Female Founders | Jelena Vucica: The Cosmetic Lounge

With a passion for the cosmetic industry that started by simply working alongside a Plastic Surgeon, Jenina Vucica fueled this passion and established The Cosmetic Lounge who believes in a natural approach to cosmetic treatments with the aim of placing confidence in each patient while maintaining their unique beauty.

Now operating via three clinics in New South Wales with plans for further expansion, they continue to provide cosmetic injectables and advanced skin treatments while maintaining honest and realistic treatments.

We had the chance to talk to Jenina and dive deeper into her journey in the cosmetic industry.

How did you come to start your business? Was there a particular spark or a significant turning point?

I started quite young in the beauty industry working as a skin therapist for a world-renowned Plastic Surgeon in Sydney. At the age of 20, my passion for the industry started to really grow and so I started taking steps to further my career. Seeing how I could make my patients smile and help them feel their best, I decided to begin my own professional journey in cosmetic injectables. The turning point for me was seeing the difference I could make in people’s lives; it was at this point I knew I had to pursue this career.

When you initially started your business, what hurdles did you face?

Starting the business was the easy part! The real difficulty has been growing. I noticed the more my business grew, the more hurdles there were to face. The most memorable hurdles when I initially started were with my relationships. Keeping and maintaining relationships that are beneficial was a real challenge in the early days of my business.

Who or what was integral to you overcoming these hurdles?

Definitely my support network of colleagues and staff. I’m lucky to have them by my side as they help to keep me grounded and results-driven.

What makes your business unique?

We’re so popular by reason of word-of-mouth and that’s because I’ve ensured that The Cosmetic Lounge remains true to its foundations which are built on reliability and honesty. Our patients can be comfortable knowing their cosmetic journey is in our hands and safety comes first.

We work with each individual patient to design a unique treatment plan that is not sales-focused but tailored to their needs. Furthermore, we make sure that every patient who leaves each appointment understands all aspects of the treatment.

Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years?

Hopefully focusing my attention on work with people with various disabilities. This is something that’s been on my mind for a long time and I’m excited to semi-retire and be able to be of use to individuals with disabilities.

What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

My favourite aspect is being able to see the people around me – the people I care for – grow with me. It makes all the hard work and all the tough times worth it when I can look around and see smiles on the faces of those I love, thanks in part to me and my business.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

• The ability to use your initiative.
• To be a people-person who can lead a team well
• To be flexible and open to change.

How do you handle doubt?

I’m not afraid to express any doubts that I have openly and clearly with the right people. Communicating in this frank and direct way allows me to think more clearly and re-focus as needed. I just talk about it. I’m not afraid to speak up!

How do you make the most of your day? Any tips?

But first… coffee! I begin my day with a coffee – always. Then I get straight to work. I’ve developed a supportive group of collogues that help me make the most out of every day. My one tip is to delegate. Learn how to delegate. I have learnt to let go of trying to do it all myself. I trust my staff. Entrepreneurialism is a lot of work and to make sure you’re making the most out of each day, you should be able to delegate tasks.

What is a piece of advice you wish you had been told before starting your entrepreneurial journey?

You can never prepare for the road ahead. The best way to handle the entrepreneurial journey is to take the ups with downs and enjoy the journey along the way.