We recently connected with Natalie Contrera and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Natalie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

This is one of my favorite topics to talk about. I do this in my makeup artist business and within my creative agency (Mango Marketing Co). I think intention and consistency, mixed with personalization, is a great way to show your customers you appreciate them. It can also be branded. For instance, when I host makeup classes or private makeup lessons, each client receives a notebook, pen, and a branded tote bag. I usually throw in something like hand sanitizer, stickers or lipgloss but all of that varies.

You can do things like handwritten cards, discount codes, or anything else you want, but the biggest way to show customers you appreciate them is to be professional. Please deliver on what you say you will, communicate effectively, and show up on time.

The guest experience starts from the first moment they book with you.

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

I am a minimalistic beauty artist who lives life in full color. I am an advocate for true inclusion on set and in my personal life. I focus on production work makeup artistry, content creation and dive into my creative stuff at Mango Marketing Co. If we are just talking makeup, my goal is to focus on commercial and production work for brands of all sizes.

If we get a little personal: I’m a millennial, middle child, and Arab American Gemini. With a background in both intimate shoots and large-scale productions, I bring the same heart and precision to every set. The way I move in the world is powerful, empathic, and thought-provoking. I live for nights out with friends, travel with my partner, supporting friends’ businesses, my mom’s Arabic food, and glossy lips. My work has been published 150+ times and trusted by dozens of returning clients. I’ve worked with some large brands and educated for even bigger brands. I can name-drop later if you need the resume but I truly believe it’s less WHO I worked with + more about myself, my work, and my reputation.

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

Telling someone else’s answer. I’ve learned to sit back a lot and let people know on themselves. Accountability and transparency is so important to me. When I realize someone isn’t being those things, I like to cut to the chase and “call it out”. But, it usually leads to more accusations or more lies. I’ve learned to sit back and let people tell on themselves. I think the backstory is really having those scenarios happen and realizing people who feel guilty show the signs. I don’t need it to affect my mental health, I’ll sit back and let them tell on themselves.

How’d you meet your business partner?

This isn’t a Natty Contrera thing but a Mango Marketing Co thing. But, it’s funny because my business partner of Mango Marketing Co I met doing “Natty Contrera Artistry” work. We were both living in Baltimore, I was working with another photographer and they shared a studio space. Alicia, my business partner now, was really creative and we clicked in a lot of ways. We ended up standing in that photographer’s wedding together and growing closer through that experience. I realized in a lot of ways that we show up differently in the world, but need the other person to have these successful moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nattycontrera.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattycontrera
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nattycontreraartistry
• Other: tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@nattycontrera

Image Credits

All photos but one were done by Alicia Wiley at Mango Marketing Co www.mangomarketingco.com