Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber McMillan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amber, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My co-founder Brian and I started CLEO out of deep frustration with the state of modern skincare. The dirty secret of this industry is that 90% topical skincare products either don’t work at all or only work at a superficial level. All of the skin concerns we care about- be that wrinkles, acne, sun damage etc. originate in the deep layers of the where topical products can’t access (aka. beyond the epidermis). Through months of research we came to the realization that laser is the gold standard for reaching these deep layers and addressing your skin concerns right at the source. The clinical literature on the efficacy of laser is vast and unfortunately the same cannot be said for most topical products. Historically, laser treatments have only been within reach for celebrities in Los Angeles – and we started CLEO to change this and bring laser into the mainstream.
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.
I’ve spent my entire career at the intersection of hospitality and wellness. Most recently I ran Group Fitness and Weightloss at Lifetime and helped launch Lifetime in over 50 markets. I’m deeply passionate about all of the small details that go into making retail-hospitality experiences exceptional and see a lot of parallels between the rise of boutique fitness (like Barrys & Orange Theory) and what we’re building at CLEO in the skincare space.
CLEO is an aesthetic dermatology concept focused on NEXT GEN cosmetic laser treatments. We’re firmly focused in everything we do on taking the stress out of advanced skin care AND increasing access to the transformative results that laser can provide. With recent advancements in technology, Laser has become the gold standard in skin rejuvenation for a wide variety of concerns ranging from wrinkles & fine lines, sun damage, acne, hair removal and tattoo removal – of which we service all of these needs at our clinics in Edina and Maple Grove. Historically, laser has been out of reach for most consumers. At CLEO we’re determined to change this and make laser the future of beauty.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth ! Getting a laser treatment requires a great deal of trust and education. Simple instagram and google advertisements are not enough. You need to build trust over time and and the best source of marketing is happy customers.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Will Guidara’s book, “Unreasonable Hospitality” has been a large influence in how we think about customer service at CLEO. Though we are in the skincare space and not the restaurant industry, we apply similar hospitality themes and frameworks in pursuit of delivering true delight to our guests.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cleoskinandlaser.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleoskinandlaser
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555050011512
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cleo-skin-laser
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleo-skin-laser-edina
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cleoskinandlaser
