Behind Bonita
How two ladies treaded through life's challenges, turning a mere figment of imagination into a threading success.
THIRTEEN years ago, Bonita was merely a figment of imagination in the minds of two women – a shared vision that was conceived as they skilfully wielded threads side by side, and as their friendship grew.
Back then, Bonita's founders Manjeet Kour and Uppkar Kaur were both working as beauticians at Rupini's in Little India. That was not just the starting point of their foray into Singapore's threading industry, but also of their friendship, and later, partnership.
"We knew early on that we wanted to work together and open a salon, but we just had to wait for the right opportunity," said Ms Manjeet, 39.
Threading was a skill Ms Manjeet, who is now a Singaporean, learnt at a beauty academy in India, right before she got married a year later in 1998 and moved to live with her husband in Singapore. Likewise, Ms Uppkar, 32, a Singaporean who was then living in India with her family, completed a year-long beauty course there. She returned to Singapore right after in 2006, when her brother was called upon to serve his National Service.
But their paths diverged in 2009, when Ms Manjeet headed her own salon in Tanjong Pagar, before moving back to Little India to expand her business. Meanwhile, Ms Uppkar had moved to another salon in Raffles Place.
It was only three years later – after Ms Manjeet closed down her shop due to some personal issues, and when Ms Uppkar left that salon she was at to look for better opportunities elsewhere – that the idea of working together in their own salon returned.
The pair finally opened Bonita's first outlet in 2013 at Orchid Hotel in Tanjong Pagar. They hoped to target busy office workers racing to groom their brows during their short lunch break, or right after work.
Despite their hopes and relentless efforts, business got off to a rough start early on. Apart from running Bonita on their own, Ms Manjeet had just gone through a divorce and was adjusting to life as a single mother to her then one-year-old son. Things were no better for Ms Uppkar, who had recently received her HDB flat with her family and had to pay off their loans.
Back then, Bonita's founders Manjeet Kour and Uppkar Kaur were both working as beauticians at Rupini's in Little India. That was not just the starting point of their foray into Singapore's threading industry, but also of their friendship, and later, partnership.
"We knew early on that we wanted to work together and open a salon, but we just had to wait for the right opportunity," said Ms Manjeet, 39.
Threading was a skill Ms Manjeet, who is now a Singaporean, learnt at a beauty academy in India, right before she got married a year later in 1998 and moved to live with her husband in Singapore. Likewise, Ms Uppkar, 32, a Singaporean who was then living in India with her family, completed a year-long beauty course there. She returned to Singapore right after in 2006, when her brother was called upon to serve his National Service.
But their paths diverged in 2009, when Ms Manjeet headed her own salon in Tanjong Pagar, before moving back to Little India to expand her business. Meanwhile, Ms Uppkar had moved to another salon in Raffles Place.
It was only three years later – after Ms Manjeet closed down her shop due to some personal issues, and when Ms Uppkar left that salon she was at to look for better opportunities elsewhere – that the idea of working together in their own salon returned.
The pair finally opened Bonita's first outlet in 2013 at Orchid Hotel in Tanjong Pagar. They hoped to target busy office workers racing to groom their brows during their short lunch break, or right after work.
Despite their hopes and relentless efforts, business got off to a rough start early on. Apart from running Bonita on their own, Ms Manjeet had just gone through a divorce and was adjusting to life as a single mother to her then one-year-old son. Things were no better for Ms Uppkar, who had recently received her HDB flat with her family and had to pay off their loans.
"We will make it worth it. Whatever losses we had, we will make it back. We will work harder."
"Our customers turned close friends helped us through those first few months. Some even voluntarily provided us with financial support," said Ms Uppkar. "It was their way of telling us that they had faith in us."
Business eventually picked up, and they even had to hire two more beauticians to handle the volume of customers Bonita was now receiving.
Even their biggest challenge – opening an outlet at One Raffles Place last year – did not stop them.
While they hoped to open it on Bonita's fifth anniversary last January, nothing went according to plan. They had lost time and money on their first contractor, who did a shoddy job. This caused them to miss a potentially busy and profitable Lunar New Year period. On top of that, they had to give paid leave to five newly-employed beauticians and pay a premium to get another contractor to start work during Lunar New Year.
It was only in March last year that they finally opened the outlet.
Although they declined to share specific numbers, Ms Uppkar said they spent triple the planned amount on this new outlet. "Our hard-earned money went just like that, to a drain. But we will make it worth it. Whatever losses we had, we will make it back. We will work harder," she added.
Today, Ms Manjeet oversees Bonita's second outlet at One Raffles Place, and Ms Uppkar, the first. Backing them are eight other skilled beauticians – all of whom attended certified beauty courses before joining Bonita – from India, Malaysia and Singapore. Although there are currently no plans for further expansions, the two still hope to continue, and even improve on, Bonita's success at these two outlets.
"We knew we'd either die or survive," said Ms Manjeet. "But it was easier knowing that we were in this together. Thank God we survived."
Business eventually picked up, and they even had to hire two more beauticians to handle the volume of customers Bonita was now receiving.
Even their biggest challenge – opening an outlet at One Raffles Place last year – did not stop them.
While they hoped to open it on Bonita's fifth anniversary last January, nothing went according to plan. They had lost time and money on their first contractor, who did a shoddy job. This caused them to miss a potentially busy and profitable Lunar New Year period. On top of that, they had to give paid leave to five newly-employed beauticians and pay a premium to get another contractor to start work during Lunar New Year.
It was only in March last year that they finally opened the outlet.
Although they declined to share specific numbers, Ms Uppkar said they spent triple the planned amount on this new outlet. "Our hard-earned money went just like that, to a drain. But we will make it worth it. Whatever losses we had, we will make it back. We will work harder," she added.
Today, Ms Manjeet oversees Bonita's second outlet at One Raffles Place, and Ms Uppkar, the first. Backing them are eight other skilled beauticians – all of whom attended certified beauty courses before joining Bonita – from India, Malaysia and Singapore. Although there are currently no plans for further expansions, the two still hope to continue, and even improve on, Bonita's success at these two outlets.
"We knew we'd either die or survive," said Ms Manjeet. "But it was easier knowing that we were in this together. Thank God we survived."
