We recently connected with Mary Hietpas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?

In the beauty industry you are taught every client is a good client. However, through my experience that is the furthest thing from the truth. I have built my dream clientele within a year of doing business and within that year I have had many experiences that taught me not every client is a good client. If you are to money hungry and take every client that seeks you out, you will end up burnt out and with some crazy client stories. And I definitely have my fair share of client stories. I have learned that not every client is right for you. I have learned that through many clients who have complained about how I run my business, the policies I have, and just being rude in general. I choose to protect my peace and my business so I can run my business for the good of not only my mental health but my clients. Clients respect you a lot more if you have set rules and policies and stick to them. There is such a thing as a bad client.

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

My name is Mary Hietpas, and I’m the proud owner of Red’s Beauty Bar, a nail salon based in Minnesota. I’ve been in the nail industry for five years and have owned my own salon for the past four. My passion for nails began back in seventh grade when I stumbled upon a video on Instagram of someone painting intricate nail art. I was immediately captivated. I begged my mom for supplies so I could try recreating the designs myself—and to my delight, she agreed.

From then on, I spent every free moment painting my nails in my bedroom. It quickly became my calm place; whenever I did nails, the world around me quieted. That peace and focus made me realize this was what I was meant to do.

Nail art has always been my favorite part of the job—especially hand-painted designs like florals, Disney characters, holiday themes, and more. It’s where I shine and feel most creatively fulfilled.

During my sophomore year of high school, I discovered the 916 Career and Technical Education program at Century College, which offered a Nail Technician course. Enrolling was an easy decision. I spent the next two years earning my license, which I completed three months before graduating high school. Soon after, I landed my first salon job.

That first job came with an unexpected twist—only two days into training, COVID-19 hit, and salons across Minnesota were forced to shut down. Fortunately, once restrictions lifted, the salon continued to train me, and I remained there for over a year and a half as their only acrylic nail technician. I’ll always be grateful for the experience and foundation that time gave me.

But deep down, I always knew I wanted to work for myself. One day, I reviewed my paychecks and compared my earnings to the revenue I was generating for the salon. The numbers didn’t sit right with me. The very next day, I started touring salon suite options. I met the owners of Salons by JC in Cottage Grove, MN, and instantly knew it was the right fit. A month later, I signed the lease, left my salon job, and opened Red’s Nail Bar.

The story didn’t end there. I ran my business out of Salons by JC for three years. During that time, I learned a great deal and continued pushing myself to grow. That growth eventually led me to rebrand and change my business name to Red’s Beauty Bar, allowing me to expand into additional services—most notably, permanent jewelry. That service quickly took off and became a fun and successful addition to my business. Still, nails remain my first love and the core of what I do.

After three wonderful years at Salons by JC, some close friends of mine launched their own salon suite business. I decided to support them and made the move to their new space. That transition happened just a few months ago, and it’s already been a refreshing and inspiring change. I’m truly excited to see how it will continue to shape my business and bring new opportunities in the year ahead.

Since then, I’ve poured everything into Red’s Beauty Bar. I take pride in both the creative and business sides of what I do. I’ve worked tirelessly to refine my skills, keeping up with the latest techniques, trends, and products to give my clients the very best. My work isn’t perfect—and I don’t believe it should be, because growth never stops—but I always strive for excellence.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to build a truly amazing clientele—people I now consider my second family. It means the world to me that my clients trust me not just with their nails, but with their stories, their milestones, and their lives. I care deeply about the health of their nails, but even more so about them as individuals. That connection is something I value immensely.

Red’s Beauty Bar specializes in acrylic nails and custom nail art. One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is that acrylic nails are inherently damaging. As someone who prioritizes both honesty and nail health, I would never offer a service I didn’t believe in. I’m transparent with my clients—whether it’s about design choices, pricing, or whether a service is truly necessary. That honesty has helped me build strong, lasting relationships with my clients based on trust, care, and authenticity.

This business is my passion, my purpose, and the product of years of hard work and heart. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve built—and even more excited for what’s still to come.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

“The customer is always right.”
It’s one of the most common phrases in business and customer service—and also one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to unlearn.

Growing up working in traditional customer service roles, that mindset was deeply ingrained in me. So when I first opened my own business, I carried that belief with me. It took me nearly three months to realize something that completely changed how I run my salon: not every customer is right for your business, and truthfully, the customer isn’t always right.

Big corporations push that narrative because they don’t have to deal with the individual customer—and they don’t want to risk losing revenue. But when you’re a small business owner, it’s personal. You feel every interaction, every cancellation, every no-show.

One of my earliest clients—my first real customer who wasn’t a friend or family member—taught me this lesson the hard way. I had implemented a simple policy to protect my time: clients were required to have a credit card on file to book an appointment. It was fair, and it was necessary. But she wasn’t happy about it, and she made her opinion very clear.

At the time, I was new and unsure, and I let her feedback shake me. I changed my policy to avoid confrontation—even though she wasn’t in the industry and didn’t understand why the policy mattered. That one decision opened the floodgates to last-minute cancellations and no-shows. Then came the day that broke me: two no-shows and one same-day cancellation. I lost time, money, and honestly, a bit of confidence.

That day, I decided I was done letting others dictate how I ran my business. I reinstated my original policy, and from that moment forward, I committed to making decisions based on what’s best for me and my business—no one else.

And the most ironic part? That client who told me how to run things? I’ve never seen her again.

The truth is, if someone doesn’t support you from day one, they’re unlikely to support you when it really counts. Your policies exist for a reason. Your time matters. Your business deserves to be protected. So don’t bend to opinions that don’t serve your purpose or your peace. Run your business with confidence, and the right clients will always respect you for it.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Honestly, the best way I’ve grown my clientele is just by being myself and letting word of mouth do its thing. When you show people who you really are, it gives them something to connect with. You end up bonding over shared interests, and that makes every appointment feel more like catching up with a friend than just a service.

Once you find those clients who really vibe with you, they’ll do the rest. They’ll tell their friends, their family, even random strangers about you—and that kind of genuine support means the world. It shows they truly value you and your work, and that kind of recommendation speaks louder than any ad ever could.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.redsbeautybar.org
• Instagram: redsbeauty.bar
• Facebook: redsbeauty.bar
• Other: tik tok: redsbeauty.bar