We were lucky to catch up with Liz Bailey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Liz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client?

Spray tanning isn’t just adding a bit of solution to someone’s skin skillfully it’s so much more. Alot of my clients come to my business after recovering from not only bad break up ls and divorces but also to cover up some skin diseases, cosmetics, and life altering changes they may have experienced. To also boost over all confidence. A spray tan service gives them so much more then just a little color. The way they come in to my studio and then leave is why I continue to do and grow as I have over the past 12 years in the esthetics industry.

Liz , 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?

I began my esthetics journey actually as a sun worshipping surfer back in 2011.. I was living abroad and saw how the community I was living in balanced wellness and health. I thought to myself what could I do out of the hospitality industry( that I was currently in) that was a hands on and a unique sort of balance to life that coincided with hospitality also. A friend mentioned to me “cosmetology school” hair skin nails! I had a “a ha moment.” I wanted to be able to do something that I could sort of take anywhere. The esthetics industry /spa and wellness and hospitality field just seemed right for me while starting a family too. The option to be able to create a business and craft on my own time seemed perfect. Of course at the beginning wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. I worked 5 years for others figuring out what I disliked and liked. I quickly saw I liked quick efficient rewarding services which for me was tanning and waxing. It seemed like such a nice balance.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Spray tanning in Charleston is such a niche. I started at such a great time when the industry was hardly talked much about. If I hear one more Ross from Friends statements I think I’ll be ill haha! Once I got out the Lowcountry and into the big world and met others in the industry across the nation I realized we have a very small community of spray tan studios and mobile artist specific to here locally . It’s only since 2020 when people had life altering income changes I have seen it growing. Spray tanning is such a fun rewarding skill, art and confidence boosting job where a person can become a boss almost over night ! BUT you then need to stand out. I’ve through the years sort of created my own uniqueness. I make my own Vegan GF, body dry powder that my clients absolutely LOVE post tan. Especially in this humid heat we live in in the Lowcountry, It’s a fan favorite. I’ve invested in a super amazing high tech tan extraction system to insure clients and myself aren’t inhaling solution over spray and protecting my studio space .In addition to these upgrades and to stand. out in what will become as i foresee a over saturated market, we also have a warm
or cool ( climate dependent) option full body dryer that insures you can be quickly dried and dressed before exiting after your service. I am
All About efficiency!These things just make for a better overall Luxury experience and that’s what makes me as a business stand out along with my memberships and attention to detail. I didn’t learn any of this in school I’ve only learned from my own mistakes trials and tribulations through the years in business. I’ve added and taken out many other services to create a great business for myself. I have seriously grown from the ground up and don’t plan on stopping.. The reputation has come from word of mouth and being in a network of likeminded individuals within my studio spaces and other local businesses. Also being consistent with clients and listening to there needs and having a strong knowledge of the luxury products that I use. This creates the big picture in truly making the business stand out. Education is the key baseline and everything else just strong commitment to the dream and the rest follows. Customers want more then just a tan and some confidence, they want an experience.

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

Networking and going to educational classes within the field of cosmetology and esthetics. Trade shows are great and specialty services specific to the bridal industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.citytanmtp.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/city.tan.mtp

Image Credits
@city.tan.mtp