MJ Thomas is the founder of Malaya Studios with locations specializing in lash extensions, permanent makeup, skincare, and waxing. She is also the founder and lead educator of MalayaMade Pro Lash Academy helping lash artists + estheticians build profitable businesses through courses. From solo entrepreneurship to now 2 locations and 10 resident artists + growing MJ is dedicated to helping other women unlock their potential and find their freedom in the beauty industry.
What Malaya Studios is all about?
I started Malaya Skin Studio as a solo beauty entrepreneur. I specialized in skin care, waxing, and lash extensions. Malaya Studios has now expanded into 2 locations with 10 resident estheticians helping women save time and feel confident through beauty services. We also offer lash and business training for lash artists and estheticians who want to build profitable businesses.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I was 19 years old when I had my first daughter. I worked, went to school, and was a bartender on the weekends when my daughter was with her dad. I burned the candle not only on both sides but also in the middle … and with a torch. Burn out much? I remember looking at my life and my schedule and wondering, “how am I ever going to get ahead?”
I come from a very hard-working family, my mother finished her Masters the same year she finished her chemo treatments while being a nurse. My dad was an almost pro basketball player in the Philippines and dropped it all for a chance to come to America. I mean, there was no complaining in my house about any of the decisions and responsibilities we had. Cry your river somewhere else, this house is made for humble hustlers.
One day- I remember asking my mother if she always knew she wanted to be in the medical field. She told me it was her life’s dream. What happened next, I will never forget.
I said, “I don’t feel that way about what I’m doing…”
She said, “Stick with it, you’ll get used to it.”
Now, there are things that we need to GRIT through, but I defined THIS WAS SETTLING.
I asked her if she could do anything without thinking about what it would require to sacrifice- she said with much excitement, “I would open a medspa where we do facials, laser, injectables… all the things!”. So I looked into it…. And as I spiraled deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, I emerged from that rabbit hole enrolled in a local beauty school’s Esthetics Program.
After getting my license, I went on a mission to make this my full-time career. I incorporated being a part-time esthetician into my schedule and told myself when I started making as much as my main job, I’ll quit that and keep my bartending job until I made the same as being an esthetician. Literally, 2 months later, I quit all my jobs and for once, had just one. I went pedal to the metal full-throttle building my clientele. This was also the first year I made my first 6 figures.
Now 12 years later, I have two studios with 10 resident artists. I have helped women quit their day jobs and side hustles to create the life of their dreams just like I did.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
I remember what it was like working for someone else. I remember needing to take time off to be with my young daughter because she was prone to febrile seizures and being told there was “no coverage”. I remember feeling guilty for wanting to call in sick to take vacations I wasn’t approved for.
That was hard.
Running my businesses comes with its own set of hard things. I remind myself of which hard I chose and why I chose it. I chose to stay driven + motivated in my business because I’d rather do it for myself than for anyone else.
What is your favorite quote?
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem,and smarter than you think” – Winnie The Pooh. Yes, Winnie The Pooh.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
Hold on to your why. It’s got to be so good that it silences your fears and ignites a fire even in the darkest of times. Know that it is going to be hard and prepare to be resilient for all that comes with building your own empire.
Be brave enough to try. For every worry, remember that there is an equal opposite possibility! Bet on yourself and trust that everything is figureoutable.
Surround yourself with like-minded people or be alone. Your dreams are fragile while you’re building them. Reach out to people who have been where you are trying to go, get a coach or a mentor. I created a coaching program for beauty entrepreneurs because I would have scaled a lot faster with the guidance + blueprint like I created. Not to mention I would have saved a lot of money knowing what I know now – from creating/building a strong brand, business financial literacy, curating client experience, and establishing work culture. It’s so valuable to have guidance so that you can get your message and service out into the world. Stay in your zone of genius and seek out help in the areas that aren’t your strengths. Stay green and keep learning.
What is your definition of success?
Success means unlocking options. Having the option to spend time the way I choose and with whom I choose. It’s not just the attainment of money or things, but the freedom of options.
