We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Haiee Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Haiee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

Since starting Sunset Skin last December I knew I needed help. I transitioned my mobile spray tan business into Sunset Skin, a full spa. I knew I needed help now losing my followers, making sure it was an easy switch.

I found Caroline during the pandemic, on a deep rabbit hole on how to do better with social media. Caroline lives in Alabama and does everything for me from there. She takes my post ideas and makes sure they are perfect. She puts together 2-3 weeks of social media posts at a time saving me lofts of time. She is able to find my voice in her own words.

Hiring out my social media is an expense but it’s now a necessity. Before I would spend hours getting the grammar correct or making sure there was a post to go out. Caroline gives me time, time to relax, focus on other things, etc.

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

I started in the tanning industry in 2015 working at a local tanning salon in Belleville, IL. I was trained to give custom airbrush spray tans, and found that I enjoyed it! In 2017 I started Sunless Tans by Hailee, a mobile spray tan business. The business started to pick up and then the pandemic started. It felt like it happened overnight, the Facebook group, 314 Together, a thread started about spray tanning and the rest seems like a blur.

I knew I wanted to get into esthetics but never knew when the time was right. The pandemic allowed me to see that timing is never right, just take a leap. I enrolled in an esthetics school in March 2021, I knew I wanted to offer more than spray tans. I was finding that my current spray tan clients were needing more than a spray tan. Some suffered from acne, stress, or just needed a fabulous facial massage. I still do mobile spray tans on Thursdays, they are always busy days! I have a Salon Loft in The Grove where I offer facials, chemical peels, and spray tans.

I am now able to help clients with their skin instead of camouflaging it with a spray tan. I focus on giving clients clear, glowing skin. All of my clients are beautiful inside and out, my goal is to help them realize that as well.

When a potential client finds Sunset Skin I want them to instantly get to know me. I will be helping them achieve their skin goals or find their relaxation. Skin is the body’s largest organ, it is an honor for a client/stranger to trust me with it. I am your friend and I will be by your side through every step of your skin journey!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Thank goodness for social media!! Word of mouth is always an amazing way to get new clients in my door but Instagram plays a huge role for me.

I post Monday through Friday, at my optimal times, using relevant hashtags. Instagram is a job on its own, I find myself replying to new clients in my messages every day. Instagram has allowed my business to reach new people whether that might be a share or tag. During a first-time client consultation, I always ask how they found me, 9/10, Instagram.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This was not easy, I am constantly trying to be better. I have had to learn to say no. No to working outside of my hours, setting boundaries, etc. Being a one-woman show is not always glamorous, I constantly have to be “working”. If a DM or text comes through I’m ready to answer. I want Sunset to grow and to make others happy, it came to a point earlier this year that I wasn’t happy, I was exhausted

It’s easy to get excited when a new client or returning client needs in ASAP, or you get to work a 13-hour day. When starting a business there isn’t a manual or boss to tell you how to run your business, trial, and error. I have now started to only reply to messages during my business hours, and I have stopped taking appointments outside of my hours. When I felt run down, it showed during my facials and relationships at home. Business owners, don’t forget to take care of yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: visitsunsetskin.com
• Instagram: sunsetskin.stl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunlesstans.byhailee/
• Other: email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Mariah Ray Photography