We were lucky to catch up with Leigh Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Leigh , thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
I have the incredibly good fortune of co-owning B Theory Aesthetics, alongside my esti bestie, Brooke Havice, who was one of my amazing classmates in aesthetics school. We connected in class very quickly and knew deep down that we would one day work together. At the time we started in aesthetics school we both had established ourselves in other fulfilling careers, but we both were longing for a change in our work and lifestyles. Little did we know that we would be opening our own practice together just a few short years after graduation. After working together in the spa industry for about a year, we both felt called to open our business. Our inspiration became a reality much quicker than we were expecting after being introduced to a local wellness center that was offering affordable spaces for practitioners to rent. We toured the center, slept on the idea of launching a business, met for tea a few days later and birthed B Theory Aesthetics. We took a big leap of faith and it is paying off for us!
We have been financially very conservative in opening and growing our business. This means that we have worked diligently to pay ourselves back any initial financial investment into our practice and to pay off any debt that we incurred before taking our first paychecks. It has been a true labor of love to work so hard during the first 9 months of opening the business, but this has helped us build our relationship as business partners, and navigate a steep learning curve in terms of the business management aspects of starting and growing B Theory. Our motto is going slow to go fast. Build infrastructure, build relationships, build trust with each other and every magical client, and build abundance.
Our advice is to do your research into the local market of your industry to understand how your business/practice is different. This is key in a competitive market. Know your clientele, beyond their “pain points” – know what they care about in terms of their lifestyles, their families, their communities, and the world. Building that relationship is key. Offer exceptional experiences every single time someone is on your table and in your space. Uplevel service offerings every chance you get, whether that means offering a cup of freshly brewed herbal tea, layering on an extra cozy blanket, or cocktailing the perfect treatment mask for their skin’s needs. Always keep it fresh and personal.
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.
We are inspired by the growing movement in the skincare industry towards natural, vibrant and positive aging – feeling good and looking good. Finding our niche in an industry that is fueled by the treatments and trends that are hyper-focused on anti-aging has been key for us. At B Theory Aesthetics we practice skincare differently. By taking a holistic approach to the skin and seeking to understand the underlying conditions that are affecting the health and appearance of the skin, we customize our approach to the needs of each individual client. We specialize in Manual Lymphatic Drainage for the treatment of chronic skin conditions, pre- and post-procedure preparation and care, pre- and post cosmetic surgery preparation and care. We offer restorative and rejuvenating organic facials, oncology-safe facials, and Gua Sha facial lifting, toning and sculpting treatments. We are passionate about researching and understanding the benefits and uses of skin care ingredients, and helping develop curated botanical skincare regimens for each of our clients’ skin types, needs and lifestyles. We help our clients’ achieve the results they desire without the use of harsh risky treatments, injections or procedures.
We invest in our professional development every year. Deepening and strengthening our skillsets is key to offering our clientele the best possible care and treatment of their skin’s conditions and needs. We both have our Advanced Certification in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Vodder Method, we are Oncology Trained by Oncology Spa Solutions, and Gua Sha trained by Cecily Braden Spa and Wellness.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Excellent, transparent communication and authenticity. We both have experience working in the areas of mediation and facilitation which has helped us both to learn how to listen, speak and write with effective communication styles. We bring wisdom, life experience and maturity to our business and have shared values about the importance of the health and wellbeing of each other as individuals, family members, business partners and community members. We are not afraid to have hard conversations – those conversations have helped us build a foundation for mutual respect and trust that is essential for the health of our business and relationship.
We are authentic. What you see is what you get. We each have our own challenges with our skin and we are very open with our clients about what we do to keep our skin looking its best and how we navigate the times when our conditions are flared up. We care deeply about our clients and do everything we can to help them achieve their goals. This may mean referring them to another practitioner, helping them find a product that we don’t offer in our retail area, educating them regarding the potential underlying health conditions that may be causing their skin conditions. And we admit when we don’t know something! Being willing to do research outside of the treatment room for our clients helps to build confidence and trust. They know that we go the extra mile for them. We are also deeply committed to staying within the scope of our practice to ensure client safety.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Personal relationships and a willingness to hustle! We reached out to everyone we knew to share the buzz about starting our business. It’s personal referrals that have helped us grow our clientele. We offered free or significantly reduced pricing on a first facial for many of our initial clients and that has paid off. People rebook because they love what they have experienced and they realize how beneficial our treatments are for their skin and their overall sense of wellbeing. We talk to everyone we meet about our business because we never know who is going to want to book a treatment with us. We have a referral program to reward our current clients for referring others to our practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.btheoryaesthetics.com
- Instagram: @btheoryaesthetics
- Facebook: @btheoryaesthetics