Inside the Beauty Biz - Luxury, Loyalty & Leadership with Julie Kaufman

Jennifer Norman:
What started with a spray tan gun and a dream has become a Brooklyn beauty empire that's touching lives far beyond the mirror. My guest today, Julie Kaufman, is the founder of Bronze by Julie and Brooklyn Beauty Lounge. Two businesses built on artistry, heart, and the belief that true beauty starts from within. With years of experience in luxury beauty services, Julie has grown from being a hands on service provider to a visionary CEO. She's a devoted mother of three, a passionate mentor, and part of a new wave of entrepreneurs, proving that you can scale a business without losing the soul that made you fall in love with your craft in the first place. In this conversation, Julie is going to share her journey of building two thriving businesses and one of the most competitive beauty markets in the country. The methods that give her the freedom and the balance that she wants and the mindset shifts that empower beauty professionals to take turn passion into profit. Whether you're in the beauty industry or just dreaming of your own entrepreneurial leap, you'll walk away inspired, equipped, and ready to build something beautiful inside and out.

Jennifer Norman:
Welcome to the show, Julie.

Julie Kaufman:
Thank you so much, Jennifer. I'm so happy to be on the show. Thank you for having me.

Jennifer Norman:
I am so happy to have Brooklyn in the house. I am a former New Yorker myself. Now I'm in Los Angeles, but New York will always be in my heart.

Julie Kaufman:
Yeah, New York, definitely fun to live in.

Jennifer Norman:
Nothing like it. Well, you've got to take us back to the beginning. And what inspired you to start your first business, which was Bronzed by Julie. And then what led you to your expansion into Brooklyn Beauty Lounge?

Julie Kaufman:
So Bronze by Julie happened a little bit by accident where I was doing something completely different. Before I, I started off in the medical field, I was working with doctors with eyeglasses, doing a lot of sales. And because my schedule was not exactly how I wanted it to be with having two small children at the time, I decided, well, let me look into something that I can do on my own so that I don't have to ask for time off, thinking I'm gonna have more free time for myself and for my family. And one day I actually ended up calling out a spray tan artist to come to my house. And I said, okay, how does this whole thing work? This is so interesting. My husband actually was home at the time and witnessed the whole thing. So I called her out, she comes to my house. I lived in an apartment building at the time.

Julie Kaufman:
And she comes in and within 15 minutes, I get a spray tan. She pops open a tent, she sprays me, and we're done. And she leaves. And we kind of just looked at each other. And I said, I'm like, that was 15 minutes. And she said she's very busy. And I think I'm interested to figure out, like, how can this all work? Maybe I can do something like this. And so it kind of started from there.

Julie Kaufman:
Did my research. I figured out where can I take courses, what can I do? I found a course in New York. At first, I went to one course, I went to another course. I got certified, and I absolutely fell in love with the fields. And from there, I started taking clients in my home. And I also started going all over New York, working crazy hours, still maintaining my optician job because I was afraid of losing that income and not knowing where this business is going to go. And luckily, it went really well.

Jennifer Norman:
Amazing.

Julie Kaufman:
And from there, I decided I need to expand. And that's where Brooklyn Beauty Lounge came into play.

Jennifer Norman:
I love this story because it was just merely that you had a service that you fell in love with and was absolutely intrigued. And isn't that just the way that, like, the best ideas work? It's like if you love the experience, if you found some magic in it, especially when it comes to beauty. I mean, here you were, a new mom, and it's like, you just want a little bit of pampering and you want to have something that's convenient. And lo and behold, like, I used to be a tanorexic. I probably still am. When I lived in New York, many, many moons ago, I had seasonal affect disorder. So I was going to. Don't even.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah, do not judge. I would go to the booth, like, almost every day and get the UV tan because I just needed to have some, like, UV in my life at that moment. But then when I discovered spray tanning, I would actually go to a salon, like a mystic tan place, and actually have it done. I never knew that something like this existed, that you could actually have this done in the home. And when I had first learned about you and thought, oh, mobile, does that mean that you've got a truck that goes by and somebody, like, jumps into the truck and you get your spray done? I had no idea that you did it in the. And I was thinking, do they do it in the shower? I didn't know that you actually could just pop up a tent and have that done. That is absolutely amazing.

