We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carrie Brown Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carrie below.
Hi Carrie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?
The biggest trend I’m seeing in the PMU/Cosmetic & Paramedical Tattoo industry is the camouflage and remodeling of stretch marks and scars. While some of this has been around for a while, I’ve seen it gain popularity in the last year with the emergence of new products and methods to treat specific types of damaged tissue, like stretch marks and surgical scars. I recently attended a Permanent Makeup conference in February 2023 and there were 3 speakers on Stretch Mark Remodeling, alone. That says everything about trends in the industry. You can always find inspiration and what’s happening next at a conference or convention. I’m happy to report that I learned these methods and modalities in late 2021, as I knew this would a sought after service. My studio is 3 miles from Clearwtaer Beach and it’s swimsuit season year round. Being ahead of the crowd and one of the first to offer these services in my area is one of the reasons that I’ve maintained success this this industry.
Carrie, 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 was first introduced to the world of Cosmetic Tattooing in 2014, after having my own eyebrows Microbladed. I was working as a Freelance Hair and Makeup Artist so I already had a gift for enhancing facial features and working on different skin tones and facial structures. It was a fairly easy transition but also a huge testament to the power of eyebrows. I changed my entire career over them! Both of those things were the best decisons I’ve ever made. :)
Fast forward to 2023 and I now have small team, a skincare line, and a 1000 sq ft studio in Clearwater FL offering a wide range of both Cosmetic and Paramedical Tattooing Services and One-n-One Training for other artists looking to grow in their craft. I love everything about my industry and the abundance of quality education available, which has allowed me to really grow and evolve as an artist as well. In my studio we specialize in natural enhancements, offering all styles of Eyebrows (Nano, Powder, Combo), Permanent Eyeliner and Lip Blush as well as Scar and Stretch Mark Remodeling and Camouflage and 3D Areola Tattooing, and last but not least, Tattoo Removal. Our mission is to help each guest feel beautiful and confident, while often saving them tons of time and money on their daily routine. It can mean anything from throwing out the brow pencil, to never having to reapply lipstick, to concealing self harm scars, or signifying the end of a breast cancer journey. This work is incredibly gratifying in every way. I often shed happy tears with my clients and I cannot imagine my life without all of the amazing women (and men) that I’ve had the honor to work on. The level of trust I recieve from my clients is not lost on me and I am just so grateful to have found a craft that I not only excel at but also feel completely fulfilled by, day after day.
I have worked incredibly hard to build and maintain a 5 star reputation and part of that is due to the amount of education and information we provide our new and existing guests, and students. I have an amazing scheduling coordinator that has been with me for years, managing the calendar and making sure our clients have all of their questions ansered so they can make informed decisions, and managing and keeping me organized (all artists need this, she is my greatest investment). I think the most important thing to know about Brows & Beauty A Go-Go is that we are highly skilled and experienced artists offering luxury beauty services. My studio is private, relaxing, and your experience here will always be stellar. From the very beginning of the booking process, through the consult and all the way until we hand you the mirror to see the end results. We take our time with each client and limit the amount of daily appointments so that each guest receives the focus and artistry these type of services deserve.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy I have found for growing my clientele has been to extend a discount for quality referrals. I have found that there is nothing better than a referral based on the way your work is presented in the community. Those new clients always come with a level of trust that allows me to shine in my artistry. This method in return has allowed me to build my clinetelle organically, without giving significant discounts or running constant ads on new services. Instead I am putting the money back in the pockets of our loyal guests. Of course you also have to make sure your quality of work is worthy of a qualified referral but my exisitng clients love that I continuously treat them to savings and when I increase pricing, they rarely feel it and instead the new services increase, when completely necessary. So it may be a bit more of an initial investment but in the long run our clients reap the benefits of not only referring us but also sticking with us.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Toward the end of 2018, my husband was offered a position 3 hours away from where I built my business. Although that’s not like moving across the country, it was still far enough that I would have to mostly start over. At the time, I was a little over 4 years in, with an organically built and thriving clientele. My books were solid, I had reliable income and an over 2 month wait list. In the world of owning a beauty business, that is like the gold star. We all strive for that and here I was about to walk away from it. I knew early on that I didn’t want to stay in my hometown and had always planned to leave but felt a little stuck. This offered us an opportunity to live in the best part of Florida (IMO) but it meant I was going to have to make some serious sacrifices.
Fast forward 4 years and I have made it back to where I was, Thankfully I have a supportive husband and family so I didn’t feel so alone, but it wasn’t easy. In fact it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my career. I had zero network to pull from other than a few friends and it was super slow to start. I kept my head down and focused all of 2019 on rebuilding and finding the right place to lay down roots, all while making monthly trips to my old location to see clients. By the end of the year I was exhausted and ready to just work where I lived full time and I was able to rebuild enough that I could. Then came the awful 2020…. Byt the skin of my teeth I made it through those months of shutdown, and when we reopened, I was able to rapidly build because everyone was working from home and had more time to devote to self care. In 2021 I opened my studio and I was TERRIFIED. I did not feel ready but I knew it was the right decision, and so far it has been the best choice. I now have an artist under me that I am able to mentor and help grow, as well as a laser hair removal technician sharing my studio. It feels like a true phoenix rising from the ashes story. Nobody sees the fear and pain that it takes to not only start over but also to come out of a pandemic and still make it to the other side. I’m really proud of what I have managed to build and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Brows & Beauty A Go-Go.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.browsandbeautyagogo.com
- Instagram: @browsandbeautyagogo
- Facebook: Facebook.com/browsandbeautyagogo.com
Image Credits
All images of cosmetic and paramedical tattooing credited to Carrie Brown, Owner and Master Artist at Brows & Beauty A Go-Go. Headshot photo credit to Nicole Mitchem Photography