We recently connected with Lauren Clouse and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

My career started when I was 17 years old. My parents are self-employed small business owners and never pushed me to do anything except invest in myself. They are the driving force that lead me to entrepreneurship, At 17 I did not have any direction, self discipline or desire to be serious about life until my high school counselor suggested I go to a technical college. A little voice inside my head said to go for Automotive Technology but I decided to go to school for the Esthetics program. Part of me imagines my life if I followed my other passion but I believe life works exactly the way its supposed to. I finished my Esthetics hours in 2011 and finally started working for myself in 2017. I finally got it all the way together in 2020 when I went completely on my own and took a chance on myself. Life could always look different but I have learned to appreciate my personal story and embrace all its moments past and present. Currently I am looking at my 10 year future self asking hypothetically what will I be happy that 2024 Lauren does for 2034 Lauren and that’s contribute to my retirement funds and build equity. I don’t want to look back and wish I started future planning earlier.

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

My name is Lauren Clouse, I am 31 from Golden, Colorado. I am a first generation small business owner. As a licensed esthetician I primarily focus on eyebrows and lashes. I have a deep passion for making people feel great, shaping and building brows, elevating lashes. Being apart of the industry for 13 years I have truly found my passion. My journey to business ownership started at 17 through my elective courses being at a technical college. I completed the Esthetics program in 2011, went to school in Los Angeles to further my beauty career and services and decided in 2016 brows and lashes were going to be my specialty and from there built my solo beauty business. Today I focus on my clients natural beauty and how I can enhance it to make them feel their greatest. On most of my clients I either help them grow and build their brows to their fullest natural state (this can sometimes take about a year of patience), maintenance their current brow shape and give them their best brows and give a permanent curl or height to their natural lashes helping people achieve a wake up and go lash!! Lash Lift eyelash perming has been one of the most popular services allowing clients to feel their best with a lifted and dark tinted lash!

What I am most proud of is my connection I have built with my clients. I feel trusted by my clients to give them their greatest brow or lash service and that is exactly my purpose.

Currently I am moving my studio from Denver, west to Wheat Ridge to allow my business to grow further. The new location will allow us to offer more services as well as bring in other artists. The biggest thing I look forward to is providing a safe space for artists and clients allowing myself and others to grow to our fullest potential.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing my clientele has been through word of mouth! When I first started my business I worked long hours and said yes to everyone. That allowed me to showcase my work, build my portfolio and build trust with clients. Today I am booked out eight weeks and help so many people a day look and feel their best. Social media has helped bring in new clients serving as a portfolio to showcase before and afters! Maintaining clients has been through reliability, trust, connection, listening and delivering excellent services.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was to not take risks. My father who is one of the most influential people of my life and who I love dearly is a play it safe guy. I admire that about him. He’s amazing, smart and the hardest working man I know. Life is different these days and risks are much most necessary. 2020 was the turning point when I realized I cannot live in my comfort zone. I had to take risks if I wanted more for myself. I heard a quote once that “Great things never come from your comfort zone.” That clicked and stuck with me. Today I live outside of my comfort zone. Life is about doing a lot of things that we do not want to do but doing them anyways!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://laurenclouse.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: Lauren Denver Beauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-clouse-5970171a8/