Julie Kaufman:
Yeah. So actually, spray tanning, I don't believe it's been around too, too long. When I first started, there was hardly any spray tan artists in the area of New York of Brooklyn, which New York is a pretty busy area. Yeah, until even now I still have people calling me with the same exact questions. How does this work? Is my house going to be dirty? Do I have block anything here? And the beauty of it is that it is so easy, it is so fast. You are not exposed to UV rays. And by the way, I'm from Staten island, so we lived in tanning boots. This was a thing in high school.

Julie Kaufman:
Like, well, we would be going there every other day, we'd get packages, we did all of that. I wouldn't even be caught in the even laying out in the sun. But I always had a passion also for tanning as well. So I guess this helped me figure up. I really do love this. But it's the instant satisfaction that not only my clients get, but I truly do get that instant satisfaction when I see their reaction and how happy, how that was so easy. That was amazing. And lasts for however long they need for it to last.

Julie Kaufman:
And that's it. So those same questions, how does it work? Do I need to cover anything? So yes, it's super easy. Pop open a tent, we bring all the equipment with us, we're in and out of your house within literally 20 minutes. And that's it.

Jennifer Norman:
That is so intriguing. And I can say like, for somebody who has definitely done the self tanning with the self tanning mitts and all, I mean there's really nothing like having a professional bray you and get in the nooks and crannies and really doing a very even beautiful job. I know that you've got a whole like bridal clientele, you've got celebrities that come to you or you go to them rather. And so this is something that is, it's really a very special moment of pampering for yourself to have like this one on one treatment. And you do the mixing. You just really customize that service to a place where people are really feeling like, wow, this, you're spending time, it's not that much time out of your life so that it's not inconvenient for you. But even those little bits and those moments that you can take for yourself really just help you to feel so much better. They could really brighten your mood and then you've got to glorious lustrous glow afterwards.

Julie Kaufman:
That's actually the exact reaction that keeps me going where it's anyone who you take that same outfit and you put it on, you don't have a spray tan. And then once you do have a spray tan, it just completely changes your look. I've even had clients who are like, oh, I'm between two outfits. I don't know exactly what I'm going to wear. And they'll say, the one outfit that I am interested in wearing, I'm not even sure if I look that good in it. Then we'll speak. I always follow up with my clients and they'll say, oh, I ended up wearing that outfit because the tan just completely changed. It's really great.

Julie Kaufman:
Yeah.

Jennifer Norman:
Isn't that funny? I used to work for the sun business of Neutrogena for a long time ago, ways back. But there was this one woman who, she used to make me chuckle because she was like, well, everybody knows that tan fat looks better than white fat. And I was like, where did you get that statement from? It just makes you look thinner and more svelte.

Jennifer Norman:
And even sometimes when if you guys don't know if you're listening, I mean, they'll even do airbrush, like abs, and give you like a faux six pack. Really defining the muscles and making you look really, really good and cut. It's amazing.

Julie Kaufman:
So that's actually funny. That's something that a lot of the clients do actually say. They say that instantly. They're like, I lose at least 10 pounds initially. Because the way that I do it, I mean, at this point, I've really customized my spray tanning and my team as well. They go through such a thorough training. When you said detailed. I am extremely detailed, and I really prepare my clients because the most important thing is I want you to be happy, but I want you to really get the value out of what you're out of the service that I'm providing for you.

Julie Kaufman:
And if you're not prepared the right way, if you're not guided the right direction, there is definitely a chance that you can mess up the tan. And unfortunately, who's to blame it would us, right? So I do the most of the most, down to the point that I have them go in crazy positions to get under every. Every little detail. Bending is bending that and all of that. Some clients even say they're like, I feel like I'm a bodybuilder. I'm standing, like, with my legs out, and everything. And it's all worth it.

Jennifer Norman:
Exactly. The Egyptian, all the different signs.

Julie Kaufman:
It's two coats, so it's like double the work, but it's all worth it super fast, like I said.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah.

