We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Vargas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha , thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Being your own boss is a new experience. There are a few things I didn’t anticipate. The biggest thing is how easily your schedule can and will change. Back when I was in school I worked in retail, very easy and not much can go wrong. You show up, work your shift, that’s it. But now being “on my own” I don’t have a set schedule and it’s challenging. Especially when people don’t respect my time. Also, for me I’m a person who likes to plan their days. So I’ll try to make plans around my schedule but then last minute it’ll change. Whether it is a client canceling/rescheduling last minute, a no-show, someone late to their appointment or someone booking themselves between 12am- 3am (it happens more than you’d think) etc. you just never know your schedule. As for how I’ve come to accept this, you know, that’s just how things are in this line of work. Life happens to people, to your clients and you need to be understanding. But at the same time set your boundaries for you and your business. I’ve implemented no-show/late rescheduling fees. I don’t like having to do that but it ensures that I’m still being paid for my time; having set up for a treatment or because that appointment spot could have been for someone else. It’s important for clients to respect your time, business and worth. As long as there is mutual respect and understanding from both parties things can be resolved fairly easily.

Samantha , 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?

My name is Sam. I’m the laser technician at Majestic Beauty Spa, located in Buckeye, Arizona. My mother is actually the person that inadvertently got me into the field that I’m in today. I had always been pretty obsessive with taking care of my skin so she had recommended that I go to school to be an esthetician. So I did just that! SWINA was the school I went to, phenomenal school. Loved my education and instructors. Anyway they just happened to have a cosmetic laser program there as well so I decided I might as well take that too, what could it hurt? Once I finished my hours to be an esthetician I started the laser program and I LOVED it. It was much faster paced and exciting and “instant” reactions/results. After I graduated I was fortunate enough to find the position I do now at Majestic. It’s a wonderful clinic,and amazing work environment. It’s female owned and ran, everyone is so supportive and helpful towards each other. The atmosphere is just so refreshing.
As I said, I got extremely lucky to have found a position there. I’m basically in charge of all our laser treatments. I preform skin resurfacings, ablative or fractional, tattoo removals, skin tag/cherry angiomas/spider veins/wart removals, body tone treatments, LED light therapy, IPL treatments, carbon facials and of course laser hair reduction. So I’ve seen and done a lot.
The majority of my client base wants their unwanted hair gone so I happily obliged and with those that have concerns with pigmentation/texture/wrinkles etc. That’s where the skin resurfacing comes in. Skin Resurfacing is great for anyone who has pigmentation from the sun or melasma, acne scarring, fine lines, wrinkles. It’s great for collagen production and there is a slight tightening and toning effect. I typically do more ablative treatments than fractional as it’s more of an aggressive treatment, thus yielding better results. But both forms of resurfacings will get you your desired results.
As for what sets me apart I’d have to say it’s my attention to detail. I’m meticulous in my work. If it were me spending my money on these treatments I’d want the job to be done right and so I do that for my clients. Regardless of all that, at the end of the day it’s my name so of course I’m going to put all my effort and care into what I do. I take pride in my skill and effort I put into every appointment. When you decide to laser your face or body it’s a big thing so you want to make sure you have a technician that cares about you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Word of mouth! Referrals we get from current clients. It really can make or break a business. People are more willing to take a chance if their friend or family had a good experience and results with whatever treatment they decide to have done. So it’s a great idea to have some type of discount for both parties or incentive to have your current clients share your name or business with everyone.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Social media is a great way to keep in contact with your clients. A business account is great for that, it’s still professional and current/new clients can reach out to you. Being active on your platform and a fast responder is also key. Post deals, ask your clientele questions, do surveys, post content! The algorithm will favor you. And obviously try to be timely with your messages. You can’t always be fast but clients appreciate it when you get back to them in a timely manner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://majesticbeautyspa.com/
• Instagram: laser_with_sam
• Facebook: Majestic Beauty Spa PLLC