We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Muehlfeld a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
Ren Nail Studio offers a fresh and new alternative to natural nail care: Waterless, Clean and Gentle. All services are waterless meaning instead of using a tub of water, your hands and feet are wrapped in a luxurious hot towel. It’s a cleaner process as it eliminates the most common pathway for germs to spread in a salon. The cleaning and disinfecting protocol for tools and surfaces are meticulous. You can breathe easy in the clean and high quality filtered air. Ren Nail Studio does not use dip or monomer, avoiding the most severe odors and toxins that are prevalent throughout the nail care industry. Ren Nail Studio also uses high quality products throughout services to be more gentle on the body. What we put on our body goes into our body. These included hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty free and non toxic polishes, lotions, scrubs and masks. In addition, the methods used to clean the nails and perform cuticle care are gentle and safe. This is also the perfect nail studio for those individuals that are immune compromised. Most people are unable to get the nail care they need for fear of bad practices, toxic smells and unhealthy ingredients. Ren Nail offers a space for a better-for-you nail care and is Oncology Trained with Oncology Spa Solutions.
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?
My story is a fun and classic one. I started doing nails when I was really young. Every time I visited my aunties, cousins or friends I would bring my nail kit. Of course I took it with me to college! I was known as the nail gal. Anyone that had questions would most likely come right to me. I was proud of that. I learned a lot on my own but when I decided to go to school for nails I was already in my 30’s. I honestly didn’t think I could make a living doing nails. Alas, that was not true!
I knew during school that I wasn’t about the smells, the toxins and such but I thought I might have to suffer through so I could get a job. Next thing I know I working in a healthy nail studio learning about product integrity as well as gentle and safer practices during services. This was my jam!
It sparked my love and spurred me onto become an educator for my favorite nail polish, Dazzle Dry, and to further my education to become Oncology Trained through Oncology Spa Solutions. I wanted to help those with immune compromised systems and be a safe place for all to receive quality nail care. At this time my family and I moved from the upper mid west down to Raleigh, NC. After searching for a place to work, I realized that the kind of nail care I had learned prior was not to be found. Enter Ren Nail Studio! It’s been a joy to create my dream nail studio and to continue my education- learning even more about products and ways to improve nail health and growth.
In addition to being a different kind of nail studio, I would like clients and future clients to know that Ren means “pure” in Norwegian. That is my intent: to take out all the unhealthy parts of nail care and only keep what is beneficial for all of us.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I feel the most effective strategy for growing my clientele is to have ads on social media to spread the word of clean and safe nail care. As our society continues to grow I feel there are more and more opportunities to reach individuals online than ever before.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I keep in touch with clients on a bi-weekly or monthly basis as that is the nature of my work. How I create brand loyalty? That is by educating each client on how to best take care of their nails in between services. I believe this leads to seeing the results and then to trust being built. I know for myself I am loyal to a brand or company if they have my best interest in mind. I want that for my clients, for them to know they are getting the best nail care they can and in an environment that is clean.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.rennailstudio.com
- Instagram: @Rennailstudio
- Facebook: Ren Nail Studio
Image Credits
Ren Nail Studio, LLC