We were lucky to catch up with Kristen Floyd recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I truly am SO much happier as a business owner, and working for myself. I truly get to create the inclusive, welcoming environment I had longed for. Being able to cultivate the type of business and partnerships that also give back, and make an impact, is really important. I often think about just having a regular job. It’s a LOT of work being a solo-preneur, essentially performing all of the roles in a business. I do say it with a sense of humor, that I do think of having a “regular” job often. I know it wouldn’t be fulfilling to my soul, that it wouldn’t make me happy. I think of it in regards to things that come with being in my particular industry. Such as only making money when working on a client, last-minute cancellations that wind up costing money, not being able to make any money if there’s nothing booked, or an abundance of cancellations. And of course, that flares up with cold/flu season, Covid surges, and those are the times when I think that it would be really nice to not have my livelihood depend on if tomorrow people shows up in the spa or not. The bills are due, both commercial and personal, wether people show up or not. I think about what it must feel like to be able to work from home, not put yourself at risk or exposure to getting sick every day when you’re at work, being able to earn an income and not be dependent on clientele. Knowing that you’re going to have that steady income, benefits, and ending the workday, most usually at 5 PM. Working every evening, and weekends, really does lend self to a lot of sacrifices, particularly in the personal life. So friends and partners have to be really understanding of a schedule in the service industry that really requires that I be available, when most everyone else is off work. Which is usually after 5pm & weekends. I only have that thought in regards to the stability of income, and if sick, able to be remote, and working from home… it’s not a fulfilling thought in any way other than the consistency and stability. The passion for what I do, being with my clients, really makes all the sacrifices worth it. It’s what keeps me here, keeps me going. and keeps me from quitting. Over the years with Covid, downsizing my business, forced to relocate, not having financially recovered from the shut down, still being affected by tons of cancellations due to illness, rising costs and major downturn in business due to impending recession…it is BEYOND hard to maintain the tenacity, to not give up on your passion, and to not give up on the spa. But I will be here, and I cannot see myself giving up in ANY way. It truly does make me happy. I’ll work multiple part time jobs to float the spa and myself, before I ever give up.

Kristen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It’s a funny story, how I got into the industry actually. This was not the original plot of the movie, as I like to say. I was going to be a stockbroker, I wanted nothing more than to live in New York, and work on Wall Street. It wasn’t until I started college and really diving into that, that made me realize that would be soul crushing for me. That was not going to make me happy, and not what I was meant to do. So I had to really think about what made me happy, and one of my jobs (I had several to put myself through college) was working at a spa. I realized that taking care of others was what I truly loved, what truly fulfilled me. I do have a service minded spirit, and heart. So I did a complete 180, went to aesthetics school, and the rest is as they say…history. I have been in the industry for about 25 years, and have been licensed now for 21 years. I think that everyone who knows me, would easily say that I have an insane work ethic and discipline. If it has to get done, I just work everyday or sacrifice sleep until it’s done. I am definitely overly dedicated, probably what most would call a workaholic. I say that with a chuckle. I have to work as hard as I do though, my business is solely reliant on people coming in the door, and I AM my business. In order to be even remotely successful in this industry, you have to have that hustle. ALWAYS. I think what sets me apart from others, is the combination of things together. I think it’s a combination of my dedication to what I do, my ability to make people feel comfortable/at ease almost immediately, and that I just care so so much. I have an extreme attention to detail, which a lot of people that I had worked for in the past really saw as something negative. They would say, you can’t strive for perfection. And I know that perfection isn’t really attainable, nor does it technically exist, but why can’t we aim for what’s perfect for THAT individual? That’’s actually how I came up with the name of my business, Obsessive Compulsive Beauty. I wanted to take what others perceived as a negative about me, make it a positive, and make it my brand. I am obsessive about what I do, I am obsessive about taking care of my clients, and obsessive about making them feel as beautiful as they truly are. There is beauty in everyone and in everything. I know that I am so fulfilled by this industry, by what I do because I help people relax, escape, feel better in both their physical well-being and feel more confident, feel beautiful. I also felt that by helping others see the beauty in themselves…I would be able to find it in myself as well.

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

Definitely word of mouth. I advertise, I’m on TV, I do events, consistently on social media, I hand out cards, I stomp the pavement, everything. But NOTHING is as effective word of mouth. It only takes someone coming to the spa once, having a service with me once, to know why their friend sent them to me. They feel comfortable, at ease, and are happy with the service I’ve provided them. I also educate my clients, and that goes a long way too. So much so they they tell their friends, try to send them to me, or even buy them a gift certificate to come see for themselves. It’s all the attention to detail, the care, and the kindness. Some of the services in the spa are quite intimate, and it’s imperative that people feel comfortable and trust me. That really goes a long way. Client comfort, safety, and satisfaction are always at the top of my priorities. In any review, that is a common theme that people appreciate when it comes to me, and how I operate.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think my entire journey is one of resilience. Every few years I have experienced trauma that I’ve had to come back from. Wether it be personal, or professional. Which truly tests my resolve and resilience to both my career, and my industry in general. Most recently being COVID. I had used every penny that OCB Spa had, every penny that I had, to stay afloat during the shutdown. Then subsequently, even when we open back up, due to the downturn in business. Bills, both personal and professional, were still due during the shut down, and since. I still can’t believe that I was able to pivot in such a way, and in such a down to the wire manner, to still be here. When OCB Spa relocated, we had $1,000 to our name. I couldn’t even pay myself. Within the first month of being at my new much smaller, downsized location, I got Covid. Being out of work for two weeks, and not being able to earn any income, was financially devastating. COVID itself was also personally devastating. I feel lucky to still be here. That being said, I’m unfortunately one of the many people who are still suffering with the ramifications and the side effects of Covid, affectionately referred to as Covid long haulers. It has been a daily struggle for the past two years. In and out of the hospital, having medical emergencies every six months, having to miss work for various procedures, testing, and because I’ve been too weak/sick to get out of bed. It’s an unbelievable struggle physically, and mentally to continue when you are a stranger in your own body. Literally, nothing is the same for me in my life, as it was pre-Covid. Where I live, where I work, financially, personally, and physically. I feel like literally every cell of my being is entirely different. My whole life was completely rocked by Covid, there is not an aspect of my life that was untouched. It continues to be that way. It still affects my business financially, when I have to miss work for any sort of doctors appointment or procedure that will most assuredly continue to happen as there is no cure, and they still don’t know enough.
Covid continues to affect my business as people are still sick, still have to cancel appointments, or don’t book appointments at all. So as far as the resilience in my journey, I feel like I get tested all the time. COVID by far is the biggest test, just by sheer duration. Two plus years of this is a marathon that I was not prepared for, no one was or could be prepared. But knowing what I’ve been through in my life to get to where I am, both personally, and professionally, I do know that I am not going anywhere. If all of the things that I have been through in my life haven’t taken me out yet, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.
If I haven’t shut down my business yet, I know that I will be able to continue and I know that OCB Spa will flourish. I have faith in my resilience as a person, and as a business. I feel like with all of the things that I’ve been through, it’s sort of gives me this (obviously false) sense of invincibility. Nothing can break me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Ocbspa.com
• Instagram: @ocbspa @kfloydmakeup
• Facebook: OCB Spa, Kristen Floyd Bridal
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Kristen/Floyd
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: N/A
• Yelp: N/A
• Other: Booking site : Vagaro.com/ocbspa On Location Bridal Business : Kristenfloydbridal.com

Image Credits
Laura Black Photography Andrea Rodway Photography Milton Lawrence Photography