Graduate Story - Eloise Torrisi
Our 2022 Valedictorian Shares Her Journey On How She Found The Courage To Launch Her Own Business
Eloise had a passion for beauty ever since she was a little girl and decided to take a leap of faith in 2022 to study a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and Diploma of Screen and Media. On her first day at the French, she fell in love with the industry in an environment that allowed her to flourish both personally and professionally. This experience not only taught her the skills she needed to be a professional therapist, but it also provided her with the resources she needed to set goals, plan, innovate, network, and stay current on emerging trends as she entered the business world.
Shortly after graduating, Eloise decided she was ready to launch her own salon business, Torrisi Beauty; where she provides lash and brow services, facials, waxing, massage, nail enhancements and more! We sat down with Eloise to talk about how The French prepared her for this new endeavour and how she found the courage to start her business on her own.
What motivated you to pursue a career in beauty therapy?
From my earliest memories, I have always been drawn to beauty and finding creative ways to adorn myself. As a child, I remember spending countless hours practicing hairstyles on my dolls, or hours in front of the mirror practicing different hairstyles and makeup looks on myself. As I grew older, I discovered nail art and would spend hours at a time painting intricate designs on my nails, only to remove them so I had more nails to continue painting. While I had always enjoyed all aspects of beauty, I didn’t truly consider pursuing it as a career until my cousin was tragically lost in a car accident when I was in my late 20’s. In that moment, I realised that life is too precious and too fleeting to not spend it doing the things you enjoy, and so I made the decision to leave my university studies and to follow my heart into beauty therapy. It has been the best decision I have made for myself, and I feel truly blessed to be able to spend my life doing something I love so much.
What was your main motivation for studying at the French?
When I made the decision to pursue Beauty Therapy, I knew that if I was going to do it, then I wanted to do it well. I wanted to study at the best school in Brisbane, to be in an environment that would help me to flourish both personally and professionally and which would mould me into the best therapist I could be. I researched a range of colleges across Brisbane, but from my first interaction with The French I knew it was the right place for me.
What was your favourite part about studying at the French? How would you describe your experience from the day you started at orientation?
I loved every moment of my studies with The French. From the first day at Orientation, I felt supported, encouraged, and truly cared for. My favourite part about studying with The French was being greeted by the staff at the door each morning. No matter what kind of a day I was having, it lifted my spirits to be greeted with such kindness and warmth, and it made me feel as though I was coming into a place where I was truly wanted and welcomed.
How did the French help prepare you for life as a professional beauty therapist?
The French prepared me for my career as a professional beauty therapist in so many ways. Aside from the obvious practical skills, I think the thing that prepared me most for entering the industry was the Service Excellence program, and developing the soft skills needed to be able to connect with my clients on a more personal level, and to create lasting client/therapist relationships. My industry and salon days were also an incredibly valuable part of my training and helped me to develop my confidence in my retail skills and in learning news ways to create a unique client experience.
Did you have a favourite teacher / subject at the french? Why?
The educators at The French made my year absolutely delightful! They bought a warmth and joy to the classroom and made the environment one of family and connectedness. They each possessed an incredible depth of knowledge for their subject area and shared their knowledge with dedication and passion. I had the pleasure of having Aly, Simone, and Brooke as my educators at The French and I am truly grateful for the love, support and friendship they gave to me over the year. They showed me an incredible amount of support as I launched and grew my business and were unendingly positive and encouraging. I also developed a close friendship with the Deputy Principal, Steph, and I am supremely grateful for the guidance and wisdom she provided to me over the year, and for the kindness and encouragement she continues to provide.
What is the best advice you received from your study at the French?
The best advice I received while being at The French was from my lovely teacher Brooke. During a hard time, she told me to “just keep going”. I’m not sure why this stuck with me so much, but I often think back to her advice when I’m facing something difficult, and it reminds me that as long as I keep trying, I will get there eventually.
The Business Of Beauty & Makeup
What were some of the invaluable lessons or most important thing that you learnt at the French that you have been able to apply to your new career?
I think the most important thing I learnt throughout my studies is that your soft skills are equally as important as your professional capabilities. You need to be able to connect with your client, and to make them feel valued and seen to truly be able to make an impact. This aspect of my job is something that is very important to me, as I want all of my clients to feel genuinely welcomed and cared for, so learning the ways in which I can apply this has been an invaluable addition to my skills.
How easy was it for you to gain work after graduating? Tell me about your first career ‘break’?
As silly as it sounds, I would say my first big “break” was having the courage to start my own business. I opened my business about halfway through my studies and initially started it as something to fill my time over the Christmas holidays, but it took on a mind of its own and by the time I graduated I was able to work in my business as my only employment.
What elements of your study allowed you to obtain your new job? Were there any specific skills that you learned from your time at The French that you then highlighted in order to be hired?
I found the business modules to be incredibly helpful in giving me the knowledge I needed to be able to build and manage my own business. Learning how to set goals, plan, innovate, network, and keep up with emerging trends has been an incredibly useful set of skills as I learn to navigate the beauty industry and enter the business world.
How are The French graduates perceived out in the industry?
