We recently connected with Estephanie Contreras and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Estephanie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission behind Meraki goes beyond giving a beauty service to our clients. The approach is authenticity with genuine care for our clients. When Meraki was evolving, I loved to create a space where clients felt heard and understood; that it was not another appointment. It was a creation of relationship, and understanding while clients enjoyed receiving their services. As Meraki evolved and expanded to a commercial building, the mission expanded to create a space where clients of all walks of life, felt safe and comfortable. South Bend did not have a high end spa or beauty business at the time where people could receive high end quality services. Aside from this, the Spanish community did not have a high end spa business that they could enjoy all while feeling understood. I, myself have gone through this experience of not feeling welcomed because of how I looked. This void is what I aim to fill. Meraki loves to welcome everyone and ensure that whomever walks through our door feels seen.

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

My name is Estephanie Aguilera Contreras, owner of Meraki Beauty Studio in South Bend, Indiana. My interest for beauty grew while I worked at a spa in Granger, Indiana during my college career. Surrounding myself in that environment planted a seed that grew into my present day passion. Meraki offers a variety of spa services such as facials, waxing, lash lifts amongst more services. We carry a variation of skincare to assist in skin conditions inside and out of the treatment room. We offer body care and feel good items for purchase.

Meraki provides a solution for those interested in taking care of their skin and aging gracefully. We assist clients in hair removal for their special occasion or personal hygiene maintenance. If someone needs to unwind and turn their mind off, rest assured that Meraki will do everything possible to make that happen. People that have not felt welcomed or understood for any reason, at other salons/spas, can visit us and feel the difference of how we understand and truly see them.

I truly believe that the attention to customer care sets us apart from the industry. We frequently ask for honest feedback for improvement. We wholeheartedly believe that the experience begins as they’re browsing, and not in the treatment room. When we interact with clients, nothing else matters. We are present and listen to words, body language, and their energy.

We pride ourselves in focusing on the small details that we think people do not notice. As simple as having a purse hanger at the check out desk so people that have a purse, diaper bag, back pack etc. can hang it while they calmly go through the check out process. We focus on excelling in our technique, focusing on continued education. Meraki is not a franchise or a business that was passed down in the family. It is a minority women owned business that blossomed through the many challenges it has faced. It is a business that cares to create an authentic relationship with clients. The owner, me, is always present and cares to know about all of the clients, not just her own. We hope that if you have the opportunity to visit Meraki, you are able to experience the feeling of belonging.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

My parents have always instilled saving money and to have no debt. This was the way of living for me growing up. As I excelled in the beauty industry as a home-based professional, I began to think bigger. I eventually wanted to open my business in a storefront. In order to do this, I needed capital – ALOT OF IT. I took a couple of businesses classes and attended workshops and events throughout the city. There was a wealth of knowledge that I gained from every event. A common topic was – debt. Debt is good! Debt will help scale your business! Focus on more cashflow. I truly had to unlearn what I had been taught all of my life. I finally understood that in order to scale my home-based business, I needed to use other peoples money. In present day, I am still learning to be okay with this idea. I know that this is the main way successful people built their empires, but unlearning something takes time and effort.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I graduated St. Marys College with a Social Work degree. I worked in that field for a couple of years and then transitioned to HR for a year. During that time I became a newlywed and had my first child. While having all of this, I was also working part time at home servicing clients. My child needed my time and attention due to having many doctor appointments. Corporations are only understanding until you run out of PTO or sick days, then they tend to be uncompromising. I had to choose between being a present mom or leaving a salary based employment with benefits. I decided to leave a workplace that did not care to understand my situation. This opened the door for me to focus full time on my “side hustle” and grow it to what it has become today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.merakibstudio.com
• Instagram: @merakibeautystudio_

Image Credits

Weeping Willow Photography