We were lucky to catch up with Cierra Jordan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cierra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I definitely am happier being a business owner. I love having the freedom to do the things that I feel are the best for my business and my clients and having the final call in all decision making. I was working for a corporate company before being an independent esthetician so I do know what it’s like to have a regular job versus being an owner. Yes, the paycheck was steadier when you’re being payed hourly or salary and there was a lot less responsibility in that position versus handling all of the aspects of owning a business, but the peace of mind I have owning my own is worth the risk of stepping out of that comfort zone and starting to build up my own business. I enjoy feeling like I am really making a genuine and authentic connection with all of my customers and clients and being able to network in the community and work with different organizations and charities has really made such a positive impact in my life and I definitely wouldn’t change anything that has led me to this point in my life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an esthetician. I focus on full body sugaring, body facials and brows. I offer henna, tinting, lamination and am in the process of being able to offer microblading for brows in 2023. I currently also do a basic customized facial and will have another esthetician starting in February for advanced facials. We also have a lash technician that works out of the studio offering lash extensions, lifts and tints. Personally, I love what I do I truly enjoy going into my studio everyday and interacting with the people I get to see. It doesn’t necessarily feel like work and I’ve created such amazing friendships with so many clients and it’s always such a great feeling to see someone get genuinely excited over the results of their brows being transformed or how they feel and look after getting a facial. I always want my clients to feel confident and trusting in me or any other esthetician working out of the studio for any services they’re receiving because it can always be nerve racking to have these things being done especially when you’re working on someone face or dealing with hair removal. Hair removal can be uncomfortable and with brazilians being such an intimate service people can feel extremely anxious or even embarrassed to be getting them done so I always want to focus on making sure my clients feel comfortable and secure in any service they may be receiving and confident enough to ask any questions concerning anything.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth and referrals have definitely helped grow my clientele the most. Social media is huge now and marketing on those platforms is a great tool especially for people looking to see before or afters or to get an idea of your business and being able to reach a larger audience at once. Personally though majority of my clientele have come through referrals from existing clients telling their friends, family or coworkers about me and the services I offer and I feel like these clients come in already knowing what to expect and with a better sense of who I am since they’ve talked to someone directly that has already gotten to know me and have seen the results.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to realize that everything was not going to be perfect right from the start and that my mindset for what exactly the business was going to do was going to change constantly. I was used to having a regular routine for previous jobs and knowing exactly what had to be done that day going into work. Owning a business and handling every single responsibility that comes with that meant being flexible and having to let go of always being in control of everything that is happening. I originally thought it was just going to be me in a small studio space with a few products and a small regular clientele and the business just kept steadily growing. I had a lash technician who is a great friend of mine move back to town and was looking for somewhere to work so I rented space to her and now I’m bringing on another licensed esthetician and an apprentice in 2023. So the business is constantly evolving which I am grateful for and I have had to learn to just trust the process and the journey and see where it takes me.

Contact Info:

• Website: cluxebeautybar.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/c.luxe_beautybar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarwithc?mibextid=LQQJ4d