We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sandra Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sandra below.
Alright, Sandra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
My first business was me alone, doing nails and having my own studio. I had worked at a salon for almost 4 years and felt like I needed to take my skills to the next level. Another Nail Tech had the same idea so we decided to get a salon suite together for the first time, We were there for 2 years and then moved together to a bigger location. After 2 years there, I was in the process of buying a house so that closed I decided to work from home. During that time I now started exploring different ways of creating an showing my art. I began making nail inspired items and merch then took the leap and launched my own website. Where I can now create art in other elements and mediums. Fast forward to now, I now have a new studio for work and still have my website but soon I’ll be expanded my products to an actual storefront. They will be sold along with other Women Owned small businesses. I’ve always had a determined mindset. If I wanted something, I was going go figure out how to accomplish it. You have to believe in yourself and also having a great support system helps tremendously.
Sandra , 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?
I’ve always loved art, I’ve drawn and painted since I was about 5 years old. My dad was artistic and my mom is pretty crafty so put them together and you get me! I knew I wanted to do something in the beauty industry in high school, I even think a yearbook interview says ” I want to do hair and nails” But in the end nails was my calling and looking back now, I wouldn’t have been able too showcase my art doing hair like I do on nails. I work full time at my studio, where I specialize in hand painted art. And on my business website I make and sell press on nails, stickers, cuticle oils and more. But I also create art at home like watercolor painting, journaling and scrapbooking. I always try to stay true to who I am and what type of art I love and appreciate. There’s always something trending in the beauty industry and that great but I still like to add my own style to it. I feel like the type of style my work shows definitely brings the right clientele to me. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come. Ive been through it all, from working in a salon with back to back clients with hardly to no lunch breaks. To building my own business and making my own schedule and being able to buy my own house, pay all mu bill and still have a fun life outside of work. I love to travel, I go somewhere at least once a year. I’m a concert junkie, so I’ll go to a handful of those every year.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I huge lesson in the beauty industry is getting the courage to set boundaries. For your business but mainly for yourself. It took me some years to get that courage, Starting out you just want to hustle and make money. So I worked 8-10 hour days with hardly any lunch breaks, would come in early or stay late to accommodate clients I couldn’t fit in my normal schedule. Then eventually you get burned out and that’s the worst part. I truly love what it do, not many people can say that. So I knew I had to make changes before it made me completely lose the love for it.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Honestly, all I can say about social media is POST IT! Decide what kind of account you want whether it’s strictly business or if you want to throw some of your personal life in there too. At first I was all business, I posted nothing but nails only. But as the years have past, I enjoy sharing both my work and personal life. I feel like the audience enjoys that too. They wanna know YOU. They want to relate to you in a friend kind of way but can also support your business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.txmanimuse.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txmanimuse/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@txmanimuse?si=NPg_fJZKqPDO8Ykc
