Coach in the hope that I can support other hopeful or existing entrepreneurs realise their business dreams. If you'd like to take a look at my credentials, and find out about what I'm offering, please visit: www.facebook.com/LeKeuxBusinessCoach.

Wishing you all a motivated 2015. Absolutely anything you want to do with your life is possible, go do it, take a leap, be the 'you' you've always wanted to be this coming year.

Best wishes,

Lynsey Le Keux

My Cosmetics Range

I've not written about this before so I thought I'd share a little about the range my sister Diablo Rose and myself starting developing some four years ago now. I decided to produce my own line, Le Keux Cosmetics because when I went to purchase products to sell in my salon I just couldn't find a beautifully packaged vintage inspired make up range that was affordable and which performed the way I wanted (to create a vintage look). 

I was totally new to the process of creating my own products, I'd studied manufacturing and supply chains at uni, but it's no real preparation; it was a steep learning curve. I knew I had some core values for the range which I was determined to stick to... that the formulas were developed in the UK and that they would be our own, new formulas exactly to our specifications. I wanted the packaging to have an authentic vintage feeling, but also to be fresh and usable. The products must create an authentic vintage look, so for me that was little or no shimmer and glitter which is in most products nowadays. And finally I wanted to be in love with the products I created, I wanted to use them everyday and be proud of what we'd done.

The first challenge I found was the jargon barrier, it was all pantone colour references, codes for types of plastics, nets and more. It was difficult to appear legitimate and experienced when I wasn't familiar with industry language. Secondly timing was essential (see my post of project planning for some insight into tackling the 'critical path' of tasks!) and we really tested that to the last possible parameter with our products arriving the morning of our launch. 

All in all though it's been one of the most rewarding processes I've been through. I think I stuck to my values well, and with determination, some negotiating skills and the incredible creative input I had from Diablo who designed the packaging and helped develop the formulas with our awesome chemist, we got there. We're now in the process of developing more products including more lipstick colours, powder, face cream (which is going to be incredible!) and eye shadow and brow powders. We've also been working on our existing formulas to make them even bolder in colour and longer lasting and I'm adoring the results. Even now, it has still been challenging (not compromising on your vision can make these processes a lot longer) but I'm excited about the new formulas we have, and giving our customers more choice.

So here's our products, I'd love to hear your feedback!

Our complete range, including 5 gorgeous, super soft, non-animal fibre make up brushes, all are dual end, precise and professional quality!

Black Cadillac Eye Liner Paint, designed to be applied as a bold eye liner flick or smudged for a smokey, femme fatale look.

This is Peachy Keen our soft pastel lip paint, the perfect alternative to red for vintage loving girls. This tone suits all skin colours and is fresh. Our lip paints are all infused with cherry scent for truly kissable lips!

Here you can see our pots, designed to look like authentic glass dressing table sets!

The last of our make up products - Whistle Bait Red Lip Paint. This is a bright pillarbox red that can be worn as a gloss, matte or voluptuous Hollywood style.

Instructions on how to use our Black Cadillac Eye Liner Paint.

Beautiful advert designed by Diablo Rose.

The first face of our make up range, the gorgeous August Allure, pin up model. Here she wears Peachy Keen and Black Cadillac.

Wearing Whistle Bait Lip Paint in Hollywood style.

Wearing Black Cadillac Eye Liner Paint and Whistle Bait in matte style.

Our Christmas advertising campaign featuring international burlesque star Anna Fur Laxis.

Winner of our 2013 'Face of Le Keux Cosmetics' competition Eve, modelling a bridal look for a marketing campaign.

We often use our customers in marketing campaigns (they are all so beautiful!), here we have our Valentines advert. In fact our new brush packaging and lipstick boxes will be featuring some more lucky customers from our salons!

And here's our packaging...

 

My vintage home - project dining room!

Vintage aesthetics is certainly a passion of mine. I've spent many a Sunday trawling through car boots and antique centres searching for 50s treasures. My absolute favourite design era is American Atomic. I love the colour explosions, fabric patterns and curved and angled furnishings. I have spent so long focusing on the aesthetics in my vintage business premises, which I've enjoyed so much, but this year I decided it was time to give some long awaited love and attention to my home; I've finally found the time to inject some heart back into my own home and carry out the ideas I've had for so long! My home is of course, already pretty vintage, but it's a little too 'thrown together', with all my finds stacked up in various rooms, sadly not shining on display as they should. My dream is make each room a livable 'set'; all high impact, nostalgic and fun! Over the next few issues I'm going to take you through my home re-design and show you how I've created each look. First, here's my dining room.  

