Seizing opportunity nets growth
Paulla Taylor started her business with just $1000 and has turned it into a six-figure concern.
In April 2013 the Mango Hill single mum of two found herself out of work after being let go from her part-time job with a $1000 payout.
By September she had still not found work and was fed up with visiting Centrelink.
“I needed to come up with a way to move into the future and become financially independent,” Paula recalls.
“I decided I had a choice - waste this $1000 on living, or invest it into my future.”
Paulla registered the business name KySienn – a tribute to her daughters, Sienna and Kyra - and bought jewellery online to resell.
Within a couple of months she had tripled her investment.
Taking a chance
At the same time, Sienna was wearing her hair in a bun every day, and churning through hairnets to hold them in place, so when Paulla stumbled across one online that lasted, she seized the opportunity.
“The ones we were using were really expensive and didn’t last - when I found these, I shared with 30 dance friends.
“(Then) another 30 friends asked me for more hair nets. I realised quite quickly I was on to something and changed my business from jewellery to hair nets.”
A short time later, Paulla was visiting a friend on Bribie Island, who encouraged her to post about the nets on a dance-related Facebook page.
“It got approved, then my phone went ‘ding’ and I was so excited to get an order.
“Then it went ‘ding’ again and again – overnight I had 200 orders.”
Business growth
Known throughout the industry as The Hairnet Lady, Paulla has grown her business from a single hairnet.
She sells 80 product lines - including dance accessories, make-up brushes and hairbrushes - online and to dancewear stockists.
While COVID-19 restrictions put a dent in KySienn with most of its client base involved in the dance industry, it’s recovering.
“It’s been a hard 12 months, but the business is recovering and the whole industry is recovering.”