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

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

I grew up in my family business.
My grandfather and father started an upholstery business in 1972. As a child I was there while my mother worked and we would sweep remove staples and generally soak up what it meant to have a family business.
It always starts with quality work and products backed up by a warm welcome and clients that wouldn’t take their business anywhere else.
In 2008 I switched gears from working in Cosmetics as a Counter manager for Elizabeth Arden to working full time in my family business House of Covers.
For 10 years I learned from my parents everything from how to do upholstery, to excellent customer service, to how to manage, buy inventory, bookkeeping, the list goes on.
The passion I have for esthetics and the experience I had in my family business is 100% what gave me the ability to open in 2020 and be thriving in 2024.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have wanted to be an esthetician since I was 12 years old when i had my first facial at the Aveda school. It was not a straight line to get back to my original goal. I worked for Chanel, Origins, Sephora and Elizabeth Arden as a Makeup Artist and sales of skincare and Cosmetics. I absolutely loved working in cosmetics, it was a complete change to switch gears to automotive upholstery on my parents family business in 2008. However the 10 years i spent there has allowed me to thrive having my own business. In 2018 I realized I wanted to go back to school to be an esthetician. Not only because it is my true passion but it will continue to allow me to be present in my children’s lives. One of the things I am most proud of is being able to do what I love everyday and it might not feel like work. There are definitely times when I have to do the not as fun “computer work” or “paperwork” part of the business to keep things running smoothly. My day to day is getting to connect with my clients and make them feel their best. When i finished esthetics school I immediately opened Whipped Brow Bar and was met with all the joys of 2020.
I always said if I could make it through a pandemic I would be able to make it through anything.
When I started it was with a very limited menu of a couple types of facials along with facial and body waxing. Since then I have been able to bring on another esthetician and add not only the luxurious HydraFacials, Glo2 Facials, Body treatments, along with being known for Brow Laminations and Lash lifts. I have also been able to Trademark Whipped Brow Bar to allow for growth when the time comes.
I truly can not put into words the joy I get from working one on one with my clients everyday. throughout the year we also host Masque & Sips. This is an event I created in 2020. We are going on the 4th year of having facial parties where I get to bring my clientele together to enjoy my passion of skincare.
I am setting an example for my children of hard work through having a vision and bringing it to life in my business. As well as following my passion and true passion will pay for your lifestyle. And you don’t have to have one or the other. Your work and life can both be entertwined and wildly fulfilling.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

From the beginning when I was in school working with new clients and starting to sell product. I would put every dollar from the beginning together until I had what I needed to get the bare minimum basics to start.
I started with $4000 and a vision of Skincare for every budget.
For the first couple of years I would reinvest what I was making back into Whipped Brow Bar to add services and make the space an oasis from everyday life.
We are still growing however we definitely have a wide variety of services in a very cozy comfortable studio.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Quality, Consistency, Availability and Positivity will lead to return clientele. We mainly rely on word of mouth as my parents did in their business.
I make sure to be able to keep space for my clientele and create space for new clientele. It’s a bummer to hear about a great place and then not be able to get an appointment or have someone answer your call.
It’s important to me that my clients are able to refer me to friends and family and we will be available to accommodate them, answer questions and make them feel comfortable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.whippedbrowbar.com
• Instagram: Whippedbrowbar
• Facebook: Whipped Brow Bar
• Yelp: Whipped Brow Bar