Here's we are before. It was a dumping room where all my kit, props and such like would be thrown into after a long day at work. It was also full of random vintage finds, half done up furniture and things I hadn't had time to do anything with. It was a constant annoyance for me and Mr Le Keux and the clutter made me feel disorganised and frustrated. It got to the point where you couldn't even walk through it any more... Something had to be done!  

Before!

And after...

I chose a peach pink for the walls and soft mossy pastel green for the accessories. When I first painted the walls and fixtures I panicked... did it look like an 80's shell suit?! I took a deep breath and committed, I knew I had a strong final look in mind and once my accent colours (blacks and creams) and my accessories and decor were in place it would all pull together. Once the main colours were in it was time for the fun bit, dressing! I sifted through my vintage finds (and shopped for more), the rule was, if it's not predominantly green, pink, cream or black, it doesn't come in. I think having such strict rules with the colour palette helps to create the impact, the look is so defined and interlinked.

My favourite part of this room is all the kitsch! Here's a run down of what I have chosen to display...

Top shelf - 50s poodle porcelain ornament and Poole Pottery coffee pot and jug with a vintage table cloth. 

Middle shelf - Homemaker china plates and modern glasses with atomic patterns.

Bottom shelf - Vintage Pyrex and a modern water jig in atomic style.

My original 50s fibreglass lampshades from America are heaven to me, such an important part of creating the look. At the moment I'm struggling to find a lamp base to fit it on as there's no inner rings to balance of a light bulb fitting, so it's plopped on a pink spotlight lamp, which sort of works.

My mirror was a tip shop find, I think it cost about £2 and was a naff bamboo (70s or 80s I would think). Once I painted it black it was completely transformed. 

Next is my bedroom which I'll hopefully post about soon too!

Thank you for reading,

Lynsey 

Guide to Creating a Plan to Drive Results!

Before I whisked myself off into a world of victory rolls and afternoon tea, I worked for nearly six years in the public sector with positions ranging from Business Consultancy to Project and Programme Management and the equally wafflesome Business Process Reengineering (making things work better). I really did love parts of my career before going self employed, and although I'm much happier now, I'm so glad I went through that world first. It gave me the most amazing grounding in disciplines I believe have been essential to the set up and successful growth of the business; planning, designing processes and management systems, setting up websites, procurement, recruitment and financial management.

I hope to do a series of posts sharing my experience of these disciplines and how I've chosen to apply them to a creative business setting. I hope this is helpful to anyone starting out, looking to improve their current operations and re-organise their affairs. I'd welcome your thoughts and comments!

Today I'll start with planning. The greatest piece of advice I can give was actually given to me by my last ever Manager. An inspiring results orientated guy who taught me a lot. I was working as Project Manager for a national disability employment company. I'd been set the task of designing a complex, multi-department project plan, involving a lot of people, tasks and targets. The risks were high and the benefactors of the project were real live people who needed the support of our services.  Ready to get into Microsoft Project and colour code my Gantt chart, put in my gateways and rival the Olympic Park Planning Team, I met with my Manager. He told me directly and in no uncertain terms that a great Project Manager wasn't the one with the fanciest plan, he didn't care what I used to create my plan and had no designs on how I laid it out. What he wanted was a quick, easy to use and regularly updated task list. My time was not to be spent hiding behind documents and methodology but out there negotiating, motivating and monitoring that those tasks were actually being done. That approach has stuck with me ever since. So I'm not going to wax lyrical about how to create complex and impressive 'strategic plans', I'm going to tell you how to put together a simple, effective and workable plan (let's be honest we're self employed, or heading that way because we're do-ers). The only exception to my advice here is business planning for the purpose of loans, seeking investment or such like, I'm referring to personal planning for our own useful purposes.

I define planning as setting out the intentions you have for a project or business stream, detailing what needs to be done to get there, and setting measurements, so you know if you did it. A plan is not something you can tick off the to do list. It's an ongoing, working, continuously updated reference for you and your team to work from. My plans are opened at the start of the day and sit on my desk top, waiting to be updated, re-jigged and used to motivate me to get things done!

Here's how I approach creating the document itself...

1. Define my end goal(s), or to use project jargon 'products'. Sit down and write a list of tangible results you want to achieve. Let's use one my most recent new businesses, our Stags and Barbers, as an example. Our list looked something like this:

Barbershop and games room open
Staff recruited and trained
Activities and services designed and ready to offer
Brand launched and word out there.
etc etc.

