We were lucky to catch up with Raquel AKA Raq Garcia recently and have shared our conversation below.
Raquel AKA Raq, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
I definitely don’t think I should have started my business sooner everything I had to go through has gotten me to where I am today and who I am today I am proud of it its part of my story!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m 46 years old. I grew up in Whittier moved to Long Beach 17 years ago Before I became an Esthetician I thought I was going to be a nurse but changed my mind half way through nursing school and decided to go to esthetician school at Cerritos college and I’m SO happy I did! The first day of school I set a long term goal for myself that I wanted to own my own business at 10 years of being an esthetician. First 6 years of being an esthetician I was doing multiple services facials, eyelash extensions, waxing, makeup
I was more than half way to my long term goal I decided to start working on my business plan where I decided to specialize in waxing I was a good waxer but I wanted to be the BEST so I went to work at European wax center in Long Beach and there I put ALL my time and effort to not only give my clients the best wax but to make relationships with them so when I left they would follow me after 4 years there I was booked, busy and named best waxer in Southern California for European wax center in 2019 which told me I was ready to take the biggest leap of my life and open Raqstar Wax!
I open Raqstar Wax in Long Beach California in 2019 I offer full body waxing for women and men, brow lamination and vajacials Brazilian wax is definitely my most requested service I carry a full shelf of retail for my clients as I believe aftercare is the most important part of waxing I’m a one woman show right now and can’t decide if I want a team or keep it solo! I absolutely LOVE what I do it’s not a job it’s my passion Raqstar wax is my baby my home away from home a safe place for my clients where I don’t just give them a wax I give them an experience every time they come!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Word of mouth is how I have gotten a lot of my clients which is why I give EVERYONE a wonderful experience whether you are a first time client or a client for 6 years you are going to get consistency from me and always a great experience!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I celebrated my 1st year anniversary during the 2nd month of Covid I was so scared and didn’t know what to do or what this meant for a new small business but I believed in my passion and my business and let that lead me and not my fear and with educating my clients on social media, selling retail, doing giveaways and the generosity of my clients my business made it through Covid and I just celebrated 6 years!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Raqstar Wax
- Facebook: Raqstar Wax
- Yelp: Raqstar Wax
- Other: Google Raqstar Wax
