Sarah Jean – A woman with drive, ambition and stunning style… Meet the lovely Sarah Jean – the founder of Sarah Jean Lashes.

The Pink Jubilee sits down with Mrs Baker, with bubbles in hand of course!

What inspired you to create your beautiful brand?

I was applying false lashes for an event and it was hard and messy. I thought ‘there has to be an easier way’. I asked my girlfriends if they wore lashes and they said they would more often but avoided wearing them as it was messy and hard. So I started the research and quickly determined it was an issue many people faced. I saw that there wasn’t really anything that addressed this problem and thus I sought a way to overcome it and make messy lash application a thing of the past!

How much work has gone in to your brand development, from concept, to design and launch?

A HUGE amount. SARAH JEAN introduces the world’s first party eyelash adhesive that comes in a bottle with a mascara style brush. The concept sounds similar but because I invented the product and concept, it required a lot of effort from sourcing manufacturers, making prototypes, the legalities of it, testing, market research, more testing and so on. I spent hundreds of hours on market research and identifying other lash brands and products so when I created the SARAH JEAN brand, that it was chic and unique. I also wanted to have a brand that was 100% cruelty free. Some people prefer lashes made from real hair but I am happy selling synthetic lashes. They’re amazing quality, reusable, lightweight, natural looking – there’s lots to love about them and the fact they’re cruelty-free is a bonus in my opinion. I have five factories including my printing factory so, initially, finding the factories to work with, ensuring they’re credible and can produce high quality products – it required a lot of diligence, research and persistence. I did it all myself too without an agency or leaving the country, which amazes a lot of people.

What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?

Having the opportunity to continually learn. Creating a product and brand from scratch, and working for yourself is challenging as there’s often no switching off. When you work alone like I mostly do, you have to be very diligent, focused, driven and obviously passionate about what you do. I face challenges with my business almost everyday; whether it’s a technical issue with my CRM system, finding new stockists, knowing who to outsource elements of your business to – it all requires constant problem solving and imperfect action. You can’t stand still or procrastinate. You just have to keep going and make things happen.

What are the main challenges which you have faced as a new business owner, building your brand from the ground up?

Marketing is a challenge as it’s constant testing to identify what channels work and what doesn’t work. Without a team to bounce ideas off, you have to be resourceful and being able to identify solutions to problems on your own, which can be daunting. We all want to make lots of money quickly but having realistic expectations on how to make this happen and being prepared for the ups and downs with cash flow is hard but all part of business.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Making SARAH JEAN a household name and product for the modern, chic, beauty loving woman. I would like women to use the SARAH JEAN false lashes in the same way they think of mascara. Something they apply easily and just about everyday without any mess or fuss. I would also like to have increased the collection adding new lash styles and a couple of other products that complement the existing range. All already in the pipeline but building the brand as is, is my main priority at the moment.

What is your favourite product in your range?

The signature eyelash adhesive of course. It’s the heart of the SARAH JEAN collection and the reason for the brand. SARAH JEAN is not your standard range of lash products. It includes the world’s first party eyelash adhesive, which I invented right here in Australia. I sometimes forget how amazing that actually is!

If you were to give other women advice who are looking at starting their own business, what would it be?

Do your research. Know your market, your competitors and every detail about your ideal customer. Be prepared to work really hard and be persistent. You will want to give up but the difference between successful people and everyone else, is that successful people do the things that other people can’t be bothered doing. Also, I lived by this when creating SARAH JEAN: if you give up, you didn’t really want it bad enough in the first place. It’s true.

Who is your go-to celebrity for style status and inspiration?

I don’t really follow anyone but if I had to mention names, Jennifer Lopez always seems effortlessly stylish as with Victoria Beckham. I love Cate and Nicole as they’re Aussie gals but on a business front, Lorna Jane-Clarkson is just remarkable and I hope to have the same success and ‘tribe’ like hers.

“Are your eyelashes short? Fair…barely there? You’ve tried using false lashes but it’s messy, difficult & leaves you flustered & late!” Sarah Jean is the answer! Introducing the world’s first party eyelash glue that applies like mascara. For beautiful lashes every time.

Sarah Jean of Sarah Jean Lashes – a woman of substance – creating waves in the Australian beauty industry!

Images by Down the Rabbit Hole Productions, Model, Sarah Jean of Sarah Jean and Photographic Shoot and stunning jewellery by Butterfly Silver – Shot at Alex Perry Hotel and Apartments 

The Stunning SJ004 set of Vegan-friendly lashes, lash glue mascara-style adhesive and the most easy-to-use applicator!.