These aren't tasks, these are finished results. Tasks will be listed individually under each of the headings above.

2. Decide how you'll know when it's done, or 'performance measures'. The list would start looking something like this:

Barbershop and games room open (Measure: We are able to offer all services from the space)
Staff recruited and trained (Measure: Team present and able to deliver all services on day of opening)
Activities and services designed and on marketing (Measure: Written on website, with prices and description)
Brand launched and word out there (Measure: People at launch event)
etc etc.

3. Detail tasks under each heading, with a deadline and name of who will do it. Be explicit in the task. Realistically assign a time period each task will take to do.

4. Draw out the essential order tasks are to be done in. This is termed critical path analysis in Project Management. The planning geek in me loves this task (you should have seen my Christmas dinner 2010 plan!). So, for example if I'm going to apply critical path analysis to doing my make up, I need to clearly identify which tasks have to be done, before others can be started. It would go like this:

For the purpose of this example, the path shows that nothing in row 2 can be started until the task in row 1 is completed. Then all in row 2 must be completed before row 3 tasks can be started and so forth. This is genuinely really useful, going back my barbers plan, if we look at the section dealing with branding and word getting out there. We knew that getting the word out relied on, amongst others things, press releases being sent out. We had a set opening date, so these had to be sent before press deadlines for issues going out before the opening. Press releases would be written once services are designed etc etc. There's a critical path that clearly says 'this must be done by that date to ensure the rest of the tasks can happen'. As you can imagine, when designed the Olympic Stadium, for example a critical path would be essential when such a vast and complex set of tasks had to be done (and the major delays occurred because so many tasks could not be started until others had been finished!)

4. Make sure those named in the plan know about their tasks and deadlines. We have a shared drive that everyone can access and update their section of the plan. Most start ups, like I was will be just you, which makes that part nice and easy!

5. Do and update. Once you've written your plan, don't sit back feeling smug at what you've achieved. I'm going to be a little unfair and say, creating a plan is not really achieving anything. It's a means to and end, the achievement comes in the ticking off of tasks, the active reworking and editing of the plan in response to changes, lessons learnt, new developments, ideas and those inevitable catastrophes.

My key points on this subject would be:
Don't use a plan a means to procrastinate doing what you set out to do. If you keep creating plans and never doing anything with them, the problem probably isn't plan.
Don't be afraid to change the plan, as with life, things doing always go to... err, plan! Adapt and move with the project but...
Do set deadlines and keep to them as best you can, the plan should drive results.

I hope that's helpful and I'd really appreciate any comments!

Thank you,

Lynsey

Branching out...

It's been a long term goal of mine to branch out into business consultancy. It's where I started my career and something I love doing. I would love to work with others passionate about their business to hopefully help them flourish. So I'm seeking a case study business to get me started! I'm looking for a small business who is either new, or for whatever reason not performing as you'd hoped. I'll work with you to establish your business plan, consult on creative aspects of your business such as branding, as well as core issues like your business model, financial management etc. I'll set you achievable goals to reorganise and move your business forward and measurements to ensure you can assess your success. Ideally it would be someone able to meet me face to face, but we can work via Skype and the phone too.

Here's my professional bio/sales pitch to give you some idea if who I am and what I can offer...

I have a degree in business and management

I worked for 6 years in public sector management consultancy, project management and process re engineering (efficiency).

I started my own business 7 years ago, growing it from a part time hobby to a national multi branch beauty and events company employing 5 Managers and 45 freelance staff, plus my own cosmetics range.

I won Entreprenear of the Year at the Women in Business Awards 2013.

Lastly, I'm passionate, logical, friendly and obsessed with business.

Me on the left, with Rachel, Vintage Life Editor and Diablo Rose, my sister and Creative Director.

If anyone is interested in being my case study please get in touch. You don't have to be a vintage business of course, just serious about wanting to make it a success. All I ask in return is an honest review afterwards! Email me with your business information at info@lekeuxevents.co.uk. Can't wait to hear from you...

Lynsey 

New Work Experience Opportunities

Some of you may have read my post last week about 'how not to get employed'. I've had some rather amusing applications and replies to interview invitations even since writing it only a few days ago. Still, I maintain the ideal that there are still people out there willing to work hard and who are hungry for learning experiences, and I'm going to put my own time and effort where my mouth is!

