We were lucky to catch up with Maelyn Tolbert recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maelyn , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Becoming a licensed nail technician became a goal I set for myself in 2021. By December 2021 I was a licensed nail technician. Throughout my experience in school I’ve gone through a couple of business name changes and logo redesigns. I started out with “MaeNailedIt”. While the name was simple and catchy it didn’t truly capture the essence of myself and my business. I knew I wanted my business to speak on having an amazing experience above all else. Being a beginner licensed nail technician I knew my work was not going to speak for itself, yet. I’m a huge sucker for word play and immaeculate seemed like the perfect work to insert my nickname “Mae” into. I then had to figure out a word that encompassed what my interactions with clients are, and encounter stuck. Thus the birth of “The ImMAEculate Encounter.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Being in my late 20’s has allowed me to be apart of the era of people who watched a nail full set go from $20-$25 to $100 and more. Many people struggle to grasp the concept of such a “simple” service becoming so costly. As a service provider, we all have specific goals we set for ourselves and our business. A typical nail tech may have a specific client quantity per day goal, a retention goal or above else a financial goal. One of my biggest goals has always been to remain relatively affordable and provide an amazing experience for my clients. When brainstorming the concept of my business and the client’s experience I had to consider things people don’t typically get to choose when receiving a nail service. After thorough research, one thing I never saw was the option to predetermine the “vibe” of your experience. By “vibe” I mean, the interaction around your experience. I offer “vibes” as a predetermination of how you want me [nail tech] to interact with you [client]. The three vibes I offer are: Relaxtion, Chitty-Chat and, Vibe. Relaxation entails a quiet appointment, I [nail tech] do not talk unless to ask a small question regarding the service, zen spa music playing, aroma therapy fragrances and slightly more dimmed lighting. This is perfect for the client who wants to relax and unwind at their appointment and isn’t interested in conversation. Chitty-Chat is the ideal vibe for talkers. Whether someone wants to vent about the week they’ve been having or just wants to gossip about celebrity drama this is the vibe for them. Lastly, Vibe! Music lovers rejoice, with your musical choice front and center you can jam out to your favorite tunes while getting their nails done. Whichever vibe someone prefers, the experience is tailored to them. Recently, I’ve implemented “Immaculate Babes”, a way to highlight my most loyal clients. This elite group enjoys several perks to include – priority booking, birthday discounts, free soak-offs and more!

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

In my experience the most effective way to grow clientele is to take good care of your loyal/consistent clients. They will do all the advertising for you! Offering specific perks for regular clients also gives new clients incentives to want to become loyal/consistent as well. Posting on social media does give potential clients an idea of what you’re capable of. Not having social media accounts dedicated to your business can do you a great disservice.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I keep in touch with clients typically through text messages. I am a small part time nail technician so I am able to manage and keep up with text messages. I have tried sending emails out but the response is a lot less and it feels a lot less personal. I am able to successfully foster brand loyalty by establishing “Immaculate Babes.” Adding exclusivity to my loyal/regular clients has done wonders for brand loyalty. Having access to priority booking, additional services and discounts really makes all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @TheImMAEculateEncounter