Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Raven Roth. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Raven , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
Raven , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
Going from an idea to execution wasn’t a very long process when I started up my business. The idea of me becoming a lash artist arose my freshman year of college when my best friend and I were looking for part-time jobs. She thought lashing would be a good side job for me while in school and started to look more into it for me. Initially I didn’t want to keep pursuing lashing, however the day of my first training my instructor encouraged me to stay the course. After the first day of my training, my instructor informed me that she saw so much potential in me and that I should consider taking lashing serious. From that day foward I started researching how to run and manage a business, along with a social media platforms.
Within the first three months after my training, I taught myself how to design a website, how to create content to build a social media platform, connected with different lash vendors, and invested in the proper supplies I needed for my clients and lash set up.
When I created my website, I wanted something where I could book appointments as well as sell lash products. I researched and tested out a few until I found a platform that I was most comfortable with. Once I created the website and scheduling page, I started looking into apps where I could create content so I could build an aesthetic for my instagram page, along with my overall brand. I then sampled products & lash trays from different lash vendors to test out the quality before I bought anything in big quantities. After I found the vendor of my choice, I bought a few products such as lash wash kits, handheld fans and sleep mask to sell to my clients in-person & on my website. Once I finalized that part of the process, I officially started taking clients about 5 months after my initial lash training and I’ve been lashing for almost 4 years now since that day.
Raven , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those who may not know, my name is Raven Roth, Im 21 years old and I am the CEO/owner of That’s So Lashes. I opened That’s So Lashes at 17 years old, slightly after I graduated high school. It had initially started as a side job while I was in college majoring in Biology and working a part time job at the mall. As I grew in the lash industry, my passion for being apart the beauty industry intensified. I then made lashing my full-time career at 18 years old.
Starting up, my main goals for my craft were to build my business and maintain the health/ integrity of my clients natural lashes with or without lash extensions. I came across a a few clients who only felt confident with lash extensions due to previous lash techs damaging their natural lashes. I wanted my clients to feel beautiful with or without lashes, so I thrived to always properly apply the extension to the natural lash and to invest in the best products to ensure the health of my clients natural lashes while having lashes. As I researched more products overtime, I invested in a lash glue that is oil proof so my clients can apply serums and hair growth oils on their lashes to assist in the growth and health of their natural lashes.
When the pandemic started I temporarily dropped out of school to focus on lashes, as my business was becoming steady and very time consuming. I worked out of a corner in my bedroom for about a year in a half, until I moved into a private suite and starting building up more clientele and expanding my creativity on my work.
Throughout the past 3 years, I’ve learned so much about life and running a business overall. I’ve also been granted so many different opportunities because of lashing. I’ve serviced hundreds of lovely people, spoken to a freshman class of HBCU students about entrepreneurship, and have mentored other upcoming lash techs to help start up their business.
I’m most proud of maintaining the main goals of my business these past years, as most of my clientele point out that’s why they continue to choose me as their service provider.
Almost ongoing 4 years now in the lash industry, I’m looking forward to continue to grow my brand in every aspect possible. I’m currently expanding the ThatsSo brand and opening up our sister business, That’s So Snatched. Our non-invasive, non surgical body contouring business. On the side, I’m still pursuing my degree in Biology and Business marketing, as well as my esthetician license to soon offer facials. My dream goal is to soon work or open a Med Spa, and offer fillers, botox and other non-surgical treatments.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
As most business owners will tell you, starting up was not the easiest. Starting up I was fairly young and right out of high school. My first initial training was about $500. My best friend persuaded my parents that this could be a great side job while working and while being in school. They ended up agreeing with her and financially assisted me with enrolling into my first lash training. After my training my dad gave me $300 to buy start up supplies and my mom helped with my lash table and lash equipment to get me stated off. After the fist few months I started saving money from my job at the time as well as some of my funds from my business to reinvest and upgrade my supplies while I was in college. I also was doing door dash with some of my friends in college when we were bored, so most times I would use that extra money and put it towards my business so I can get the items I needed or just simply wanted. Most of the initial funds were used to start off and build my business to where it can take care of itself. Once it was able to support itself, the funds were used to continue to improve my brand such as investing in high quality products, trainings to improve my craft, products to offer to my clients and anything to help my clients have a comfortable experience.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
One of my favorite marketing promotions I’ve done so far with thatssolashes would be my 3 year anniversary rebrand. My 3rd year of lashes was a few months before my 21st birthday. I wanted to upgrade my lash page to relate to my “older self” and create more of a mature theme, but still keep it eye-catching and playful like my previous theme.
I started first by changing my brand concept overall; such as colors, fonts and aesthetic. Once I created a mood board, I started to upgrade my logo and website to match my new color ways and fonts. I also added built in features to improve my customers experience and service while reserving an appointment on the website. One of my friends suggested that I held a photoshoot to get new content and to promote my rebrand. I was so skeptical about the turnout since I put it together in a two week span. Luckily, the photographer and my models were all good friends of mines which took some of the stress off me the day of the shoot. We were behind a little and literally had to pack everything we can in an hour. Fortunately, everything turned out great in the short amount of time we had. After the touchups, I was in LOVE with the photos. I started posting some behind the scenes of the shoot along as some of the photos to leading up into date, which helped boost my engagement. One the day of my anniversary, the updated logo, website and shoot photos were released and I can say that it was very successful rebrand despite the conflicts and self doubts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thatssolashes.com
- Instagram: thatssolashes
- Other: TikTok: thatssolashes
Image Credits
Ahmad Martin