Julie Kaufman:
And again, I make sure that before every client leaves, and my team as well, we are repeating and just following up and making sure. So I do feel that clients truly do appreciate that because I've had feedback where they've been to places where it hasn't been the same in that way. And I've learned through the years, how can I improve? How can I improve? And at this point, I mean, I make sure that everything is being covered.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah. And when you look good, you feel good. There's just something about being able to feel like you've gotten a touch of sun. You feel almost like you've had a little mini vacation afterwards. And I think that that's something that's very special, like just psychologically about you, what you look like with a tan, and what you feel like inside from having a little bit of like a sun kissed look.

Jennifer Norman:
And those formulas have gotten so much better. I mean, I remember when DHA smelled really, really bad and they were very streaky. It was just so good. And the formulas have really gotten so much better. They look really, really natural. It's not like orangey fake.

Julie Kaufman:
They're. The colors now are truly beautiful. I actually happen to formulate my own because I've been through so, so many that kind of failed.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah.

Julie Kaufman:
But I press them first on myself so I make sure that I'm using the best. And luckily my formula that I've already come out with is there's really no smell. Actually, there's no smell. That's something that also like, I keep hearing feedback. Oh, wow, this smell. It's great fried chicken, which is what it used to smell like or like bird like, it would have that smell lingering. And then the color really like that was so, so important to me. So with Bronze by Julie, you truly do get a bronzed glow.

Julie Kaufman:
That is the key. You really have to have a really good technique as well. Because it's not just about the formula as the shrieking and all of that. That's actually all part of the pre and the post care. You are guided in the right direction and you're really taught how to prepare for the tan, what to do after. My clients, I can say for sure, are not walking around shrieky. They're not walking around blotchy, because like I said, I don't allow them to leave without knowing exactly the moment they leave to the last drop of the spray that they have left on them. It has perfect.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, that is so amazing. Okay, so let us switch gears because you've actually perfected this business of being bronzed and doing this mobile treatment and you're developing this thriving business there. And then if that wasn't enough, you not only had this one business, but you decided to get into a second one, Brooklyn Beauty Lounge. And you have to tell us what in the world was going on there. Why did you decide that you want. Wanted to take on something so much more?

Julie Kaufman:
So Brooklyn Beauty Lounge happened. I just happened to be on Facebook and I saw somebody is selling a salon that was. Happened to be local, Very local. It was very close to where I was living before. And I said, what? I'd love to go look at it, because I know that a lot of my current clients happen to go there. So again, I dragged my husband and I said...

Jennifer Norman:
He's so supportive!

Julie Kaufman:
Well, he's supportive, but he likes to give me a little bit of, let's get back to Earth. It's not that easy, but I'm okay with that because I don't need easy. So I said, no, I really want to go look at it. And he came. I took a look at everything and definitely didn't expect the level of how hard everything was going to be, but I was definitely ready for that challenge, and I did feel that it was a good experience. Expansion to Bronze by Julie, which was very important because I'm not all over the place. It kind of all became one location. So we took it from there. And it did take quite a while because I did really evaluate, is this for me? Can I really do this? I was lucky enough that I was able to take some time and see what I was getting myself into.

Julie Kaufman:
But obviously I ended up deciding that, yes, I can do it, I want to do it. And six and a half years later, wow.

Jennifer Norman:
So it's almost as if, like, they say that these kinds of opportunities come about when you're ready for them, and it's like you're taking that leap. It's like the universe is giving you whispers that you're ready for that something more. It's like you decided that this former life that you had was just not suiting you and your needs. And then launching this idea into beauty and then really getting excited and passionate about that made you intrigued. And it's like, let me explore this a little bit more. What were some of the criteria other than you said that it was close to your home, you said that they had an established clientele, Everything was really there. Some of your own Bronze by Julie clients also went there. Were there any other things that went into your decision about, yes, this is the right step for me, and I'm actually going to pull the trigger?

Julie Kaufman:
Absolutely. So. Well, the first thing I want to say Is that we specialize in Russian manicures. So that... Have you ever had a Russian manicure?

Jennifer Norman:
I have not to be honest with you. No.

