Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Francesca Vigliotta. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Francesca, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

For me, I think success comes down to commitment. If you don’t fight for your goals and dreams day in and day out, I don’t see a path to success. Committing to the grind of starting something new or working hard is tough, but the payoff at the end is so worth it. Without my commitment to my long term goals, Plush Beauty Bar would not have been possible. Making the conscious decision every day to stay on track is the single most important thing I have done for my career. To stay committed, I think it’s important to stay motivated and always having your goal in sight, Having something tangible to work towards makes it a lot more manageable to grind down and do the work.

I also think success is a goal post that keeps on moving. Every time you hit one goal, you should continue to set another one and strive to reach further success. Opening my own salon was a goal of mine, and I am so fortunate I have been able to reach it. Now, I am committed to reaching my next goals that go beyond just opening up my business.

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’m Francesca! I’ve loved esthetics and the beauty industry for as long as I can remember. Honestly, before I even knew what esthetics meant. My earliest memories include performing facials and massages on my family members when I was probably 8 (read: taking moisturizer and rubbing their face, painting their nails or applying makeup). When I got a little older, probably around middle school, I loved spending time at the Sally Hansen store where I bought the microwavable wax treatment and started waxing my family and friends. Just upper lip waxes! But still, I was enthralled with it.

I kept this all up throughout high school, but when it was time to figure out post-graduation plans, I succumbed to society’s pressures and applied to college. My first semester at school was a nightmare. I was a nursing major and I hated it. It wasn’t for me. Any part of it. Once I started skipping class for trips to Sephora, I knew something had to change. A few weeks after second semester, I packed my bags and went home to my parents’ house and left college behind. I am so grateful that my parents were so supportive of this move. They made it extremely easy for me, and I know that that’s not always the case.

A few months after I moved home, I started my education at Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics. When I left college, it was never a question of what I would do next. I knew I was going to go to esthetics school. It was my passion. It made me happy.

I loved my education at Elizabeth Grady. After I graduated from EG, I passed my state boards and got my first job in the beauty industry. I was thrilled. Everything I had dreamed of was finally starting to come together. Most of the services I focused on at the beginning were waxes and facials. In 2019, I got certified in lash extensions, which was a turning point for me and my career. Quickly, I learned that I loved doing lashes. What started as a few clients a week in my parents’ basement, turned into referrals, booked weeks, and the need for a bigger space. It was then I knew I was ready to make the jump to be a business owner and create the salon of my dreams.

I opened up Plush Beauty Bar in Watertown, MA in September 2021. Plush Beauty Bar is a summary of everything I am, individually and professionally. I redesigned the entire space to reflect who I am and our mission. Plush Beauty Bar is a fun, chic, welcoming space where I strive to enhance the natural beauty of each of my clients who walk through the door.

I am so proud, and in awe of, the support I have recieved with the opening of Plush Beauty Bar. The people of Watertown, my previous clients who followed me, and the clients I have that refer me to new clients daily are the reason Plush Beauty Bar has been so successful in the past 18 months. I am eternally grateful for my clients for believing in my vision and trusting me.

I am also very proud that I am a female owned and operated small business. I am currently the only esthetician working at Plush Beauty Bar so I am really proud of the clients and work I have been able to produce on my own.

Plush Beauty Bar offers tons of beauty services, including but not limited to, lash extensions, brow laminations, lash lifts and tints, waxing and threading, spray tans, and make-up applications. I also created my own strip lash line: I sell four different styles of strip lashes for single-use wear. I also have a variety of products that compliment the services clients receive in the salon. Plush Beauty Bar merchandise is also available for sale.

Our brand:
I built Plush Beauty Bar to be a chic, trendy spot where clients can feel confident and comfortable from when they walk in to when they walk out.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

My clients are SO important to me. I’m really proud of the way I’ve built relationships with my clients. During services, it’s like I’m hanging out with a friend. We chat about relationships, our weekend plans, anything you would talk about with a friend. I’m in a business where I see my clients frequently, based on the services they receive. “Frequently” is once or twice a month on average for most of my clients. I see them as often as I see some of my own friends!

Social media has been a great way to keep in touch with clients. I follow tons of my clients so I keep in touch with them more frequently than I see them. I can comment or message them whenever they post and constantly stay engaged with them that way.

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

Social media has been huge for me. It has allowed me to showcase my work and my business. I think it’s really important to let prospective clients see who you are authentically, the caliber of your work, and the space in which they’ll be entering. I highlight all of the services I offer on Instagram so if a client is considering one service vs another, they’ll be able to see the differences, etc on my page.

Word of mouth is another one. Its an organic way to build trust with future clients who are referred to you because they are likely being referred by a friend or colleague. Word of mouth is only possible, though, when you satisfy a client enough for them to encourage their friends or family to book with you. This is where customer service comes in for me.

Lastly, getting involved in the community has helped with growing my clientele. I have attended pop-ups, had pop-ups at the salon, and hosted fundraiser events. It’s important to me to have a presence in the community I work in.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.plushbeautybarboston.com
• Instagram: @plushbeautybarboston