We recently connected with Despina Scandalis and have shared our conversation below.

Despina , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Owning a business involves takings risks especially in the beginning! Once I graduated from Esthetician school and got licensed I was fortunate enough to dive into a paid internship at a privately owned skin studio here in Los Angeles. There I really learned how to create and retain a clientele and learned about advanced skincare treatments and products different from what I learned in school. After 2 years working there I felt ready to go solo. The owner was very supportive of me building my clientele as well as assisting with hers while she was unavailable. The opportunity showed me the financial dedication and commitment you need to make to build your own treatment room.

To the treatment products-back bar, retail and facial machines or modalities as we estheticians call them this can cost upwards 5- 50k depending on what you’d like your service menu to focus on.

During my 2 years working there the studio unexpected closed thankfully I was buying spa equipment slowly from a facial steamer, hydraulic facial bed to a microdermabrasion and oxygen machine. I then started then doing facials out of my guest suite at my home and thought I’d continue to do this for the next year until I can find a studio rental that was a great fit and affordable for what I was offering. Well, the year was 2019 and the whole world changed with Covid and I didn’t touch a face for 11 months because here in California spa business we’re not essential and that made me scramble wondering my next step.

As things started to opening up… there was a boom for the need for self care I saw myself attaining more new clients more frequently and we scary as it was I saw an opportunity open up in North Hollywood and jumped on it. Not knowing how the economy was going I moved my business out of my home and into a private studio within The Little Gem Studio. In the two years I have been there it was been wonderful to service my clients there as well as work next to Delenia of The Little Gem Studio in the adorable section of the NoHo Arts District. It has survived the writers/ entertainment industry strikes and overall economy. And in my eighth year of working as an Esthetician I keep updating my spa and equipment each year to provide the best quality possible for my clientele and this comes with risk of investing!

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.

As a working Beauty Professional for almost two decades I feel blessed to have created a career that I love! As a daughter of Greek Immigrant parents I have always felt driven to design the life and career I longed for and know that hard work and dedication is worth the time to build. I am continuing provide only the best for my clientele and have never stopped learning.. a forever student as they say in professional and personal development. Attending and being apart of community is a key element as a small business owner. I started Beauty career in Makeup in various areas Retail/Sales, Tv/Film, Photoshoots, Fashion as well as Wedding Beauty which is the only makeup I still do to this day. 10 years into the beauty industry I became more interested in skincare I felt I was spending more time prepping my client’s skin with mini mask treatments and how that was effecting how the makeup would wear! After getting my estheticians license I have opened my life and career to an amazing entrepreneurial experience doing what I love taking care of clients with all their skin wellness.

I take pride in being a member of professional community based groups like The Powder Group, WIPA, TTLA to name a few. Being an educator is the highest honor in my industry and I have had the pleasure to Present Skincare and Makeup Seminars for like minded Professionals at ISSE, Premiere Anaheim, The Powder Group, StyledLife, TTLA.

My work has been awarded and published in the following publications:
On Makeup Magazine, The Knot, Green Wedding Shoes, Los Angeles Times, Good Day LA, French Wedding Style, Jaxon James Bridal Couture, Cake & Lace.

My approach
To Skincare: Where relaxation meets results.
To Beauty: Feeling as good as you look.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Find your niche ! Find what you love doing and do it over and over and over and over again! People love seeing you become an expert in business!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I love my clients, I love to spoil them because they are my greatest asset they believe in me and if I’m lucky will tell anyone they know about me! Referrals is my best marketing plan…. I have a rewards program I purchased through my POS system (square) that has allowed me to take the guesswork of tracking client purchases and treatments! Being an esthetician comes with a lot of rewards I get to know my clients sometimes -most of the time on a personal level! Being invited to birthdays or weddings.. I also love having lunch/dinners with some of my longtime regulars because they turn into family after years together!! I truly love what I do and in turn that gives my clients all the good positive energy I have!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.despinascandalisskincare.com
• Instagram: @despinascandalis
• Other: Google
  Despina Scandalis Skincare

Image Credits

Megan Christine Studio
D’Amore WeDo