Julie Kaufman:
So we'll have to get you to try that.

Jennifer Norman:
Next time I'm in Brooklyn, I'm going to come for a Russian manicure. Wow. It's funny because most of them out here, here, they're Vietnamese shops and it's like that. We know the French manicure, but I've never heard of the Russian manicure.

Julie Kaufman:
So not to go too deep into it, but a Russian manicure is very detailed, and it takes, on average, about an hour and a half to two hours.

Jennifer Norman:
Wow.

Julie Kaufman:
But the results last. And you're here only once a month. And wow. Hand draw everything. It's more about the detail of how they clean the cuticles and all of that. So when I did not have my own salon, I was going somewhere else and getting a Russian manicure there. And I did love a lot about the salon where I just kept looking and thinking to myself, it would be great if there was one location that had everything there. Because at that point, I was running around, eyebrows here, hair there, all over the place.

Julie Kaufman:
And that is what I loved about Brooklyn Beauty Lounge, which was named something different prior to that. But when I came to look at the salon, I realized, I said, this is it. This is what I wanted for myself. And I'm sure this is what Brooklyn really needs. They need a location where we can do everything under one in one place. You come in with us, and we truly do have clients who come in and spend the day with us.

Jennifer Norman:
Wow. Yeah. So they're moving from one station to the next.

Julie Kaufman:
That's what they're doing. And they love it. Once a month, you spend the day with us. We really treat them well here. And that's it. And they don't have to go and wonder, where am I going to go for this? Where am I going to go from that? We have it all here.

Jennifer Norman:
So when you first bought the salon and came in, like, where was the learning curve steepest for you?

Julie Kaufman:
Where do I begin? Let's start with the fact that I've never even managed. Okay, okay.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, my gosh.

Julie Kaufman:
So this was...

Jennifer Norman:
You jumped in and drank from the fire hose, girl.

Julie Kaufman:
I just went right in. It was not easy, I'll tell you that. But for me, the. Basically, I'll start like this, Taking over an existing location where you already have staff that working here at the time. And they were here for about a year or so. They've already established everything, their own meaning. They had their rules that were there. They had everything that they know.

Julie Kaufman:
Right. And here comes person with new ideas and they want to change things, make things different. Not everybody is happy with that decision. Yeah, that was probably the most challenging for me in the beginning, and everything else that came with it, I had to learn from the beginning.

Jennifer Norman:
Did the people who worked there, were they employees or were they freelance? Like, they rented a station or how was it set up and is it different now?

Julie Kaufman:
So actually, they were employees, and I did keep it that way.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, okay. Yeah. Wonderful, wonderful. What was the expansion of services like? You said that the Russian manicure was the thing that really kind of sold you on it, but then they also offered these other things. Did you find that there were any changes that needed to be made in terms of the services or the people that were providing the services to get to a place where you felt like, this is really my vision of luxury and what the experience should be like?

Julie Kaufman:
Definitely. We expanded almost immediately. So it started off with just six nail tech tables. What I did love about the salon was that I saw a lot of opportunity here. The amount of space that I could expand with that was not being used at the time, and that's what I ended up doing. So I added a bunch of more services, actually. We added laser hair removal. We added another floor here, actually.

Julie Kaufman:
So at the moment, we have three floors for this.

Jennifer Norman:
Wow.

Julie Kaufman:
It started off with one, and we are now at three floors.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, my goodness. Way to go.

Julie Kaufman:
Thank you. And we offer, like I said, everything now, but at that time, it was just the basic. It was nails, it was hair. They did eyebrows at the time and eyelash extensions. And then I ended up adding even more services, like I said, laser hair removal. We now do massages here. We do head spa here.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, my gosh.

Julie Kaufman:
Japanese head spa, actually. So we're doing a lot of more services here because, again, we have the space for it. And that is the reason why this particular location, I felt, was ideal.

