We were lucky to catch up with Tobi Eckels recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tobi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.

Instead of going to college right away after graduating from a small town in Wyoming, I decided to apply for a paid internship through Walt Disney World. Looking back, it was actually better than college in my opinion. Not only is it the most magical place on earth, but I met so many other people doing the same thing from cultures all around the world that became lifelong friends! It also challenged me to get out of my comfort zone by learning at a young age how to live completely on my own and how big cooperate Disney really functioned from the inside. It definitely inspired future me to take a route that was more independent. I encourage anyone to take a chance on new things that take you out of your bubble. Try everything! You’ll be thankful for the challenges of your experiences, rather than regret not doing it at all.

Tobi, 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?

Well, I’m Tobi, and for over a decade now, I have been completely obsessed with lash extensions. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am the girl with the lashes. My obsession began around 2012 when they were newer to the beauty industry, and I was instantly hooked! From then it just became a mandatory thing for me, “I need to have my lashes done!” In 2019, I decided to exit my then career in the cannabis industry to go to esthetics school and get properly licensed so that I could get paid to do something I love. Another obsession of mine was to have complete control over my own schedule. I’ve always been a traveler. I love to explore so it was very necessary for me to create a business plan that catered to my lifestyle.

I definitely feel the way I stand out from other lash artists is just how natural my work looks on each individual person. Even if you are in a mega volume set, which is known to be a very dramatic look, it’s like art. Everyone is different so it’s very important to me to create a style that fits your eye shape and your face properly. I can take you from natural, to supernatural!

If I’m being honest, I’m just so proud of myself for never giving up. There were plenty of times early on where I didn’t believe success was going to come at all! Starting and maintaining a business is very tough and it’s time consuming, but it’s totally worth it! I’m proud of my little lash studio that I have created over the last four years and so eager to see where it will be after the next four. I never thought I would be living my dream at such an early age, but I feel like it’s only the beginning!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When you wear lash extensions, you’re basically like a walking billboard. I definitely used that to my advantage. I would offer lash extensions to friends and essentially anyone I could in the beginning of my career because I needed to get my work out there! This is a huge city and you have to constantly promote yourself! You have to give a little to gain a lot and I gained a really good reputation by staying connected! I owe a lot of credit to Denver’s thriving music scene. A lot of connections that I’ve made have been from going to shows myself and through clients wearing my lashes and going to events as well! I will also say I’m very, very lucky to have found my studio home inside of Beauty Bee Salon because it’s the biggest reason why my space has the best reputation.

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

I stay really connected with all of my clients and check in with them regularly. I give them all my personal phone number in case they have any questions or need any maintenance tips. I’v noticed that my clients really appreciate how easy it is to contact me directly. It’s a lot less stressful being able to communicate instantly via text or call without the trouble of going through the salon first or an assistant. I have been so fortunate to have the clientele that I do, because everyone is so dedicated , respectful, and kind to me. I hope it’s because I offer the same back.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beautybeesalon.com
• Instagram: @studio_txo @high.tobi

Image Credits
Stephanie Parsley