Meet Angel Johnson | Makeup Artist and Business Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angel Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angel, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of my brand is that I built it with the client in mind. What are their needs? Wants? What’s missing in the market?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
One day in 2014 at the age of 35, I woke up and decided to shift my whole life. I decided to pursue my first passion and become a makeup artist. I jumped into a field dominated by 20 somethings because I knew my happy would only come from aligning myself with my purpose. After a successful 15 year career as an accountant, I took a leap. A blind leap at that because I knew nothing about makeup, makeup artistry, or the makeup biz. However, I have had a passion for it since twelve and was confident I would genuinely enjoy sharing my gift with others.

It wasn’t long after launching as a makeup artist that I learned I had to incorporate some of my business knowledge into my passion in order to make a decent living and ultimately quit my accounting job. I knew other major cities had glam squads and beauty teams but Memphis didn’t have anything like that. That’s how Memphis Makeup Artists was born. I wanted a place for women to get the beauty services they need from a reliable, readily available source. I thought if I’m a woman in need of makeup and I have no idea where to go, what would I do? Google it! I focused on building my business as if I were a client looking for my services. I ensured first page Google placement, an informative and user friendly website, and a diverse team of skilled artists and cosmetologists to handle those clients’ needs.

I’ve faced many challenges on this journey. Convincing other artists to sign up with me and do something that’s never been done was a huge hurdle. But because I had built a network of local artists and earned their trust I was able to build a stellar team. The next biggest challenge was convincing the public we were legitimate. Through consistent customer service, just three years later Memphis Makeup Artists is ranked in the top of the Memphis bridal industry for beauty services.

Now that my company is solidified in the market and I’ve done what others couldn’t, I lend my lessons learned to others. I coach other aspiring makeup artists on how to build a sustainable business around their passion. I want others to find their happy and live the life they want while doing what they love. If I can do it, anyone can.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Memphis has a rich culture unlike any other city in my opinion. If my best friend is visiting for a week there are several must see spots on my list. First stop, Beale Street! We can spend a whole day taking in live entertainment, enjoying world famous barbecue, and bar hopping. While downtown, we would have to visit the Peabody Hotel and see the duck walk, the Riverwalk overlooking the Mississippi River, and Mud Island Park. The trolley would be our mode of transportation that way we can hop off at any stop to take in the sights and visit the many shops.

My bestie is definitely a foodie and Memphis is a foodie town. We would get burgers from Alex’s, bbq from One and Only, tacos from Maciel’s, catfish from Soul Fish Cafe, and hot wings from Ching’s. We would also visit Phillip Ashley Rix, the world famous chocolatier.

And what’s a trip to Memphis without seeing the history and arts that make this city so great? We would visit the National Civil Rights Museum, the Brooks Museum, and the Dixon Gallery.

There’s so many hidden gems in Memphis. I think we will need another week.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to Shoutout my long-time mentor, confidant, and encourager for helping me achieve success with not only my business but my life. My eldest cousin, Jerome Greene, began grooming me for success at age 13. He gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Whenever I’m at a crossroad I can count on him to guide me the right way. I was also able to capitalize on his influence and network to build my own. As a business owner these days, your influence and reach can be your greatest asset.

Website: Memphismakeup.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/Memphismakeupdotcom

Twitter: Twitter.com/memphismakeup1

Facebook: Facebook.com/memphismakeupdotcom

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC60l-nkOPAdh6C2C8tnEOnQ

Image Credits
C.L. Goose Maiden