Jennifer Norman:
Beautiful. I am so curious about, like, what do you think is, like, the toughest part, aside from, like, I know the human resource aspect of it is always a dicey one. And, like, dealing with personalities, shall we say, can be challenging. I know being in the beauty industry for over 25 years, I used to complain when I worked for companies. I was like, why is there such a mean girl attitude everywhere I'm going? I just. It was just like, something that I really wanted to make sure that whatever I did, it was not that. Was there anything that you were like, this is my vision of how I want this business to look and feel, what my philosophy is, and what I want the customer to feel when she's coming in and when she's walking away.

Julie Kaufman:
So for the beginning of having the salon, initially, I didn't put too, too much thought into what is the feel that I want as far as from the employees, because again, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wasn't prepared for all of that.

Jennifer Norman:
Just learning.

Julie Kaufman:
Yeah, learning. But as far as for clients, it was that one stop shop idea, definitely more towards that luxury feel and that I was in the sales industry basically and I have been working with clients my whole life. I know that customer service, and customer service for me is absolute number one. So from day one, that was always a thing. I knew that my staff needed to be aware of this. I of course, am very much aware of it. And so customer service had to be it. So what we do here, we offer tea, coffee, champagne, we sit them down, we really get to know our clients.

Julie Kaufman:
Here we have people coming in every two to three weeks. So we really do get to know them. So that was key to make sure that that was priority. Later on I learned that, yes, we're all women and things happen. And so that's something that I've been working on as of recently, even more as far as what the culture is here. So that hasn't been as easy, but because again, it's people who have been working here for many years and they're used to a certain way. But I've learned that that is extremely important because clients feel it. We want to make sure that we're giving them the best service.

Julie Kaufman:
And whatever is happening within is. It's important that it's all going nice and smooth. So as far as customer service and how the staff is here, that's something that is ongoing. That's something that we're always working on. And to be honest with you, my vision is, is slowly more and more coming to life. I would say.

Jennifer Norman:
Amazing. Amazing. Yeah. It's certainly with a lot of the great businesses. And something that I've learned over time is that you can tell people how to be till you're blue in the face. And they can read the manuals, they can go through the trainings, but unless that they really see role models displaying the way that I was like, oh my gosh, I'm inspired by the way that person is behaving or is treating their customers in the way that the customers keep coming back and this sense of camaraderie rapport. Some people are like, this is my therapy. I come in and see my hair person or my nail technician and I tell them I spill my guts.

Jennifer Norman:
And this is like cathartic for me. And so you're developing these kinds of really important human relationships that hands on touching and really just impacting people beyond what the superficial beauty is. I mean you're helping that person in so many other ways. In some cases when you've got brides, I mean this is like their most important day of their lives when they, they're wanting like their nails or their hair or their soul, anything done. And so it's like that person to feel like their very best in every single touch point that you're able to bring to the table. And I think that more that people kind of realize that, ingrain that, then they're like, yeah, I want that for my life too. I want to come into a place where I feel really good about the people that I'm working with, about what I'm bringing to the table, about feeling my own sense of purpose and however big or small it is. And then that from there is able to become the culture and scale and really kind of convert the old genre of beauty.

Jennifer Norman:
What was just superficial and trying to like show off or please somebody else. It's really about what can I do to really kind of elicit more self care and help myself be the best that I can be.

Julie Kaufman:
Yeah, this is a part of that self care where you're waiting for that appointment. You're waiting two, three weeks for that appointment. This is your time. And that's something that I made sure that the team is very much aware of that, that we are here not just to provide the service, but we're here to give that feeling of you're welcome here. We know you, you're part of our team as a client. You're not just a client, you're not just a name Here we get to know when they're going on vacation. We have clients who are pregnant, give birth, get married, we know, go through all of those steps with them. And as far as that therapy, the same goes for Bronze by Julie.

Julie Kaufman:
Within that 20 minute appointment, I get to know my clients so well. Yeah, really, like I've been doing it for already eight years, if not a little bit more. I've already lost count. But I've been through all the stages with them. They've been through all of my stages too. And they've been to my apartment, I've been to their home. They've come to my salon, they're like, wow, Julie. Like this is... We've been through it all together and it is such a wonderful feeling.

