We recently connected with Nicole Hardy and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was working in a spa where I had worked my way up from reception desk to eventually running the daily spa operations, ordering products and working in the room with clients. I got to see the things I loved about skincare and also some things that I did not really like, but because it was not my business I had to do what I was taught and told.
I had a pretty rigid schedule at the spa which sometimes was hard with being a single mom at the time and juggling my kids schedule and the spa schedule with little flexibility.
I started contemplating the idea of going out on my own and starting my own business,
I created a business plan and started putting the plan into actions, nailed down my business name, looked to space to rent and started looking for unique all natural skincare that would set me apart.
I notified my employer that within the next 2 months I would be going out on my own which they were not that happy about and did not wish me very well!
The sudden exit pushed my plan into overdrive! I was able with the help of some supportive clients to get my business up and running within a month!
It was important to me that I had a calm environment for clients to escape to, that I found products that were made in the USA and products that were natural and clean. I wanted to be sure that what I put on my clients skin was going to help and not harm them!
I want my clients to have a total relaxation experience once they lay on my bed to begin their facial, allow them to fully step away from the busyness of their lives and take some much needed time for themselves.

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

I have always been interested in Beauty! After High school I wanted to go into makeup but did not think it would be a respectable career choice. I tried regular college and quickly realized it was not for me! It took getting married and being pregnant with our first son to finally go to beauty school and pursue a career in beauty, I knew that I would need something to use in the future once he was in school. Once in beauty school I discovered the amazing world of skincare and all that it had to offer. I stayed home for 4 years raising our son and then went through a divorce after having our second son.
My divorce made me realize how much I had neglected self-care and that it was time to go after my dreams. I also realized that many other moms were probably struggling with the same problem of not taking time for themselves.
I needed to start working in order to take care of myself and my 2 boys and get on my feet. I started working in a local spa as a receptionist and worked my way up to being in the room and eventually running the spa. I got to learn all the ins and out of the skincare business during my time at the spa.
I realized that I was not going to be able to grow much more in my current position and also I needed more flexibility for my family, so I decided to take the leap to go out on my own.
This was a very scare jump for me, but once I notified the current spa of my plan to go out on my own they very quickly kicked me to the curb and tried to steer all my clients away from my by spreading rumors, this was hard but pushed me even harder to make sure my dream came to life! I had my own spa open within a month of being let go, so thankful for the friends and family around me that showed amazing support.
My clients were so supportive of me opening my own Business and were ready to schedule as soon as I opened up!
I am now in my 3rd year of owning my own business. I love getting to live out my passion of helping people take time to stop and take care of themselves. I want to help people feel more comfortable in their own skin with my assistance.
I want everyone who comes in to have a unique experience, not feel like they are getting the same thing as every other client that comes in.
I love this industry because there is always something new or new products I can be using which means I am always learning the best treatments for my clients. I love getting to meet new clients and learn about their lives, I love really getting to know my clients and feel like they are friends not just clients. Many people see these treatments as a therapy session, people have to really trust you to let them touch their face, I do not take this lightly, I cherish the time with each client.
I believe that through my entire journey my Faith in Jesus Christ has truly kept me moving forward and guiding each step. When I took the leap of going out on my own, the momentum, just kept building and I could not stop the plans, this was such an encouragement that I was moving forward in the right direction for my life! I truly feel like I get to help people each and everytime I see them.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

No one enters into Marriage thinking they will end up divorced. I believe that the divorce is what pushed me into pursuing my career in skincare. I had no choice but to enter the workplace and thrive for my kids sake! I started working with having a 6 month old and 3 year old so needless to say it was a lot to juggle. I was part time at the spa and also working admin in a psychiatry office so be sure I could financially provide. Going from being a stay at home mom for many years to working was a hard shift but I look back and am so glad that it happened as now I get to enjoy the benefits of running my own business and being in charge of my schedule to be sure that I can have time for my family. I believe it is also important for my kids to see that when you set your mind to something and put the hard work in that you can success no matter your current circumstances.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I was blessed to start out with a good handful of clients who found out what happened with my sudden exit at the spa I had worked at and they followed me out the door right into my new location on my own. I tried social media to try grow my clients but it was a hard path and felt like such a small fish in the ocean.
I started focusing on having my clients leave google reviews so that when people would search online for skincare or facial in my area that I would actually have real people sharing their experience with me. Everyone wants to know what to expect when they go in somewhere for a service so I believe having real and genuine reviews is essential. I would say that 80% of my new clients are finding me on google by seeing and reading reviews. The other 20% would be word of mouth of my clients sharing their experience with friends or family.

Contact Info:

• Website: beautifiedesthetics.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/beautifiedesthetics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautifiedesthetics

Image Credits
Shanna Kaye Photo Makeup by Meagan- Meagan Brown, Raleigh MUA