We were lucky to catch up with Nia Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I thought a lot about this recently; I can’t say I am happier as a business owner, but I think I’m doing the work I’m supposed to do. Though it comes with many challenges naturally, owning a business has provided some of the most rewarding experiences and opportunities.

I moved over the Summer to my hometown to help manage my mom’s spa, and it’s been a learning curve. Though I went to school for business management, I am new to the beauty and esthetics industry. Furthermore, My mom and I decided the company could use rebranding, so we changed the name, mission, and location. It was an entirely different experience than I anticipated, essentially opening a new business in an unfamiliar industry versus just helping part-time at an existing establishment. This transition also made it difficult to focus on my own business as a recording and performing artist.

I’m sure in some ways it could be easier to find a “regular job” with consistent hours or pay, but I choose to live by this quote from one of my favorite artists: “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” (Vincent Van Gogh) My parents raised me to work hard and take chances. Starting a business is what I have been preparing for since I was a little girl; it is what I was born to do.

Nia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, there! My name is Nia, and I am an entrepreneur and artist based in North Carolina. I’ve been singing since I was a child but began making music in college at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I always knew I wanted to be a singer when I was growing up, but the idea was scary. I’m unsure if being an artist ever stops being scary or if you become braver with time.

In 2022, I released my first project, “Rabbit Hole EP,” which surpassed my hopes and expectations for receptivity. As a debut project, I wanted the songs to speak to some of the themes in my life and the lives of most 20-somethings, including love, mental health issues, and sexuality. Once the EP was out into the world, my friends and I began playing shows around Charlotte. It was exhilarating. I’m beyond grateful to know that the project resonated with the people who listened, as that’s all I can think about as I write; I want others to know they’re not alone in their experiences.

Currently, I am finishing my next project, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. The music is different. The stories are more dark and twisty. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been putting together. I’m also co-managing my mother’s spa, Fern Spa & Wellness. We are a medspa and permanent makeup clinic based in Southern Pines, NC. We chose the name “Fern” because throughout time, they have symbolized rebirth and new beginnings, and that’s what this venture has been for us and what we hope our customers experience as well.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I’ve actually known my business partner my whole life (she’s my mom.) If you told me as a kid that I’d be working alongside my mom in a spa, I would’ve never believed you. It’s been an experience I wouldn’t trade or change.

When my mom found out she was pregnant with me, she was just a teenager, afraid and unsure if she was equipped to be a mother. She and my dad moved from the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio, to pursue job opportunities in North Carolina. It was hard moving away from all our friends and family, but my parents were determined to create a life for my brother and me that they didn’t get to have. Fast forward some years, and after attending school while working full-time, she became a licensed esthetician. In 2017, she officially became a business owner and opened her first spa, which is quite an accomplishment considering her background, age, and the fact that she’s a woman of color.

She might not know this, but I look up to her in many ways. Her tenacity, grace, and courageousness inspire me to chase my dreams, despite the obstacles. I’m lucky to be in business with a woman like her.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that by embracing all that you are, the beautiful, bad, and messy, you can help someone else. This makes life worth living and pain worth suffering.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theniaj.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theniaj/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_KHMrxPRnvDC54Hcf-lfcQ

Image Credits
Marcprosper Jessica Dunston