We recently connected with Kendi Lester and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kendi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

My sisters and I always wanted to buy a spray tan machine and learn to give each other high-quality spray tans at home so the idea was already in the back of my mind. I saw a video about someone who started their own spray tan business out of their home and that was the beginning. I spent the next 2 weeks researching everything I could think of from business logistics to different spray tan solution companies and everything in between. I watched hundreds of videos to try to learn and absorb as much information as possible to start my own business. There was no doubt in my mind that this was what I wanted to do, and it felt like a very natural extension of me. I didn’t take the time to really sit down and write out my ideal client and nail down my brand voice because it was just me. So when it came time to do some marketing and reach out to others to help with marketing, I kind of had to go back and rework that to make sure my ideas were in words that I could share with somebody else. If I were starting from square one again, that’s 1 thing that I would do differently. I would write out all of those brand-defining things to clarify my thoughts. I knew who my ideal client was, but to sit down and put it into words, not just my thoughts. I think it would have saved me a lot of time and helped me more easily reach out for help with marketing.

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

I’m Kendi, your friendly neighborhood spray tan bestie. I’m the owner of Bee Bronze mobile spray tans. I started Bee Bronze earlier this year as a side hustle and fell in love with my work!

It’s so much fun to go to someone’s home and pamper them with a skin treatment that gives them a confidence boost. Providing a mobile service helps me reach those clients who otherwise wouldn’t be able to make it into the salon. The majority of my clientele are moms and it is a game changer to receive beauty services without having to book a sitter. During a mobile spray tan, I bring everything to you, including my trusty pop-up tent that allows me to spray tan anywhere in your home mess-free. We will have a brief consultation about your skin, tan goals, and previous tanning experiences to choose the best tanning solution for your skin. Then, I apply the custom airbrush spray tan to as much skin as you’d like with careful consideration for your unique body shape. After your spray tan, I leave you with all of the information you need to properly care for your spray tan and how to achieve the best results.

It’s a very vulnerable space to be in and I make it a priority to make my clients feel comfortable even when undressed in front of a stranger. I take extra care with plus-size clients to make sure they are given the same flawless results. I have a special process for spray tanning large breasts, back folds, apron bellies, and other skin creases to make sure they are just as smooth as the rest of the skin.

Spray tans are for everyone. All skin tones and ages can benefit from the skin-safe glow a spray tan can provide!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Owning a small business is hard work. The one thing that has made a huge difference in keeping me inspired and confident is networking with other small business owners. Having someone you can bounce ideas off of, lean on during hard days, and celebrate the wins with is crucial when starting a company from scratch.

Can you open up about how you managed the initial funding?

Part of what sold me on starting a spray tan business is the low initial investment and high profit margins. Being a stay at home mom, I didn’t have a lot of money to get my business off of the ground. I bought my equipment and offered discounted tans in my favorite local moms group to generate a little cash while practicing and working out the bugs in my booking website. I used that money to buy the rest of the solutions I wanted to offer. Several of those clients have rebooked and referred friends as well. The low overhead allows me to keep the cash flowing back into my business to create the best experience for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bee-bronze-mobile-spray-tans.square.site
• Instagram: @beebronzetx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575098287669&mibextid=kFxxJD

Image Credits

Jamie Elliott