We were lucky to catch up with Amber Zaccone recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I had moved to South Carolina in 2019 doing my craft already- lashes and brows. When finding a job I was hired at the same franchise I worked for back in PA. A year or so went by and I had worked a total of 3.5 years at the franchise feeling like I’ve out grown and wanted to learn more. I thought I had something set up after putting in my 3 weeks notice but didn’t end up working out. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t want to continue with the franchise and I was scared to booth rent because it’s actually illegal in PA and never leaned about it. I wanted to know the ins and outs before getting into it so I said what the heck- I’ll open up my own business. From that day, to picking the name of my business, buying products, finding a spot, decorating, getting all the licenses. I took my first 3 weeks later. Risky yes- but let’s add another layer. This is august 2020. Less people are wanting to go out let alone be in my face. I also thought I would have minimum 20 clients follow me. New clients would just be extra. I had 8 follow me where I would have 6 in a day for reference. I was full force- google page, Instagram, facebook, Groupon. I didn’t give up I kept going, I DoorDashed on the side to keep some type of income in. I blew up on Instagram because I was showing what I had to offer, why I was different. 6 years later and we are no longer faking til me make it, because we in fact made it!

Amber, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I never really knew what I wanted to do when I ‘grew up’. I transfer to 4 different colleges after 1 semester each from teaching to pharmacy. I just knew they weren’t for me. While I was attending Pitt, by boyfriend (husband now) suggested doing this charity run where you dressed up as a zombie. He knew I loved Halloween and sounded fun. As I was dressing us up as zombies- I kinda liked what I was doing- the SFX stuff! I looked up schools near me and there was actually a trade school that did exactly that 10 minutes from where I grew up (how I was just finding this out was beyond me!) I started and finally graduated with an associates and loved it. So much more to SFX than makeup and prosthetics. I was going to work at a dental lab and make teeth- normal teeth. But I was told to get my esthetic license because it look good on my resume working with the face. I said sure, sounds goo and started esthetics a month later. I fell IN LOVE. Before graduation they had mock interviews with real employers in the area. I interviewed with a couple but one was a lash franchise (wink wink) and they said they really like me and I wanted the job to come in and interview again so I said if you’re offering me a job- not going to pass that up. So here we are!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

This is the time where Instagram was really showcasing business so I took advantage of it. I took inspiration from people I fell in love with on Instagram because I thought if I found them because of there Instagram there’s probably something to it. From captions, photos, what the client wanted to see. I very interactive on there. Love stories, I was always doing polls. One to be interactive and two to learn what my clients liked wanted. I did collabs with others to get more of a reach. And those collabs are still people I see to this day and still get refers from. And you needed followers to see what you were posting so I would follow people who I think would want to be my client and do Instagram ads. I’ve had a client tell me before she was going between me and another artist she saw on Google and chose me because I was active on Instagram. I think that says enough there!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think a lot of people think creatives jobs aren’t serious because it’s ‘fun’. I wouldn’t describe it as fun but love love love my job and I have passion for it but because it is arty doesn’t mean it’s not a real job. My income varies day to day because each client is my income. Having policies in place make or break the bank. At the beginning of the week I plan on making x amount because who is booked. People cancel and now I’m making half the amount. That’s why I take deposits and I have cancelation policy. At the end of the day business is business and I do just as much admin/ behind the scenes as the next non creative job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Lashaholicgvl.com
• Instagram: Lash.a.holic.gvl
• Facebook: Lash-a-Holic

Image Credits

Joanne from November Collective took the picture