We were lucky to catch up with Siarra Simmons recently and have shared our conversation below.
Siarra , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
When you first read the name Bare Necessities, what comes to mind first and then second? For most people it’s the catchy tune of the song from The Jungle Book movie, then they think of bare as in naked.
I remember saying the name to myself a few times and thought, “I’m in the business of removing hair. Hairless = naked = bare.” I said it to my husband, and he starting singing the song. It stuck ever since.
That’s the reasoning behind it. People remember the name because a catchy song plays in their mind and they think of bare skin.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am Siarra Michael, Wax specialist, owner of Bare Necessities Wax Bar in Newport, Kentucky. I am a wife and mother of four. So, needless to say, life is a constant go-go-go.
I am a licensed cosmetologist and that is ultimately how I figured out my passion. After trial and error, I realized I didn’t feel that spark to do hair or nails like I thought I would. It was not something I saw myself doing permanently. I remember jokingly saying I would rather take hair from clients than adding it or coloring it. That is exactly what I ended up doing and falling in love with it.
Within my first few years of waxing professionally, I knew I wanted to have my own space. To connect with people and make them as comfortable as possible for such intimate services. To take my time and tailor it to each individual. Contrary to belief, waxing is not an ‘one size fits all.’ Every client is different from the next. From skin type, hair type, allergies, even medications! There are many factors that come into play with waxing. It’s not a slap it on, rip, okay done. There’s a lot more to it than that. I cater to that.
I have clients from all walks of life. Different backgrounds and ages. Being personable but also professional is something I pride myself on. My space is a no judgement zone. I strive to make clients feel welcome no matter who you are, to feel comfortable, to leave my suite with a little more confidence. I wax humans from face to feet. While it can be tiring to be on my feet all day, the results and happy clients always make it worth it. It’s one less thing clients have to worry about. Shaving is a nuisance and time consuming. Would you rather shave every other day or wax once every 4 weeks or so?
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
In this day and age, everyone knows that social media has its dos and don’ts. Pubis Mons before and after pictures still ruffles some feathers. With me wanting to showcase my work, I definitely play on that fine line of “don’ts.”
A lot of my instagram posts are innuendo filled for sure. My favorite one as of yet has been a picture of the grinch in a boudoir pose looking back at the camera. The caption read: “Tis the season, eh?? Don’t leave hair on the cookies for Santa this year.. Be a smooth ho ho ho….”
Was it funny? A little. Was it risque? Of course. Was it beneficial? Absolutely! This time of year (colder months) is considered slow season for my line of work. I have my regulars who do not miss an appointment year round and I have my “seasonal regulars” who only come in from march to September.” That post alone brought in a lot of my seasonal regulars and quite a few new clients.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is not standing firm on my boundaries as a business owner. Am I understanding? Absolutely. Sometimes, more than I’d like to admit. Creating boundaries and standing firm on them is a big one as a small business owner.
I had to introduce deposits this year because people were using my understanding and kindness as a weakness. They would book, not show or cancel 5 minutes BEFORE, sometimes even after their appointment time. When someone did that, I missed out on time that someone else could have booked and I also missed revenue. Time is valuable. Revenue is also crucial to small businesses. We are not paid hourly if a client does not show. Since I’ve introduced deposits, I have slim to no no shows. Business has actually seen a small uptick.
Contact Info:
- Website: Barenecessities859.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: @Bare.NecessitiesLLC
- Other: TikTok: @barenecessities859