We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Bowman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.
Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
It was June 2020, the peak of the pandemic, when I decided to take my business & go completely solo. I wasn’t even technically working due to my job being “non-essential”, yet I still decided to take the risk & step out on my own. I had spent the previous 4 years working in hair salons, renting a room, & relying on the salons to help build my business up. So when deciding to go completely solo with no help from anyone it was scary. I wasn’t even sure when my solo business would open due to the pandemic, but I was motivated, I took the risk. Now going into year 3 of being solo I can happily say taking that risk paid off. My business has never been more successful, I am my own boss, & I love what I do.
Rachel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was 15 when I got cystic acne, a teenager with no idea how to fix it. Until I turned to Accutane, a harsh pill that cleaned up my acne, but the side effects were insane. From that moment on I knew I wanted to help other people like me, dealing with the same issues I had, but did not want to have to go on such a harsh prescription. I discovered what an Esthetician was & what they did & quickly knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life. At just 18 I became a licensed Esthetician & kick started my career of helping people feel confident & comfortable in their own skin. I thoroughly enjoy getting to pamper my clients with facials, lash extensions, waxings, & more. Seeing my clients faces light up after a service is such a fulfilling & rewarding experience. I wouldn’t trade what i do for the world.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Social media hands down helped to make my business a success. Everyone from all over San Diego County come to see me because of finding me on Instagram/Facebook. When clients tell their friends about me they pull up my social media pages & all my work is posted on them. Being able to see my services helps potential clients because they are able to know what they are getting before they come in for an appointment.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Word of mouth. Client referrals is the oldest yet most successful way to build a clientele. If you give an amazing service a client is for sure going to tell their friend about it. Then that friend books an appointment & the cycle keeps repeating itself. It is such a simple way to build a clientele that most people often over look it. I am always so thankful to my clients that refer their friends & even after so many referrals I will give my client a discount or gift as a thank you. Without them spreading the word I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.radiancebyrach.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/radiancebyrach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/radiancebyrachSD
- Other: www.tiktok.com/radiancebyrach
Image Credits
Mariah Fortune @mariahfortunephotography