Learn from our community entrepreneurs! In this interview, Alana Bemmann shares the story of building and growing Cosmopolitan Academy , located in Springwater , Ontario, Canada.
Hi! Tell us about your business and what problem are you solving?
Cosmopolitan Academy is founded on the bases of giving back. A portion of every enrolment helps to send a Lady from a Women and Children’s shelter through our program. Not only are you about to change your life but you are changing others at the same time and this is very powerful.
You will not only learn the necessary techniques to succeed but you will receive a free marketing course with every enrolment to teach you how to market your new service and gain more clientele.
“I want our students to feel like failure is not an option” Alana states and to give our students this assurance Cosmopolitan offers an open door policy above the rest. We allow every student the opportunity to retake their course(s) as many times as needed to feel 100% confident before working on the public!
To set you up for further success Cosmo students also have access to a Society of industry professionals dedicated solely to assist our students in building a sustainable beauty business after certificatio
What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
Alana started with nothing but a pink briefcase and a vision. She was on the verge of bankruptcy and in an ugly divorce when she chose to start Cosmopolitan Academy and begin her ethical mission of giving back. In 5 short years Alana scaled the business tremendously and moved around Canada and the US. Alana is the Founder / SHE-E-O of Cosmopolitan Academy, founder of the Graceful Brand a luxurious lash and brow line for beauty professionals and founder of the #clabagivesback initiative (educating women from Women and Children’s shelters across Canada and the US giving them the confidence, independence and ability to support herself at such a delicate time).
How do you motivate yourself to keep going every day?
I look at my children and know I need to keep doing better day over day to create stability and inspiration form them.
What's your one biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My greatest work is in the initiative #cosmogivesback where Alana sends women across North America from Women and Children’s Shelters through the Cosmopolitan Academy courses. Additionally she gives unlimited support to these women to gain confidence, security and financial freedom during such a trying time.
What’s your one biggest challenge you face and how do you overcome it?
Creating cost effective courses without jeopardizing quality and education for our students. We continue to find ways to cut costs and stay on budget within the company and always give those savings back to our students. Alana herself was on the verge of bankruptcy when she entered the industry and in an ugly divorce when she chose to start Cosmopolitan Academy so she understands her students on all levels and understands the true value of a dollar and importance of education that doesn't fall short and jeopardize a students chance at success.
What are your hiring strategies to build a successful business?
Hire on character everything else you can teach.
To anyone looking to start or grow a business today, what three tips would you give them?
Be consistent
Be grateful
Give back