Esna Colyn is the CEO of Imbalie Beauty, which is a franchisor, brand owner, service provider, and lately, a beauty and wellness trainer. Placecol Skin Care Clinics, Dream Nails Beauty Salons, and Perfect 10 Nail & Body Studios are all salon chains under Imbalie Beauty.
Esna joined the Imbalie group as CEO in May of 2018, after years of traveling, finishing her articles, and working at financial companies including Investec Bank and Private Equity. During her career in finance, she listed several companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as a designated advisor.
Of her transition into the Imbalie group, she says “it was difficult”.
“You start to become a leader and you have to start to take responsibility for many people’s lives, and through that comes your own journey; growth; perseverance and learning about yourself," she adds. One of the things that Esna has learnt is that when you step out of your comfort zone, that is when you really start to learn what you can achieve and what you are capable of.
But leadership, according to Esna, also comes more naturally than we’d expect. “Everybody is a leader. Wherever you operate, you are a leader. More so, if you’re an entrepreneur, you’re definitely a leader because you have to have vision to take the business you’ve started to the next level.”
For Esna, part of taking Imbalie to the next level is reliant on the group’s relationship with its franchisees. She says this relationship goes through cycles. “Cycles where they really love and adore you, and then cycles where they don’t like you at all,” she explains. “But whatever we do, our intention is to grow the brands, along with our franchise partners.” Those periods of love and hate are simply a part of the process.
And without a doubt, Imbalie Beauty is experiencing significant growth. The company is at a stage of strategic partnerships and expansion, with a specific focus on branching out into wellness to supplement their already solid presence in the world of beauty. “Imbalie Beauty seeks to be the leading and most desirable beauty and wellness franchise group,” Esna says confidently.
That title is not without its work, though, as Esna knows very well. “The truth is that people often don’t see how much work and effort they need to put in before their flower starts to bloom,” she notes. The progress of Imbalie Beauty has been a journey, as opposed to a quick trip.
For businesses and entrepreneurs considering and attempting expansion, she advises surrounding oneself with those who are ‘better’ than you. “It will automatically pull you up, and the insights of those who are experts in your field and have more experience than you is invaluable,” she says. “That’s been particularly true of our company; we work with people who are better than ourselves and it elevates us.”
As a big believer in partnerships, she says, “Don’t think you’re going to conquer it on your own. Everything in life is about networking and partnering with the right people.”
But what does one look for in a partnership? What makes it a good one? For Esna, it’s trust and honesty. This entails an open and transparent relationship, in which if something isn’t working, it is immediately addressed. “You can’t look sideways and think it’s going to go away”.
“The biggest thing that I’ve learnt recently is ‘store blindness’. People get blind in their own businesses. They forget where they came from and how far they’ve grown. Naturally, they get tired on this journey and they have to stop and rest. The truth is, everything is up and down, you don’t always anticipate a rough patch.”
Vital stats
Featured entrepreneurs: Esna Colyn
Age: 51
Company name: Imbalie Beauty Limited
Year founded: 1980
Turnover: R40 million