We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Benitez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Karen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
So many big decisions in life can be taking a risk; not knowing the outcome can be scary, but you’ll never know until you go for it. The biggest risk I took was leaving my job at a nail salon to open up my own independent nail studio. When working for a nail salon, you’re set up with the space, equipment, products, and the clients, so taking the risk of losing that assistance can put a lot of doubt in your mind. After 4 years of working for other businesses, I finally felt confident to take the next big step towards creating my own business: a cozy, comfortable safe place for my clients to unwind and treat themselves to a manicure or pedicure. At first, I feared not being able to do it by myself, but with the support and loyalty of my family, friends and clients, I opened up Karensitas Nail Studio in February 2022. 10 months later, things are going great! My nail studio has become our happy place where I get to continue to meet new friends and clients, be creative with nails, and be my own boss.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My Name is Karen Benitez, and I have been a Nail Technician for 5 years now. I’m from Worcester, Massachusetts, but moved to Austin, Texas in 2014. When I was younger, my mom would have me help her polish her nails, and when I realized I was pretty good at it, I knew I wanted to learn more about the process. I began my own collection of nail polish bottles and loved the idea of accessorizing with all different colors. I also noticed how happy it made my friends and family. Fast forward to 2017, after working countless hours in the food service industry, I finally began the process of becoming a nail technician. I am passionate about promoting natural nail health by using the right products and gentle care. I want to show clients that their nails can grow long and strong while looking stylish with a fun color or nail design. I specialize in a variety of types of manicures and pedicures using quality brands such as OPI and Apres. I take pride in my attention to detail and cleanliness. My clients appreciate that I take my time, am thorough, and care for their nails while creating a fun personal experience. My favorite part of doing nails is seeing the before and after; I love when a client tells me, “My natural nails have never been this long before.” It makes me happy to see their reaction and that I was able to help transform them.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My existing clients have been the best source of new clients. When they step out of the studio, their nails are my best advertisement, especially when they share it on social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. Facebook groups are a great way to give and get recommendations, while Instagram is a good way to show off my portfolio through photos and videos. My studio is located at Salons by JC Suites, a community of small business owners where we are able to support each other with business tips and client referrals. Clients love that they have one place to go for their self care needs.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Posting pictures and content reaches so many people, and it doesn’t cost anything. When building my Instagram page, I thought about the kinds of content that I enjoy watching, which are stories and reels that are relatable, funny, and satisfying. Consistently posting can be hard to do when running a business, but it is such an important and useful marketing tool. My advice to those starting to build a social media presence is to step out of your comfort zone and have fun while making content. Don’t overthink it, and show off what you love most about your business. Take advantage of other apps such as Planoly, Canva, and Splice to organize content. Try not to let the pressure of perfectionism stop you from putting yourself out there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karensitasnails.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: @karensitas_nails