We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melinda Quirino . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melinda below.

Melinda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

In total honesty opening and establishing Meli Marie Brows was one of my biggest “risk”. Meli Marie became an idea when I was let go from a longtime job in the pharmacy field in 2017. I knew that I didn’t want to work another 9 to 5 job at that time I had just have birth to my second child, and I just knew I was meant for more than a 9-5. In high school I did two years of cosmetology, but never finished it. Even while working my pharmacy job my interest in esthetics was very strong. My Instagram was full of random beauty videos I had saved of watching others in the beauty field who shared their tips and tricks. Whenever I ran into a video that had any sort of knowledge I would save it so I could analyze it, break it down and learn certain techniques. Watching these videos would always spark a fire from underneath me a little did I know that this was all leading up to the moment of me being let go from my job and two months later enrolling into esthetics school.

Everything about the way I became a licensed esthetician and now a business owner was a risk, but I am a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason”. Not to mention that I also had an amazing support system behind me who also saw my potential and rooted for me every step of the way. Fast forward eight months later I finally graduate and decide to open up solo. I jumped into my business head on and didn’t look back.

Meli Marie was opened in 2019 in the year of the pandemic. We were only open for three months before we had to shut down for roughly six months but even during this time, I never doubted in myself nor in the passion that I felt in my field. So during the time that we were closed, I used it to my advantage and took a number of trainings online, and I even took a few trainings in person once the pandemic regulations loosened up a little bit. During this time I found my love for all things brows.

I dived deep into the brow industry, and I even made the decision to close up my first solo shop to be able to pursue my passion in the brow industry, and 2020 I ended up in a high traffic brow studio in Raleigh that really helped shape my career and love for brows. For about a year and a half I made the 40min drive from Fuquay to Raleigh. I enjoyed it for about 14 months until the distance started to really take a toll on me. In August of 2021 I was fortunate enough to have a suite rental in Fuquay come up and knock on my door, so I took the opportunity. I had this suite for about 5 months, trying to make both Fuquay and Raleigh work but the distance, and the juggle of both didn’t flow. There were other things behind the scenes at said brow studio that were taking a toll on me mentally, and physically that I knew it was time for me to come back to my hometown full time.

So I’m March of 2022 we took one of the biggest yet best risk ever and opened up Meli Marie Brows full time in Fuquay. We started in a 500sq ft studio to now being in a 1,500 sq ft storefront alongside my great friend and partner Mildred of Mia Magenta Nails.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hola! I’m Melinda (Meli for short) and I’m the owner and person behind Meli Marie Brows. I am a mom of two amazing kiddos. I am a born and raised North Carolinian! I was born in Durham and have lived in Fuquay since I was 3 years old. I am a proud first generation Latina and business owner.

One fun fact about me is that before making my career in the beauty industry I was actually very into the pharmacy world and wanted to become a pediatric pharmacist.

How did we get into this industry?

During high school I did two years of cosmetology although I didn’t not finish and pursue the field at that time, I left CCCC with a high interest in esthetics. Little did I know almost 10 years later I would wind up back in the beauty field and graduate at Aveda in Chapel Hill.

What services do we offer?

At Meli Marie we offer all things brows including semi-permanent makeup, lash lifts, brazilians and body waxing. We also train other beauty professionals and students. No gatekeeping here!

Our specialty is in natural and precise brow shaping and mapping.

What do you think sets you apart from others?

This is such a great question! I believe my love and passion is what sets me apart from others in this industry. I am always learning rather that be with online or in-person trainings, to trying out new products. I am always on the go! Making sure that what I offer is the upmost and highest quality experience.

I have a created a variety of skin protocols that are suitable for many skin types including acne, retinol users, sensitive skin and normal skin combos. My services isn’t a one size fits all! It’s truly based and personalized to fit you and your skin needs.

For me my business is more than just “work”. I truly enjoy building that rapport and getting to know my guest. It’s such a beautiful experience. I have had guest get married, become first time moms, start new jobs , etc. I have seen so many beautiful milestones and that alone is such an amazing reward.

When my guest sit in my chair they know they are in a safe place. That while they are in my chair in my salon. They can open up as much as they want with absolutely no judgment or they can just sit back relax and take a quick Power Nap.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers to know about you/your brand/your work?

I am the most proudest of my resilience and ambition to keep going. I am proud that throughout many personal life changes and adjustments we kept Meli Marie going. Not many know my story so I am proud to be able to share it with everyone through this interview.

To my new followers and/or clients please know Meli Marie is an safe open space and we welcome you with open arms. Please don’t ever feel like you’ll be judged based off appearance. We are here to listen to your needs and we will always give you our best recommendations. Many may think we offer your standard brow wax that you can get at a nail salon but at Meli Marie it is more than that. In our guest we instill confidence, joy and bring that happiness with their outside appearance which in return will bring that internal confidence.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy that has grown, my clientele is through word of mouth!

Through many recommendations and referrals I have been able to build up my clientele. I have been in Fuquay for two years now and till this day, I have never printed business cards. Everything I have done has been through social media and word-of-mouth.

Another effective strategy that has helped me tremendously is posting and responding to comments in Facebook groups. I have many guest/clients who tag me in comments and post that are looking for people that offer certain services and if it something that I offer then I will respond to the comment and problem solve whatever the original poster is asking for. During my commenting, I will also attach photos of my work that will help showcase what I offer that could be of service to them along with a short intro to my business.

Through these methods, I have been able to build up a solid clientele that keeps me busy for weeks at a time, and also filling up my books, a month in advance.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Oh yes, of course! I love sharing this story. I met my business partner Mildred as a client at my first solo studio in 2019. She had found me through mutual connections and would come see me for services. During our appointments she would always mention how much she admired my work and my perseverance. She would talk about how one day she would love to also become a business owner herself and that by her seeing my journey, she knew it was something she wanted to take on in the future. Once I moved to Raleigh in 2020 we lost communication but surely regained it once I started Fuquay full time in 2021.

At the end of 2022 we became a lot closer, after she was abruptly let go from her job and asked if I could guide her into opening her first solo nail studio. Once she got Mia Magenta Nails up and running we would start referring guest/clients to each other. This helped both of us TREMENDOUSLY to the point where we both started out growing our studios.

As our relationship grew, we would start sharing what are future goals for our businesses looked like. We both knew we needed a bigger space and that our business ethics was VERY similar if not almost the same. By May of this year we decided that we would be on the lookout for a bigger space in Fuquay and join forces together as we already had many mutual clients. We searched and nothing was coming out, so we waited a few months until we found 216 S Main St. This opportunity literally jumped at us and we couldn’t say no, because if we said no who knew when we would get another opportunity. In July of this year we signed our first retail storefront lease together.

It definitely has been a journey, but it is something we are very proud of, and the growth that we have planned for our storefront is exciting and we cannot wait for it all to come to fruition and share with our current and future guest/clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melimariebrows.com
• Instagram: @Melimariebrows
• Facebook: Meli Marie Brows
• Other: We are a text based salon and can be reached via text at 919-635-6439

Image Credits
Personal photo credit to Glenda Photography