We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful TOCCORA Foote. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with TOCCORA below.
Alright, TOCCORA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
The name of my business when I originally opened was SKINTIMATE TOUCH ESTHETICS. However, I was not aware that there was a trademark on the word “SKINTIMATE” until they sent me a cease and desist letter because my business was driving more traffic to my website than theirs! Lol So I wanted to create a name that would stand out but I also have a sense of humor as well.
At the time when I opened my business, esthetics had really started trending. But I didn’t wanna do a lot of the trendy things, I wanted people to understand that I actually focus on treating skin. There’s so many esthetics businesses in my area that used the word “skin”and I wanted to stand out. So I came up with an alternate spelling for the word: SKYN . I knew I wanted something catchy, and also interchangeable, but in order to track the appropriate clientele I still needed the name to be something very marketable and a name that gave the image that I wanted my business to portray. My entire business model is set up to provide quality, affordable, skin care services in a luxurious spa like atmosphere. So I came up with the second part which is CHIC (pronounced sheek) So SKYN CHIC ESTHETICS was born ! Or in my case, RE-born! When I’m out in public and I get recognized, a lot of people say, “Hey! Are you the skin chick? Or, “ there’s that skin chick lady!”
I don’t focus really heavy on clearing up the pronunciation because it just lets me know that people recognize me and they remember my name! Lol
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a licensed esthetician located in South Carolina. I’m the owner and operator of my own skin care salon, Skyn Chic Esthetics, located in Spartanburg , South Carolina. I actually have a background in business management, accounting, and finance, and billing; all concentrated in the healthcare/skilled nursing sector. I worked in this field for almost 20 years before stress affected my health ( I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease) and I was faced with no other choice but to leave. However, I wasn’t ready to hang up the towel and apply for disability or anything like that. I was still very young and wanted to work. As a hobby I began making soaps, body washes, bath bombs, body butters, and body scrubs. I even made my own sugaring wax!I knew I had always been very interested in skin care, but I knew I didn’t want to go back to school and become a dermatologist! At my age, I didn’t have much school in me left! Lol A friend suggested esthetics. I did some research search into what an esthetician is and what they do and realized that’s it! The products that I was creating at home were OK, but I realized that I did not have a background in skin care, nor did I understand ingredients, skin types and all that plays into making products that are effective. I enrolled in beauty school in 2019. I actually finished my last month in quarantine online! I graduated, passed my state board exams and obtained my esthetician license. I ended up opening my own skin care salon smack dab in the middle of a pandemic!
One thing that sets me apart from other estheticians would be the fact that I don’t hop on trends. I immediately immersed myself into the hard part of esthetics; facials. A lot of aestheticians in my area focused on waxing, eyebrows, lashes, and make up. I wanted to actually delve into facials and actual skin care. I explain to all of my clients that I actually treat skin. I do provide relaxing facials but my goal is to help people with skin issues such as acne, dermatitis , hydradenitis supperativa, keratosis , eczema, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation and melasma. I have a passion for what I do! Once you become my client, you are like my family. I will try my hardest to make sure that I educate each and everyone of my clients on how diet, stress, sleep, exercise, hormones, genetics, hydration, age, ethnicity, and gender all play a role in skiing conditions. Even your geographical location. I’m not a snake oil salesman. I am a solution finder. I may spend nights until three or 4 AM researching an issue that a client has sent me. I want to be able to provide people with education whether they come back to my salon or not. I just want people properly educated on their skin and how to properly take care of it. I specialize in acne and anti aging skincare. Both adult and teen acne. I have such a passion for teenagers during this stage of life. I work so hard to make sure I normalize it because of the stigma that is put on teenagers during puberty and those who suffer from all forms of acne. I also realize that there is no quick fix, and that not everyone’s skin care issues can be corrected the same way. I take pride in my career and I do the work that it takes to make sure my clients achieve the skin that they deserve! Even if it means that I have to refer them to a dermatologist. I inform them from the beginning, that there are many avenues to achieving successful skin results. And sometimes we have to tap into a little of each one. So I work with my clients’ dermatologist as well and we consult with each other about treatments and solutions. I offer a range of services. I offer facials, both for relaxation and treatment (acne, anti aging, dry skin, oily skin) , full body waxing, lash extensions, body scrubs, body wraps, brow tinting and lamination, eyelash lifts and tinting, and Chemical peels. I hope to soon add Yoni steaming to my services as well. I do carry retail products for my clients from the skin care line that I use but I also had to make products as well for those who want more natural ingredients. I still make soaps, face washes, butters, lip balm, serums, and scrubs.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me in my field has been simply word of mouth. When I opened my business, I didn’t have a lot of money for marketing. In fact, I opened my business and rented my suite with my last $500! My work speaks for me. I don’t do gimmicks, sob stories, I don’t try to keep up with what’s hip, I just do the work. I show my clients results and I provide consistent results. The next thing you know, one person tells another and so on and so on!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Results. Results is what helped me build my reputation in my field I have started to do more advertising on social media platforms. So one thing that I do with all of my clients is take a picture for their file at each visit so that we can track their progress. I also use these pictures for them as well when they feel like they are not seeing results or they have a relapse. I use it to show them where we started and how far we have come. I use it to keep them motivated to let them know that they didn’t acquire their skin issues overnight and that this is a process. Once we reach the desired results, I post these on all of my social media platforms so that people can actually see the process. I also have some clients who don’t mind me recording their sessions and using them for advertising purposes. People love to see results. And I give them what they want! Lol! I provide a visual. And it seems to work for me as far as keeping my business going and constantly obtaining new clientele.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.skynchic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/skyn_chic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynchicesthetics
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/skyntingz
- Other: TikTok: skynchic