Female Founder Feature: Danielle Falconer
Female Founder Name: Danielle Falconer
Business Name: the peach club
Website: https://thepeachclub.co.nz/
Tell us about your business. What products or services do you offer?: Peach Bridal Beauty is an award-winning bridal hair and makeup company based in Auckland, New Zealand. In just five years, we’ve grown from 30 to over 200 weddings per season, building a trusted reputation backed by 150+ five-star reviews. Our team of 14 freelance artists is supported by a dedicated admin crew, ensuring a smooth, stress-free experience from first enquiry through to the final touch-up. We’re proud to have been named Vendor of the Year, Makeup Artist of the Year, and Hair Stylist of the Year—recognition that reflects our high standards and deep industry experience.
At Peach, we’re committed to raising the bar for beauty professionals through ongoing education and in-house training. Our artists are consistently upskilled with the latest techniques and trends to ensure we remain Auckland’s leading choice for exceptional bridal hair and makeup. As we expand into event beauty services and educational workshops, our mission remains the same: to deliver elevated artistry and unwavering professionalism at every touchpoint.
What inspired you to start your business?: Peach was born out of a desire for something more—both professionally and personally. After having my first child, I knew returning to long hours and late nights in the salon for just $23 an hour wasn’t sustainable as a new mum. I needed a better way to work and live. I’ve always loved weddings, but I was uninspired by the outdated, often clichéd feel of traditional bridal beauty. So I set out to create something different: a modern, fashion-forward hair and makeup brand that brought fresh energy to the industry while offering flexibility and purpose for myself and other artists.
And so, Peach Club was born. I’ll always be asked, “Why the name?”—because it felt feminine, fun, and fresh… and nothing like Bridal Sap that was the norm 5 years ago.
How long have you been running your business?: I say five years but its conception was 6 years ago with a year of covid thrown in where i basically just worked for free rescheduling weddings haha
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in business, and how did you overcome it?: For me, it was finding my voice. In the early years, I often held back from sharing my ideas or being direct because it wasn’t perceived as “feminine.” Having an opinion—or knowing exactly what I wanted—was frequently labelled as too assertive or even “bitchy,” so I learned to downplay myself to fit in. It took time (and confidence) to unlearn that. Eventually, I realised I didn’t need to apologise for having a clear vision or soften my words to make others comfortable. We should be able to speak freely and respectfully without diluting ourselves. I think many women experience this, and it's only when we surround ourselves with the right people and let go of those outdated expectations we were raised with that we truly start to unlock our full potential.
What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?: One of my proudest moments was the first time I sat down to pay a team of incredibly talented women for their work with Peach. It hit me that I had created real, consistent work for women just like myself—many of whom were looking for a more sustainable and fulfilling path in the beauty industry. Coming from years of struggling to pay my own bills while working underpaid salon jobs, being able to offer opportunity, stability, and community was a full-circle moment. It was then I realised the impact Peach was having, and the kind of leader I had become.
That, alongside winning Wild Hearts Vendor of the Year in three categories—Hair Stylist of the Year, Makeup Artist of the Year, and Overall Vendor of the Year—has been incredibly affirming. Both milestones reminded me that when we lead with purpose and back ourselves, big things can happen.
What strategies have helped you grow your business?: Genuine connection has been everything. When I first started Peach, I reached out to wedding planners and offered them a complimentary hairstyle—no strings attached. It gave me the chance to showcase my work, but more importantly, to build real relationships. During those appointments, I’d share my vision for Peach, what set us apart, and just have honest conversations. The feedback was always the same: I was the only artist who had ever done that. It taught me early on that showing initiative, being generous, and building trust in person would always go further than any ad or social post. That approach helped lay the foundation for a strong referral network and long-term growth.
What tools or resources have been game-changers for your business?: Learning how to properly run Meta Ads was a total game-changer. We had plateaued at around 120 weddings per season and felt pretty comfortable—but I knew we had the potential to grow further. Once we started investing in strategic advertising, everything shifted. We began attracting our dream clients consistently, expanding our reach beyond word-of-mouth, and are now forecasting our biggest year yet—well beyond our 200 weddings-per-season benchmark. It’s been proof that pairing great artistry with smart digital marketing can unlock an entirely new level of growth.
Can you share one key lesson you’ve learned about managing finances as a business owner?: You truly do have to spend money to make money always prioritise investing back in to your brand, its where you see the biggest return.
How do you balance the demands of your business with your personal life?: out sourcing learning to let go of the reins has been a big lesson, It of course needed to be the right person and luckily I found that person and its been key to not only finding balance but also growth personally and professionally
What leadership qualities do you believe are essential for running a successful business?: I believe communication is the answer to everything, women are amazing communicators it's our super power and I think why some of the worlds best places to work are women lead
How do you motivate and manage your team?: I will be honest here and say Im still working on it! I haven't found the perfect recipe yet. But so far money and opportunities talk
What role does mentorship or networking play in your business journey?: Within our business We have a mentorship system for all of our artists committed to peach, where we will goal set and discuss pathways to goals along with monthly coffee catch up etc personally have always loved using golden brands and spark, and attend events where possible
What trends do you think will shape your industry in the coming years?: It is such a cowboy industry so heavily influenced by instagram, I think more artists will be drawn in to becoming a freelancer but Im not sure we have enough structure to support them (hint im working on it)
How do you stay ahead of the competition in your industry?: We operate on a community not competition basis but I do believe in staying fresh and staying consistent keeps you in demand, good seo doesn't hurt either
Who or what inspires you in your business journey?: I think the modern-day woman is super inspiring, finding balance with day-to-day life and working can be a real juggle, and I am always in awe of how many incredible brands are run by women that also have families or major life commitments. I think Jacinda Arden is a great example of this; how she led a country whilst getting married and having a baby and did it all with such grace and power.
What books, podcasts, or resources have had the biggest impact on your professional growth?: I am big in to the MAKE IT HAPPEN podcast currently Ilya journey is super inspiring. Golden brands also really helped me early on set some structure in my business
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?: I watch reality TV... This feels like a confession but when I need to switch of I just put on pure trash and it doesn't take up any mental space. but I wouldn't admit this to my intellectual friends who would be shocked I watch ex on the beach ( like all the really bad ones) haha
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your business?: That it is a serious business, that it supports my family and it's not some cute side project. A few of my wider circles still think I'm a hairdresser with a side hobby
Reflecting on your time in business, what is one piece of advice you would give to another woman to help her on her business journey?: Just believe in yourself and go after what you want, start now all you have to do is start -you don't need to be perfect!
How can people connect with you or learn more about your business? (e.g., website, social media, etc.):
for weddings :https://thepeachclub.co.nz/
contact : danni@thepeachclub.co.nz
Ig : thepeach_club : danni_falconer
Anything you want to add that we might have missed?: We are launching an exciting new offer in September at the girls in business event - If you are in Auckland come say Hi!