Therefore I've decided to offer a work experience Saturday placement for a 16-18 year old looking to gain experience, learn about the world of work and vintage styling. This person will have direct access to myself and my Management team with the opportunity for training in vintage hair and makeup, styling for photo shoots, salon operations, team work, customer service, sales and general working practises. And most importantly there will be a paid job at the end of it, providing the student shows all the competences required for the job. This is an opportunity for anyone with or without relevant skills who can demonstrate a willingness to learn, work hard and contribute as part of a team.

The last time we offered a placement like this was a huge success for both us and our work experience student. Lily started with us at a young age shadowing our stylists and training in all the skills required to become a part of our paid team. After showing great promise and quickly learning, she is now a fully paid member of our team working most Saturdays in our salon in Birmingham. She has developed exceptional skills in vintage hair styling and customer service, all as a direct result of her own efforts... we couldn't be prouder.

The successful person for this placement opportunity will be expected to conduct their work experience placement most Saturdays from around 10am to 6pm with a break for lunch.

So do you think you have what it takes be become one of our Birmingham salon team? Take a look at our website at www.lekeuxvintagesalon.co.uk and apply for our work experience placement by emailing info@lekeuxevents.co.uk with a cover letter detailing why you'd like this opportunity.

I am passionate about rewarding young people with opportunities and skills, I owe a lot to work experience and part time jobs from the age of 14 right through university. I really hope we can cultivate another Lily for our team!

Thanks for reading,

Lynsey

How Not To Get Employed

Here's some stats for you... I would estimate for every 50 applications we receive for positions in our national vintage styling team, Melanie and I offer interviews to about 30. From those 30, about 10 to 15 show up. From those, half may on average be offered a position on our freelance team. For every 10 we recruit, train and offer work to, 1 or 2 remain as long term employees in one form or another. If I were to quantify the time and effort involved in this process, each valuable employee proves pretty darn expensive to find. So whilst I hope this post is helpful to those out there truly baffled by the basics of applying and securing a job, it's also a PLEA. I plead to those out there currently seeking work in my industry to slow down, take care and make an effort when applying for any job, for your own sake and that of the world economy.

So rather than list the 'top 10 tips for getting the job', I'm going to tell you the most common mistakes candidates make which result in them not getting a reply to their application, an invite for interview, a job offer, or end up not being offered further work (and how I would have rather they did it). My frustration will be evident I'm sure, whether the education system is failing the new generation, or its a wider reflection of society in general...I'm undecided. Regardless of the cause, I pray for the day it gets better.

Step one - your application content

The cliché 'first impressions count' may have been coined for this very situation. Spelling mistakes in this modern age are unacceptable. Not even using a capital letter for your own name is unacceptable. I understand my stylists won't be writing reports for me, but it's not about whether their English language is up to scratch... it's about showing me they've taken time and effort to apply for this job. Everything about every stage of a job application is about showing the employer you want the job, you'll work hard for the job and you're appropriate for the job. I believe inherent in this statement is the fact that text speak is not a great choice, but since its relatively common, I'll go ahead and say it... "I wud luv a job with u' is a sure fire way to ensure 'u neva get a job wiv me'.

Secondly, read what the application requirements are. We ask for your CV and images of vintage inspired styling you have done. Sending an application without either of these will result in immediate deletion; why would an employer chase you for information they've already asked for? If you cannot follow instructions on a job advert, it tells me you won't be able to interpret and execute a job brief. This may sound unfair, but the application process is specifically designed, for any job, to test the applicants for the skills required to deliver that job well. Always remember that.

Another way to bore the pants off your prospective employer is waffling. Writing long lists of your amazing competences is rather pointless. Anyone on the planet can write this list, what will distinguish you is specifics and evidence. So rather than writing:
'Lynsey is a great manager who is a hard working, confident and driven individual', write...
'Lynsey has managed a team of 5 staff at XYZ beauty counter and her team met all sales targets resulting in the prize for best regional team'. 
And be ready to explain yourself in detail at interview.

There's a simple formula for your CV and covering letter too... carefully read the job advert. The keywords in ours would be 'national travel', 'working at hen parties', 'weekend work' etc, so the covering letter would be well received by someone stating something like:
"I enjoy variety in my work, and embrace the opportunity to travel to different areas of the country. I am a confident driver and happy to be available at last minute. I enjoy working with large groups and have a good track record of time keeping and pressured work environments from my time doing make up at fashion shows. I am available Saturdays and Sundays." This application is telling me you are exactly what I'm looking for!

Step two - how you apply

I'm going to keep this simple. Don't apply through facebook, twitter or a recent favourite... whatsapp. Apply through an email, or as requested through the link on a jobs website. Make it 100% formal, laid out like a letter and include everything asked of you.

