The Most Important Step In Starting A Business Is Preparation: DripLab Beauty Center
All of the interviews we conducted for series were with people who either work online or from home to emphasise the fact that it is possible to make money without going to an office or subscribing to the 9-5. After all, flexibility often (though not always) translates to freedom.
Today though, we’ve decided to feature a brick-and-mortar business that is based in a thriving city in the Philippines. Called DripLab Beauty Centre, it’s primarily a glutathione injection spa that delivers glutathione (and other vitamins, minerals and amino acids) directly to the bloodstream instead of first going through the digestive system via an IV.
In this interview, you’ll see that the most important step in starting a business is preparation. And this is true for online businesses as well as the more traditional brick-and-mortar ones.
Side Note: You’re probably asking, “What is glutathione?”
According to the Foundational Medicine Review, glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that can actually protect the body from damage and may be used to treat a wide range of health conditions.
Don’t worry, it’s administered by a licenced health professional and is unlikely to cause harmful side effects (although it does whiten the skin quite a bit).
If you’re at all curious about glutathione injection spas or brick-and-mortar businesses in general, then read on. This post is for you.
Starting out
Can you give us a brief intro?
Hi, my name is Krystal Villena-Cantos. I’m 28 years old and come from Batangas City, a 1st class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines.
How did you get into the beauty niche? Who/what inspired you?
A friend who opened a few glutathione spas in Metro Manila (Philippine capital) invited my brother to invest in his business. After thinking about it, we thought it was a good idea to bring it to Batangas, where we’re based – local to us and hardly any competition.
DripLab
Who is DripLab for? What made you choose this business in the first place?
I am a fan of antioxidants and vitamin drips ever since they first took off.
Not only because they eradicate the dullness of your skin – giving you a certain glow, freshness and vitality but, more importantly, they boost your immunity, energy levels and overall health.
It’s also a great hydration therapy.
What was the highlight of your journey?
The customers.
DripLab caters to people from all walks of life.
Our customers are our living proof that IV therapies improve overall well being. They feel more confident and now carry themselves with pride after going through the sessions, which improve their physical attributes and overall health.
And what was the low point? What are some of the challenges and how did you manage these?
Opening a glutathione spa is never easy, especially since you have competition sprouting here and there.
We manage this challenge by giving our clients glutathione of the highest quality. It’s what we do.
We’re not doing this only for the profit (though obviously, that’s important so we can keep operating), but also for our customer’s satisfaction.
Did you ever consider giving up or going back to the 9-5? Why (not)?
Actually no, owning your own business gives you the freedom and the luxury to be on your own. You own your time.
The drawback though is that you now have to think of the people working for you. You need to make sure that their welfare is taken care of.
Greater freedom equals greater responsibility.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to transition from full-time employment to becoming a business owner? What can they expect? What qualities, skills and certifications do they need to have?
Opening your own business is not as easy as it sounds.
You have to contend with planning, costing and the ever-present fear that you will fail.
But (and I always say this to myself), you will never know what can happen until you try it. You will never know that you can do something until you are in that moment.
You think of possible failure, of potential disappointment. But you have to remove this from your head, get past the fear and just do it.
Take that leap and jump!
Take a (calculated) risk and ask for guidance from above. Divine guidance and trust in that guidance will give you that push.
Personal life
Aside from running DripLab, what else are you working on? What else keeps you busy?
Aside from DripLab, you can also stop by and visit Tunebox KTV Bar located at 3:16 Foodpark, 9010 Diversion Road, Wanda Place, Brgy Balagtas 4200 Batangas City where you can indulge in the Filipino passion for singing.
At the end of a busy day, visit the KTV bar to relax. Singing always helps release the stresses of daily life.
Thank you very much for taking part, Krystal.
Final thoughts
I don’t know if you noticed but in every Beyond The 9-5 interview, one thing surfaces as the same.
Success doesn’t come easy.
It takes hard work and dedication.
It requires a leaning into fear in order to master it. Get past it. Use it as fuel to keep moving forward.
This is essentially what Krystal is saying. In the beginning (and sometimes, all throughout your journey), there will be doubt and fear. There will be competition and challenges.
But if you have faith in life, in God (or whatever guiding light you choose for yourself) and your own ability to direct your life, you’ll know that success is inevitable.
It all starts within.
Then, once you’ve leaned into your fear and gone beyond it, the practical work begins.
You look at the opportunity in front of you and then look into it.
Research it thoroughly. Find out what (skills, equipment etc) you need to make a success of it.
Yes, in the end, you need to take a risk. But this needs to be a calculated risk. You need to already have done your homework before you jump.
Take the leap, yes. But I’m a firm believer that you also need to have a plan for the landing.
What do you think? Do you have any advice on how to get past fear so you can spring into action? Do let us know in the comments section below!
