We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jade Baker-Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jade below.
Jade, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
I think that my happiness as a business owner really depends on the week, and sometimes even the day! If I am having a busy week and connecting really well with my clients, then I feel excited and that keeps me motivated. When things are going good, it’s easy for me to be happy and feel confident in my choice to start my own business. On the other end, it can be really challenging to balance everything and please everyone all the time. I think that in order to be “happy” in business, you almost have to enjoy feeling uncomfortable and embrace all the feelings of uncertainty that come with it. My life was definitely easier when I clocked in and out, but I have learned so much about myself by starting my own business. Part of the fun for me is not knowing exactly what the future holds, but that can also feel overwhelming.
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.
My name is Jade and I am the owner of House of Wax- a luxury body waxing and skincare studio in St. Louis. I specialize in body waxing, lash and brow enhancement, and I offer facials as well! I didn’t always know I wanted to open my own business in this industry and for the first few years of my career I was a service provider in other established businesses. I am grateful for the time I spent apprenticing and working for others, I learned a lot by doing that. At first, waxing was intimidating and a little daunting, but overtime I started to become more confident in my abilities as a waxer. There is something about accomplishing a “perfect wax” that is just really satisfying and fun for me.
Through my experience and education, I’ve developed a love for waxing and I am passionate about offering the best experience to each of my clients. I created House of Wax to be a welcoming place for people who want to practice self care. I enjoy getting to know each of my clients and educating them about the benefits of waxing and skincare. Sometimes people come to see me for the first time and they are nervous, so it feels great when they leave feeling excited and confident!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When I was making the decision to start my own business, I was working for another company and I was making a decent living that allowed me to save up some money for the initial overhead costs. At the time, my 2008 Subaru Outback was fully paid off and used cars were going for more than usual. Luckily, my business plan didn’t require a huge cost up front so this and a part time job as a barista ended up being enough money to get me through some rough patches in the very beginning.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I definitely had to pivot my life in a big way in order to make my idea for House of Wax become a reality. This involved moving to a new state and leaving a job that paid my bills so that I could be my own boss and lean more into the creative lifestyle that I want to live. I was comfortable before I decided to start my own business. Now I am navigating entirely new territory and I have more responsibilities on my plate than ever. I am still learning how to pivot when necessary because things dont always go as planned in business, which can be hard but I’m very passionate about what I do and I think that makes it all worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofwaxstl.com
- Instagram: House of Wax STL
- Facebook: House of Wax STL
Image Credits
Desert Luna Photography