We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Annabelle Gonzales. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Annabelle below.

Annabelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My first client had to have been about 16 years ago! Estheticians weren’t as popular as they are now-so no one knew exactly what I had to offer. With the power of Facebook- I let my “friends” know the services I would offer soon post graduation and state board licensing. My direct messages went off, they were interested in brow waxing, under arm waxing, Brazilian waxing, makeup and facials. They were asking for my pricelist-i didn’t have that! I wasn’t expecting it so fast. I made a price list, printed it up, made business cards probably the same week and picked up a planner. I scheduled my first client-an under arm wax the following week. In the mean time that led up to my first client, I set up a cute space in my home and prepped for her. Post appointment, she paid me and added tip, I tried giving the tip back, haha. I mean, I didn’t know or how to handle my first paid client and tip. Before her leaving she scheduled two more future appointments to make sure she was on my books-she knew I would be busy and wanted to make sure she was on there. Cleaning up after she left-I felt great, no that’s an understatement, I felt speechless . Who knew a simple under arm wax service would leave me feeling good about myself that I offered something that was in need and people trusted me. I knew then that feeling alone of being their “go to person” was someone I wanted to continue to be.

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

Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Annabelle, and I have been an Esthetician for 16 years now. I started off and still do makeup, facials & waxing services that grew into permanent makeup specializing in brows, both Microblading & Ombre powder brows.

I think what sets me apart is my realness and humor with my advertising. Haha I think I’m really funny and corny. Another thing that sets me apart is my wide range of services. I offer a lot of many things that allowed me to perfect my craft over the years.

The most thing I am proud of is the growth of my business. I’ve added a lot of services since I started and have met a lot of people along the way. I’ve made a name for myself way before social media was available. I put in that work.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Back in 2008, I was working fulltime as an esthetician at a spa. That’s when the market crashed, housing at its worse, lay offs, people couldn’t afford what was considered luxury and that meant the facials, waxing and body treatments I did had to be given up. My schedule lessened and I knew I had to take a detour while perhaps still doing this part time. I enrolled in school and graduated with my Bachelor’s in Business in 2012 while still working part time. I eventually resigned and took on my own private clients where I was able to book in between class and a diff rate than what the spa charged. I was getting booked, busier and that direction was the best decision I made. Fast forward to 3 years later, while continuing the same path, I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Accounting. I was able to continue doing what I enjoyed while getting my name out there and working towards degrees.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I didn’t turn my side hustle into my main hustle because I like my main hustle, haha. I actually love both my jobs. My side hustle always has been a side hustle, I think I kept it that way because it allows it to be the fun job. Not saying my main hustle isn’t fun, haha but having it as my side allows me to break up the daily duties I have mon-Fri as an Accountant for the Navy and doing something else without getting burnt out so easily. My side hustle is my outlet to be creative and to be outgoing but I also enjoy the seriousness and government environment during the week from my main hustle. My Saturdays and every other Fridays are booked out (averaging 3 months out) for my side hustle, so if that says anything, my side hustle will always feel like it’s fulltime because im so busy as is. Throw in my 3 kids, my fiancé and a household to manage-im busy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellesbabecave.com
• Instagram: @Dolledupbyannabelle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ag0nzales