Step three - attending interview

It's ok to say you're unable to attend interview but give a valid and truthful reason. If the reason you don't want to go to the interview is because you won't travel to it, when the job requires travel, then the job is not for you and the interviewer will also think this. If you have paid work you must attend on the day of the interview, say that and be specific so it is believable. Don't ask for another interview on a specific date, the employer will assume you are not flexible in attending work outside your own schedule. Ask politely if it would be possible to be invited to any future interview opportunities.

If you confirm your attendance, go. If you don't come to the interview after confirming attendance for whatever reason it will be assumed by the employer that you're incapable of turning up for work. That's the bottom line. It doesn't matter how legitimate you think your excuse is, they don't know you, or your circumstance and don't have the inclination to get to know either. If a candidate doesn't show up, and later asks for another interview with us, I'll laugh it off. Honestly, what competences has that person displayed to me to make me spend the time again? Not turning up to interview leaves a slot someone else could have had, it wastes management time and it frustrates your potential employer. If you're serious about it, turn up. If something catastrophic occurs after you've confirmed attendance, then communicate that and voluntarily supply evidence. The amount of times I've had people ring up with a plethora of tropical diseases or car malfunctions on the day of interview is laughable, but should the candidate ring before the interview to excuse themselves, then I receive a copy of a doctors letter or an RAC breakdown slip and a polite request to be interview at any other time convenient I'd certainly offer a second chance.

You have to remember even if you're an honest person, genuinely caught in a flu epidemic, you're just another faceless applicant to an interviewer, who's usually pushed for time and overrun with applications. Stand out.

Step four - performance at interview

Turn up smart, I don't care if the job is for a Dish Washer or an Account Executive, dress smartly. It's impressive, and you're there to impress. I'd rather someone where overly formal than not at all.

Be on time, arrive collected and prepared. If you don't I will assume you won't do so for work.

Research. Most likely the first question you'll be asked is 'what do you know about this company'. If you don't have an answer, you are very unlikely to be successful from your first breath. Have an example of how you meet every competence in the job advert of description. This is what the interview questions are written from, it's that simple.

Answer each question with evidence. If asked 'what would your previous manager say about your punctuality', rather than answering 'I'm always on time', say 'I had a 100% on time attendance record, in fact I started taking the bus that arrived 20 minutes earlier so I could grab a coffee on the route and arrive fresh and ready to start work'. I cannot stress enough at this point however, one word for you... deliver. If you say it at interview, do it when you start work, probation periods are built into new jobs to get rid of the fibbers.

Always ask questions at the end. But make them about your enthusiasm for the company and the job. Don't ask 'how quickly do I get paid?', rather 'I love your products and I'd be so excited to sell them, do you offer a commission scheme?'.

Step five - you've got the job, now keep it

On your first day, turn up early, I'd recommend 15 minutes or so is ideal, it shows willing, organisation and appropriate time keeping. Bring everything you need and more, ask before hand what you'll need. Ask how to wear the uniform if supplied.

Ask what the employer would like you to do, ask how you can help during down periods. Ask where you can do the washing up, where is the broom etc. Show you're able to do the most complex parts of the job and willing to do the grottiest. Show you're not above getting tea for a customer, how you're able to meet their emotional needs too. At the end of the day, thank the team you worked for and say you're looking forward to doing it again.

Then go home and be extremely proud that you've contributed, earned a days wage and you've achieved something. There's no greater feeling than being chuffed with yourself.

In summary remember - the employer has what you want... the job. They also have a queue of people wanting what you also want. You have to spend time and effort demonstrating what you have to offer. We don't know you, we have to be SHOWN how good you are. It's exhausting applying for jobs, I understand that, but the better you do it each time, the sooner the search will be over!
Lastly, if you feel you're doing all of the above but you're still not getting the job then please get in touch. I'd be happy to help in any way I can. I am passionate about people working for a living, and finding what they are good at.

Thanks for reading,

Lynsey Le Keux


Pictured below, some of our fabulous team who did make the cut and continue to impress, Kath, Meg, Amy and Lily! We'd also like to mention our other stars... Corinne, Helen, Nicola, Nicky, Gaby, Emily, Katie, Sidonie, Natalie, Laura, Tiffany, Louise, Jourdan, Lucia, Sharron, Emmalene, Leanne, Virginie, Kaeleigh, and of course my Managers Melanie, Julia and Kate. We also have some very promising new starters coming on soon too!