The French graduates are extremely highly regarded within the industry, and it was this fantastic reputation which was what led me to study at The French as well. French girls are known for their impeccable presentation, for their professionalism and for being well trained therapists.
What do you most enjoy about your new job? Has there been a memorable moment since you graduated?
My favourite thing about my job is being able to connect with my clients. I love getting to know them and learning about their lives, and I love being able to pamper them and help them achieve their goals while we chat. It is truly a pleasure to treat all of my clients, and I enjoy the work I do so much!
Describe a day in the life of you at work...
My workdays are all so different it is hard to describe an “average” day! On a busy day, I begin the day by preparing my room and ensuring I have enough linen, hot towels, supplies etc to service all my treatments. Just before each of my clients arrive, I prepare a freshly brewed mug of herbal tea for them, and I lay out some treats for them to enjoy while they fill in their consult and prepare for their treatment. On a quieter day, I spend the extra time working on my business, responding to emails, networking with other local businesses, planning and strategizing.
“If you are going to do it, then do it well. Commit to your studies. Commit to showing up every day, to learning as much as you can, and to making the most out of your time at The French.”
- Eloise Torrisi
Why is it so exciting to work within the beauty industry right now?
I find the beauty industry so exciting because it is so constantly changing and evolving. There are so many new trends and technologies which are constantly emerging, it is easy to let your creativity flow and create an experience for your clients which is truly unique and special, and I love being able to do that.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE WANTING TO STUDY A BEAUTY THERAPY DIPLOMA AT THE FRENCH BEAUTY ACADEMY?
My best advice would be that if you are going to do it, then do it well. Commit to your studies. Commit to showing up every day, to learning as much as you can, and to making the most out of your time at The French. It truly is a wonderful school with so many fantastic people who are there to guide you and cheer you on, so take advantage of everything it has to offer, and leave knowing you became the very best therapist you could be.
What are your goals for the next few years? Do you have an ultimate career ambition?
I think eventually I would like to evolve the Torrisi Beauty brand and transition into more of the spa realm, but for now I am pretty happy with how things are going, and I am enjoying my life as a Mum and a small business owner.
MY SIGNATURE BEAUTY GO TOS…
Scent: Pure Poison by Christian Dior
Lipstick: MAC Modesty
Book: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Blog: Greater Good: Science of a Meaningful Life
Best Kept Secret: SPF is one of the best anti-ageing product you can get!
THE FRENCH EDIT…
City: Paris
Beauty Muse: Kate Middleton
Drink: Chamomile and Spiced Apple Tea – it’s delightful!
Song: Brave by Sara Bareilles
Quote: “To me, fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.” – Taylor Swift
Why did you decide to start your own business? Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
My primary reason for starting my own business was the freedom to work on my own terms. As a Mum to a young son, the thought of managing motherhood, running the household, AND trying to work to someone else’s schedule did not appeal to me at all. I wanted a job that would allow me to be present with my family, while still being able to contribute financially, and starting my own business has allowed me to do just that.
What were the first few steps you took to set up the business?
To set up my business, the first thing I did was to consider my expenses, my budget, and to come up with a clear business plan. Once I had these things in place, I then went on to register my business and the business name, set up the necessary insurances, and purchase the domain name for my website.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
For me, I think my self-doubt was one of the biggest challenges I had to overcome. When I first started I felt like there was a very specific “look” that I needed to have to fit in, and I remember lots of teary moments and lots of times when I felt certain that I would never be good enough to have a place in this industry.
I think the best thing I did to overcome those fears was to lean into being myself. Once I let go of what I thought I needed to be, I was able to create a business that reflects my personality and which I feel very proud to have created.
What is a decision or perhaps a mistake you've made that has led to a very valuable lesson in running or starting a business?
When I first opened, I rushed into purchasing products and I took someone else’s advice on which brand I should stock without doing much research of my own. If I could go back in time, I wish I would have taken the time to find a brand that I truly loved, and to have invested my money into products that I 100% believed in. it is very important to me now to only use products that I love and can genuinely recommend to my clients, so I would definitely have done things differently if I was making those same decisions again now.
What did you learn during your time at The French that helped prepare you when starting your business or during the course of your business journey?
It isn’t a business tip as such, but the most important thing I learnt at The French was to always strive for excellence and to always act with integrity. When you are running a business on your own, you must hold yourself to the highest standard – you have no one checking in on you, and no one holding you accountable, so you need to be your own manager and ensure you are always working to improve your skills, and acting in a way that upholds the values of your company.
What are your plans for the future of your business, and where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I hope my business will still be thriving and growing, and that I will still be able to prioritize my family and arrange my own schedule. I am excited to see how my skills improve over that time, and I hope to be known for providing an exceptionally high quality of work!
If you had just 1 piece of advice for our Frenchies who are wanting to start their own business, what would it be?
One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was starting my business was to “Just keep going”. It sounds so simple, but it has got me through so many hard times. Even when things are feeling hopeless, or when you’re doubting yourself and thinking you’re in over your head – just keep going. Keep working, keep pushing, keep learning, and eventually you will figure it all out!
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