Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Porcha Reed. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Porcha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

Becoming a nail tech I left nail school and immediately started working and a nail salon, in one of the most prestigious areas of Orlando Florida, Winter Park. I worked in the salon for at least a year to give myself an idea of what it would be like later on when I run my own company. Let’s just say it gave me a lot of insight on things to do and what not to do! Doing this I also learned how to treat my employees and how I would wanted to be treated as an employee, and seeing how they treated me I knew If I wanted to run a salon, it would have to be ran as a team. The owners of the salon that I worked in always kept boasting and bragging about how they owned the salon and how everything worked on their terms and their terms only. Which made me feel like my opinions and ideas didn’t matter, I did not like that feeling at all. But the experience was worth it. Later on down the line I worked in a few nail salons, or just salons that offer other things other than nails where I did both rental, to build my clientele. Doing this for three years help me stay focus and determine on saving my money to grow in this industry. During this time of me growing my money I always kept my eyes on Instagram as I watch NailTechs handle their business through customer service. There was a few nail techs that stood out to me to have on my team for certain reasons; One reason was how they handle conflict, nobody wants a messy coworker. Second, how much they advertise and promote their own business/brand. And last but not least how they responded to other nail techs in the industry in their comments. These three things stood out a lot to me and who I wanted to be a part of my team, because these three things represent how I wanted my brand to be known in the industry.

Everybody that joined my first salon that I opened which was in a flea market we’re handpicked by me, and stay with me throughout the duration of my flea market days, I did however lose a few along the way but that is to be expected not everyone clicks with everybody…. if I had to do anything over again as far as my interview process, I would say not believing everything they tell me during the interview. Some people are very desperate, and selfish and use the team as a way to only build their self. And on the back end it really hurt me as a business owner because I wanted everyone to be close and friendly. But that taught me that business is business and from this lesson I grew up very fast! Even though my first salon was a success in my eyes it really taught me a lot about the industry and about myself. I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done in that timeframe because I’m grateful for the lessons that it taught me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for those lessons, and I wouldn’t have the team that I have now if it wasn’t for those lessons.

Porcha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, I’am Porcha better known as Queenofbling owner and operator of Queenofbling Nail Academy in Orlando Florida. I’ve Always been a lover of teaching! Any class or lessons I provide is to better further any nail tech in this nail industry!! We’ve all started somewhere and we’re all looking to Get somewhere!!! When I started in the industry I didn’t have any help on growing in the nail game and it seemed like asking for help was a sin. So being self taught and going through trail and error was what kept my going to be the best!! Once I pin pointed that I love bling on nails I just zeroed in and mastered the art of putting crystals on nails so that they won’t fall off, and Now that’s MY THING! I’m known for creating super Dope expensive nail sets.

With more than 10 years in this industry I’m super proud of what I’ve accomplished and the new goals I’ve set in place for myself.

Beginning of July 2022 I decided to dedicate myself to finding a way to move from behind the desk and came up with now second successful project “Elahri Crystals” a brand of super high quality glass crystals for nail art and crafts. Named after my daughter Elahri Crystals has been making a wave in the industry with nail techs and nail supply stores from Orlando to West Palm Beach. This most definitely a passion and I love being in the nail industry!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My reputation started out as the “Nail Tech that do Specials”. I was so determined to be the best that I was willing to do specials every month until I knew I was the best at laying crystals on the customers nails. What are the special was $30-$60 every month there was a different special. Most of my specials pertain to a certain technique that I wanted to focus on and do it so many times that it became second nature, for example if I did a special for July, the July special would be, $65 unlimited bling special, any shape, any length, gel topcoat with nude acrylic. This special will go on all month with me doing the exact same thing maybe 40 to 50 times throughout the month which gave me ample enough time to practice practice practice until I got it right. Whether it was me laying my acrylic, faster, me putting the bling on faster. Or laying in my gel topcoat thinner and crispier, there was always a goal! Doing the specials every month I noticed how good my work was becoming. I also noticed how happy my clients were every time they returned not just about the deal they were receiving but with the growth of my work, I love my abilities. With this my reputation begin to spread pretty fast in the Orlando area, and I became well known for doing specials, am I following on Instagram and Facebook grew rapidly. Everybody wanted to get a set from this girl that was doing the specials after doing this for about a year and a half and then had to realize that I needed to charge my worth because my products were pretty pricey, and it was getting me in the negative as far as my numbers and revenue. I made a conscious decision to up my prices, and no longer do the specials in the year of 2019. And with that being said, I haven’t looked that sense. My loyal clients have stayed with me throughout my years and also I’ve lost clients with the rise of my prices. I don’t feel bad, because not everybody can afford to grow with you, but it has led me to meet new people that can’t afford me and that has open the door to other opportunities. Any time that I am teaching a new Nail Tech the game? I always let them know how I started and how I grew. This industry is not for the week and it takes time. I am not an overnight success even though it might look like it I promise you it took me at least three years to get where I am now and maybe 5 years to reach the following that I have now lol. With social media always changing it will always be a new obstacle to achieve or a new stumbling block to get over. Never give up always look forward to new, steppingstones and new challenges. Why? Because they make you stronger and they make you prepare for anything new that might come your way , so you can maneuver and make adjustments. There’s nothing fun with being stagnant always be willing to be the change that you want to see in yourself that you want to see in your company, lead by example be the person that you would want to be taught by !

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Advice for managing a team? Lol this question makes me laugh because I’ve been through so many ups and downs with working with different personalities and so many different women. But I wouldn’t change it for the world! One. It has made me a better woman and made me a better person because you never know what people are going through. You’re not the only one with problems, you’re not the only one that is in a bad mood you are not the only one who is having a bad day, and just because you look at something one way, doesn’t mean that everyone in your circle or on your team looks at it the way you do. As a leader as a manager as a boss , you have to be able to look at everything from a different angle and other peoples perspective. With that being said, you will not always agree with what a team member or coworker have to say or how they see things which can lead to confusion and disagreements. Learning how to overcome and work with disagreements in the salon or work environment is one of the hardest things in this industry . Because you have to maintain your role as a leader or a boss because everyone is not your friend and you don’t want to be taken advantage of. Maintaining that leader role has a lot to do with how the morale in the salon will vary from day today. On the other hand, I love going to work every day with my ladies that work with me. My team is amazing, they’ve been with me since I’ve open the doors at Queenofbling Nail Academy. I wouldn’t change them for the world each and every one of them bring something different to the table, there’s no competition, and we all can learn from each other. We joke all day, and make each other laugh so hard that our cheeks hurt. I’m so happy with the environment that I created for my employees, that, even when things aren’t going well in our personal lives. You can tell that coming to work eases all the worries and pain while we are around each other! And with that being said, the staff at Queenofbling Nail Academy is my pride and joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.queenofblingnailacademy.com/
• Instagram: @queenofbling_
• Facebook: Queenofbling
• Youtube: Queenofbling

Image Credits
Sisandra Show Elahri Crystals Queenofbling Nail Academy