We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cleo Jade. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cleo below.

Cleo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I began posting my work on my Facebook and Instagram pages. The majority of clients up to that point were friends and family, and my prices were fairly low since I was still practicing. I was still considered a beginner in the beauty industry. I received a message on my Facebook page from a girl who I was unfamiliar with, and she was asking me for my price range. Since I was a beginner, I told her I would charge her $30. She agreed and we discussed what kind of service she was interested in receiving, and we decided to do a recreation of a set of nails I had previously done on myself. At the time I wasn’t taking any sort of deposit but I set her appointment for a week from that day. When the day approached I was so nervous waiting for her to show up, I felt butterflies in my stomach but I was so excited too! I felt honored getting recognized for the work I love doing.

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 am a first generation Latina business owner, I started getting into the beauty industry by doing solely makeup. I was always into art, and makeup was a great outlet for me in high school. I loved watching makeup tutorials and recreating looks. I started doing my friends’ makeup for prom and special occasions. Once out of high school, my friends jokingly said I should start doing nails since I told them I wanted to expand my service list. They were the ones who came up with my initial business name- Clawed by Cleo. The services I currently provide are Gel X nail extensions, manicures, hard gel overlays, pedicures- both acrylic and no chip, and makeup application. I love to make my clients feel like divas! When they receive any sort of service from me, they always leave my studio with the best form of self care. What sets me apart from others in my industry is that I personally make each and every one of my clients feel heard and individualized. I know a lot of my clients on a first name basis, and I adore and respect each and every one of them and the stories they choose to share with me. It’s truly an honor to service such amazing individuals. One thing I’m extremely proud of is the growth I’ve been able to achieve over the past two years artistically. Just by scrolling through my Instagram, you can see how much my work has improved over the years, and it’s really motivating to know that I’m constantly perfecting my craft. I’m also proud of the amount of love shown to me on my social medias, including Instagram and Tik Tok. I want any potential clients out there to know that you are always welcome in my chair! No matter who you are, I would love to have the opportunity to a part of your special event or day or simply your self care journey. I hope to see your beautiful faces soon!

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I keep in touch with tons of my clients that I refer to as my regulars. These are the women and men who made and continue to make my business the business it is today. I keep in touch with them by messaging them for rebooking, replying to their stories, and liking their pictures or posts. I think for my business, I foster brand loyalty by being kind, taking constructive criticism well and being patient. My brand was built upon the foundation of love and mutual respect — something I believe all businesses and business owners should provide for their clients. I think overall though, my clients come back because of the quality of the services I provide. I make sure that when they leave, they’re proud of how they look and feel. It’s also important that I feel proud of the work I do.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

My story starts with a high point. I was working at a booth in a salon and it was a huge accomplishment that soon became a bitter mess. I loved every moment working there but unfortunately it got cut off due to a car accident I was involved in. I couldn’t sit, I had a hard time sitting for too long. I couldn’t breathe, and was in constant pain. I couldn’t afford my booth rent because I couldn’t work. It was one of the toughest moments in my life. I fell into such a deep depression, it was heartbreaking. I remember having to rely on my partner to take care of us financially and help me physically. I felt like a burden and it was so hard to get back on my feet. Thankfully once I recovered I did everything I could to work and build my business back up. Unfortunately that meant putting my prices down again. That didn’t stop me, being a business owner is hard but it’s not impossible, not if you have resilience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleojadedbeauty/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleobased?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Cleo Jade