Julie Kaufman:
And as far as my team, I make it very known that we are a team, as you've mentioned before, as an example, to be an example for the team. I find that to be very important. So I am very hands on. I definitely spend the time upstairs. Upstairs, I say meaning on the main floor. And I spend the time with the clients, I discuss things with them, I give them that attention that I feel that they deserve. And my team really does see it and they feed off of that.

Julie Kaufman:
And then I do see that they do replicate a lot of what I've been doing, which I love because they understand that it's not just a receptionist sitting at the front desk. They're really taking part in finding out what is the client like and getting to know them. So it's really nice.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah, yeah. I think in a time where people are beyond the nine to five, it's like we want to do something that is really meaningful and that has impact and that has purpose. And I think that this is something that's very special and precious and something that I think that the beauty industry doesn't get enough credit for in that there is this, this just human connection, this contact, what you learn in 20 minutes about somebody and the recurring socialization which is so important in a time where we've come from this place where we haven't had. It's been isolation for a few years and then you're coming out and you're finally able to treat yourself with these sorts of things. It's, it's just so nice to be able to like have these conversations with other human beings so that you really feel like somebody cares about you rather than as just like kind of like taking an order, for example.

Julie Kaufman:
It's so true that the most important thing I think that connection have with the clients, that's something that not everybody can provide for them. So I make sure that something that we can provide for the clients. And I do, like I said, I feel that they feel that from coming here. So it's like where everybody knows your name.

Jennifer Norman:
Yes. Cheers to that. Now I know that you've been talking about expansion, and certainly expansion comes when you've got satisfied customers. So yay, yay you. And I'm just curious, like, how did you know when it was right to say, okay, this is going to come next? Has any of those expansion plans, like not been successful where you've had to pivot, make some other decisions. I'm just curious what this has been like as you're thinking about, like, building systems and creating scalability in your business.

Julie Kaufman:
There has been so far, only one idea that I am putting on hold for now. So we have the space for it. And this happened with the extra floor that we recently renovated in January. And over there, we were thinking of doing something more aesthetic. However, with my limited time I have to businesses and everything, I decided that for now, this is not the time to do it. However, I did try to pursue it for a little while. It was taking a lot of my attention away, and I did get a little nervous that I wasn't going to be able to give it my all for that particular part of it.

Julie Kaufman:
I decided that we're not going to go with that, at least not for now. And I recently learned also that too much is also not a good thing. So let's focus on one thing at a time, and let's perfect it to how you want it perfected. So since I'm not there yet and I feel that I still have some more work to do so far, that particular part of it, we decided that we're not going to go with that. But other than that, with the spray tanning, with the salon, I think I want to say I'm a little bit spontaneous in that way. Not really strategically thinking through everything, as some people probably do. And so I, in a way, I guess it's a good thing because I didn't have too much fear with everything. And I think part of it is because I love it so much, whatever I'm doing, that it just came so naturally, it came so easily for me that I just said, I think about it now and I even speak to my husband about it.

Julie Kaufman:
Clearly, I don't have too many friends since I keep so busy

Jennifer Norman:
All of your colleagues are your friends, I know.

Julie Kaufman:
And I say, how brave was I to do such a thing with two small children at the time. And I said, I think about it now. And I'm like, there was no thought process when it happened. I said, I just wanted it and I did it.

Jennifer Norman:
And I think that there are some really valuable lessons there because you had been at the point where you were burnt out, you felt what that felt like and you didn't want that. And perhaps it was something that really wasn't lighting you up inside. Maybe that job that you had, being in, you know, the optical field wasn't really just like driving that passion and that spark. But once you have that passion and your spark, it's like all of a sudden you feel like, oh, maybe I can do more, maybe I can take on more. Because you're enthusiastic and you've just got more energy about it. But then you were wise enough to know, okay, I am overextending myself.

Jennifer Norman:
Maybe there is a time and a place where I can get more balance in my life so that I'm not running around like a crazy person. There is a certain aspect of being able to have that well managed growth and not over expanding and not diluting and being able to make sure that you're doing it in a very proper way. Shall I say just something where you feel that you can tick and tie all of those boxes as you're going along, but then still have room to be spontaneous to those aspects that you feel are still within your control. That's a really, really good, powerful lesson for a lot of people that might not feel the difference between like, well I'm going to work and feeling dredge and trudging through something versus having the energy to follow your dreams and your passion. And also knowing when there is a limit to being able to find balance with family, with husband for those lucky enough to have a husband and all of those things too. I'm also curious, like being a parent, like what has that been like in terms of now you've got a 12 year old, a 10 year old and a 20 month old. Hello.

