Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dila Djokaj. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Dila thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.
I was introduced to the nonprofit Eden Reforestation Projects before I started my business and saw firsthand the work being done. L.A. Sun Spray Tan has been donating 3% of net profits to Eden Reforestation Projects since its inception in 2013. Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden) is a nonprofit NGO that works in developing countries (including Madagascar, Kenya, Ethiopia) to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation. Eden works directly with local communities experiencing extreme poverty resulting from the deforestation and destruction of the land that sustains them. This incredible organization employs thousands of local community members, providing them with the education and tools necessary to plant, grow, and protect to maturity, millions of trees each year. Currently, Eden Reforestation Projects is managing over 241,150 hectares of land.
It really gives me a sense of fulfillment and gratitude being able to donate monthly, while not only helping the earth but also providing jobs for people in need. So far, L.A. Sun Spray Tan has planted over 18,000 trees.
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 Los Angeles-based airbrush spray tan artist. I’m known for making my clients look and feel their best with the most natural-looking tan. I pay careful attention to making the tan look as real as possible. I don’t just “spray” someone with even, flat coverage. I emphasize certain parts of the body, contour to build dimension, and create a very natural look. I always say “The best spray tan is the one people don’t notice”.
I make it a point to pay close attention to every detail of my business. I develop personal relationships with my clients and some have been coming to me consistently for over 8 years. I truly see them as more than just my clients, I see them as friends. I want everyone who comes to L.A. Sun Spray Tan to leave my studio feeling happy and confident.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
At first, I had thought about putting the $850 I needed for my first spray tanning kit on my credit card, but then I had another idea. I had a giant empty water bottle that I would fill with loose change, and cash, unsure of what I was saving for. Before charging my credit card I decided to check on how much I had saved in that bottle- I had just enough to buy the kit! Soon after, I put together a business plan and was able to take out a small business loan for $2,500, which I used to start L.A. Sun Spray Tan.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Before I started doing spray tans, I was working as a bartender and VIP bottle server to make ends meet, while also DJing (aka DYLA) in the house music scene. I was introduced to Jaime Farraj who owns Ultra Tanning and Contempo Day Spa in San Dimas and started working there a couple days a week. I feel lucky to have learned from one of the best in the industry, Jaime has been doing spray tans for almost 20 years! Spray tanning came relatively natural for me, as I’ve always had artistic ability and loved being creative growing up.
During this time, I had a friend who was staying with me who had a DJ gig she wanted to be tan for. She booked a mobile spray tan from someone local in LA since I didn’t have my own equipment yet. Unfortunately for her, but in retrospect fortunately for me, the spray tan turned out terrible and not what she was expecting – very uneven and fake looking. That experience served as the stepping point for me to start my own mobile spray tanning business.
Shortly after, I got a call from a small group of USC students who were desperate for tans, except they didn’t have a location for me to go to. Because I didn’t have a studio, they asked to come to my apartment. As a result, I continued receiving calls from more people wanting to come over for spray tans. Word was spreading and clients were coming back saying it was the best tan they’ve ever had. In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, my small studio apartment became the birthplace of the L.A. Sun Spray Tan studio.
Two years later in 2015, I received a call requesting a mobile spray tan in the Hollywood Hills. The following day I checked in with the client to make sure the tan looked perfect, knowing she had a big event, but didn’t hear back. A few weeks later I received an email notifying me that L.A. Sun Spray Tan was written up in a major publication (Allure Magazine) as one of LA’s Top Glow Pros. To my surprise, the person who nominated me was the mobile tan client! You never know who is going to book you, which is why you always bring your A-game!
Over the years I’ve been very fortunate to work with all types of clients including young business professionals, brides, celebrities, and some of the top models in the industry. It’s been over 10 years, thousands of spray tans later, and I still love what I do. For me, it’s more than just a tan, it’s an opportunity to be a part of the best moments in my clients’ lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lasunspraytan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasunspraytan/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/l-a-sun-spray-tan-los-angeles-3
Image Credits
Kevin Weinert Armando Adajar Boone Studios Jamie Charles