How do you personally overcome fear?
If I fear failing at something new, I lean all the way in and figure it out as I go. Think about it- what if it works out?!
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Time Blocking. It’s so important to have a schedule and a general routine. It ensures that the needle will keep moving no matter how much you may have on the table. Time is the one thing once spent you can never get back. So allocating time for all the things is so important.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
- Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
- Mind your business- James Wedmore
- PR Accelerator- Lauren Salaun
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
Find something I could teach. Create a Kajabi account ($200) Teach myself Kajabi (free) and create a landing page. Get on Canva (free) + create shareable valuable content. Pick a social media platform to focus on. Get in launch mode and start owning my expertise to sell my course. I would spend $50 a day on ads until I figured out my sweet spot.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
I love Lauren Salaun’s PR Accelerator Program. I’m learning how to own my story + learn how to do my own PR. It’s so important to put yourself out there. People need to hear your message and what you provide. Visibility is intentional, and I’m so grateful to have her as a coach and friend.
If you started your business again, what things would you do differently?
I would have invested in a coaching program to help speed up my learning curve. There are so many workshops and programs geared towards entrepreneurship and business building now. I would have invested in mentorship to save me + make me more money in the long run. Everything is a learning opportunity so no regrets.
What are the top 3 online tools and resources you’re currently using to grow your company?
- CANVA- It’s the easiest tool to create graphics, visuals, and even presentations on. I use it for all my training and online courses as well as all my social media and web content.
- TRELLO- Organization is the key to PEACE when there are so many moving parts and hands in the pot. It helps keep my team and assistants on point and keeps the phone calls and emails at bay.
- KAJABI- The platform where my online courses live. It’s also very intuitive and if I can figure it out, anyone can.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
- Not having a CPA. Business financial literacy is HUGE. Everyone wants to be their own boss until they have to pay the taxes. It’s also important to set up the correct structure to separate personal assets from business assets. When I finally got a CPA and incorporated my business, the skies were truly the limit.
- Assuming people just understood the culture of my business. In the service industry I just assumed that people knew how to talk to clients. I realized I had to create and teach the studio culture. I had to curate client experience and also teach how to execute it.
- Not establishing a strong brand. A brand is not just a logo. It’s an experience. I learned how to curate the whole Malaya experience and replicate it through building the brand.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
We’ve been in business for 12 years, and the most fruitful marketing has been sharing referrals and testimonials. Before that, we had to get people in the doors, so maintaining a presence in our community by participating in events, meeting and collaborating with local vendors, and utilizing free platforms like social media has been huge.
During the Shelter in Place, we leaned heavy into social media and it has been our hard-working business partner. It has been the new way we stay connected to many while staying focused on our work.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
My mind. There will always be challenges in business that will require more creativity, more out of the box thinking, more perspective. The greatest challenge I experience is my mind and what I allow it to believe. After surviving the shutdowns here in California with both businesses still intact and thriving more than ever before, I’ve realized that mindset is everything and it can be my biggest asset or biggest challenge.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
MalayaMade will reach beautypreneurs worldwide. We specialize in small-batch, high-quality lash training, and help women claim their independence by building their own profitable beauty businesses. There are more locations to come.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
The pandemic and lockdown pushed me towards education + business mentorship. It afforded me the time to develop the Malayamade beauty business program. The pandemic really made me re-evaluate the streams of impact I was focusing on and showed me the blind spots I was sleeping on. I realized that I was leaving opportunities and money on the table by not utilizing social media to its full potential.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
I don’t separate myself from competitors, I try to build community with them. Our values reflect women who want to empower women. There’s room for everyone at the table to eat. The beauty industry has been in a movement where women are supporting other women and clapping for each other. We embrace that culture. And instead of separating ourselves from other competitors, we clap for them. Law of Abundance… we’re linking arms with people who are here for that.
How can readers get in touch with you?
You can find me on Instagram @MJ.MalayaMade or online at www.MalayaMade.com
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