Jennifer Norman:
And you're still this entrepreneur that's running two businesses. What do you feel is like the biggest challenge, or what are some of the lessons that you might be taking from being a mom over two year business?

Julie Kaufman:
So I do feel that being a mom has basically taught me discipline. Right. I think about it often and I say to myself, if I didn't have children, it helps with time management, it helps with disciplining myself and creating those boundaries. What should I do, what shouldn't I do? And also in general working with staff, you start to really understand people a little bit better. And so I, I feel that how things would have been if I didn't have children, I'm not sure, but definitely my children have helped me with the business, surprisingly, and how I run everything. And because I do have to do doctor appointments, I do have to sign up for school things, I do have to manage not just business, but also my three children and their lives. Right. It is hectic.

Julie Kaufman:
It is very hectic. And one thing I want to say is, is thankfully I have help, hired help. That's the only way to do it. Yeah, but yeah, it is challenging. But the really good thing also that I've noticed, because my older girls are that age, that they really do understand. They've been growing with us, with me, and oftentimes I keep hearing from them, which I love, is, mommy, we want to be just like you. We want to be hard working just like you.

Julie Kaufman:
They actually say how proud they are of me. They see the accomplishments, they see the life that they're living and how we've changed from being in our apartment into a house and so on. Right. And they know didn't come easy and they know the amount of hours and effort that I put into everything, how often I don't see them. Right. Which some people don't notice or maybe don't know this. So I have to sacrifice a lot, that's for sure. But I feel that, you know what, it's going to happen where I'm going to have that bit of more balance sooner or later.

Julie Kaufman:
I'm just working towards that now, now. So this is everything that I'm doing, to be honest with you, it is for my children.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, I love that so much. And the fact that they say, mommy, I'm so proud of you. Oh my God, I have chills and I, I'm like fighting back tears. That's so beautiful. Really, really is. Yeah. Sometimes we feel like we can never do a great job at anything.

Jennifer Norman:
It's like we beat ourselves up. We're like, oh my God, I failed as a parent. Or really like oh, I failed at this... And, and we feel spread thin and we're really hard on ourselves. And being able to take that moment to say, you know what? No, I'm a kick ass mom. I am a fucking kick ass entrepreneur. I can do this.

Jennifer Norman:
Nobody's perfect. I'm gonna mess up sometimes. But it's just like this is... I'm doing the best that I can with the tools that I have. And I'm learning. And failing is just learning. It's just figuring it out and, and saying, okay, all right, something else next. And moving forward, moving forward.

Jennifer Norman:
I love that.

Julie Kaufman:
I've been hard on myself. Definitely cried. I felt the guilt. I still, at times there are nights that I do not put my baby to sleep. I have the nanny doing it for me and not something that I really want, but I keep reminding myself that I'm doing the best that I can. And again, the goal here is going to be that eventually I could make more time. And so I'm just working towards that because I'm doing the best that I can is what keeps me going basically.

Jennifer Norman:
Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, I really appreciate that you have gone into beauty in this hands on business lighting in this world where like tech is taking over and AI and everything. It's just like so nice and refreshing to really talk about those human aspects of running a business. Meeting with people, getting clients, all of those things that we often worry about and knowing that you can do it if you believe in yourself and you feel fight through all of those self doubt and those discouragements that are also very human and natural experiences and feelings. But overall it's just like having your. Why having that passion for what you're doing is really all that we can really ask for. If people can find that like what sparks them, what lights them up and what really brings them joy and it, it can change over time.

Jennifer Norman:
It's not that you have to stay in something you may lose luster for something that might have been like pre baby and then want to do something else at a different phase of your life. And that is completely normal and fine too. So what do you think is next for you? Do you see yourself launching yet another business or another baby?

Julie Kaufman:
We're done with babies, that's for sure.

Jennifer Norman:
Shop's closed for the night.

Julie Kaufman:
So as far as what's the next step? I will be focusing on getting everything together with Brooklyn Beauty Lounge to the level that I feel very comfortable with. And then my next step is to definitely focus a bit more on Bronze by Julie because that I took a little, I would say pause as far as growing that business. And then I mean I have a few things, but my product line that I've been working on for a few years now and it's been two years because no time where I have self tanners, I have... it really is amazing. And, and so far we only sell in house and our clients are absolutely in love with it. So clients who just keep ordering, keep ordering, but nothing online yet. So that's in the works and then hopefully more locations.

Jennifer Norman:
There you go. From your lips to the universe. Okay, so here is the time where we get to do some rapid fire questions for Julie. Is everybody ready? I'm ready. Okay.

Jennifer Norman:
Go to coffee order.

Julie Kaufman:
Believe it or not, decaf. I know what...

Jennifer Norman:
You have all this energy without caffeine?

Julie Kaufman:
I mean everybody's like how do you do it? It's Dunkin Donuts because that's what's right near to me...

Jennifer Norman:
Wow, I I love the Dunk!

Julie Kaufman:
It is decaf iced latte.

Jennifer Norman:
Decaf iced latte. Do you get a donut with your order or do you just do the coffee?

Julie Kaufman:
So no, no donuts for me because three kids, right? It's not in my favor right now. So no, no donuts. But it's to the point where actually it's a every morning routine. The barista actually knows my order without me saying a word. I come right in...

Julie Kaufman:
He goes iced? iced. And if it's cold outside, he goes hot? Hot.

Jennifer Norman:
One beauty product you can't live without.

Julie Kaufman:
I'm pretty low maintenance, believe it or not. So if it has to be a product, I would say foundation. Because I wasn't blessed with flawless skin and all that.

Jennifer Norman:
I love a good foundation. I feel so much better after I put on foundation for sure. Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Norman:
First celebrity that you spray tanned.

Julie Kaufman:
Oh, who was my very first one. Okay, so the one that I'm thinking off the top of my head, this was definitely years ago. Kate Beckinsale.

Jennifer Norman:
Oh, love her. Very nice. I think she still likes a tan these days.

Jennifer Norman:
Song that instantly boosts your mood.

Julie Kaufman:
Song that instantly boosts my mood. This is a tough one because I don't even listen to music. I literally have a one hour drive to my home and to work. And believe it or not, all I do is listen to is podcasts.

Jennifer Norman:
Favorite podcast then!

Julie Kaufman:
Lately it's been Leila Hermozi. Built.

Jennifer Norman:
Okay, very good, very good.

Jennifer Norman:
Last but not least, favorite place to eat close to you. And I think that you said New Jersey was close to where you live now.

Julie Kaufman:
Yes. So we tend to, we, me and my husband, we tend to do occasional dinner at Strickland's Steakhouse. Little something for us. Get away from the kids, get away from work stuff. It's a nice atmosphere there. The food is delicious. So we tend to go there.

Jennifer Norman:
Yeah. I have to say, for me, there's nothing like a good steak. I. I know I've got a lot of vegan listeners and people who are real animal advocates and I give more power to you. I need my meat. I think it's because I'm Korean and I've got red meat in my veins and in my DNA. So that's very important to me.

Jennifer Norman:
So love that you said steak.

Jennifer Norman:
Well, Julie, I want to thank you so much for sharing your story and your time, your wisdom, your heart, everything with us today. I really appreciate it.

Jennifer Norman:
And to our listeners, remember, beauty isn't just how you look. It's the life that you create.

Jennifer Norman:
And we'll see you next time. Thanks everyone.

Jennifer Norman:
Thank you for listening to The Human Beauty Movement Podcast. Be sure to follow, rate and review us wherever you stream podcasts. The Human Beauty Movement is a community based platform that cultivates the beauty of humankind. Check out our workshops, find us on social media and share our inspiration with all the beautiful humans in your life. Learn more at thehumanbeautymovement.com. Thank you so much for being a beautiful human.