We recently connected with Veronica and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Veronica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?

I went to beauty school while I was in high school which allowed me to graduate high school with my cosmetology license and immediately enter the work force. Being in the beauty industry, many people want to jump into the realm of being self employed and setting your own hours. While there are lots of benefits to this, it poses the issue of jumping in without any kind of security net — but the raw ambition and drive of someone fresh out of beauty school can’t be matched! I started working in a higher end salon with no clientele and continuing a second full time job to help pay the bills. The salon I worked at was small and new — there wasn’t a base of clients coming in the door and my business was as a result of “pounding the pavement” in order to make a living. This was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done — there were weeks where I didn’t make any money. The key takeaway I had from this experience was being able to give my time and attention to one client at a time, pouring into that person and creating a meaningful relationship with each of my clients. It allowed me to realize how much impact our words have — how they evoke feelings in people. People might have 50 or more different stylists cut their hair over the years, and while they may not remember who gave them what cut or color, they’ll always remember how that person made them feel.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into makeup at a super young age — I was always the little girl running around in high heels and play makeup. I sometimes joke that I came out of the womb with a full face of makeup on. When I turned 9, my skin began breaking out, and quickly broke out so badly that it couldn’t be helped with over the counter medication and my journey of seeing doctor after doctor to battle my acne started. For those of you who have struggled with acne, my heart goes out to you. Severe acne sends your self esteem on a downward spiral that’s challenging to escape from. A few short years later, makeup became an escape — it allowed me to look in the mirror and make peace with my reflection. I was able to have a glimpse of feeling confident when my acne was concealed, and soon thereafter, it became a creative escape. I could express myself with it, and embody the confidence I wanted to feel throughout the process.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the business first started flight, I decided to offer both lash extensions and esthetic services in my studio. My thought at the time was that I could diversify my income as much as possible. While my head was in the right place, what wound up happening was that my time was so scattered and I was so spread thin I couldn’t devote myself to what really lit me up — which was bridal. When I took the time to really calculate how much of our annual revenue was brought in through those services, the results were somewhat alarming, and I quickly stopped offering both services in order to more fully focus on the bridal aspect of my business. Giving my time and attention to my brides skyrocketed our bridal industry in ways we had previously only dreamt of!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

While everyone has their own opinion on this — we look at our current clients as the best source of new clients. If you can turn your current client in a raving fan, they’ll refer anyone to you! People are much more likely to believe and trust a recommendation coming from a friend/family member. When you focus on your current clients as your best form of advertising, it also enables your customer service to escalate into levels that tower above your peers. It’s a win/win!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blackswanbeauty.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackswanbeautyindy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackswanbeautyindy

Image Credits
Alison Mae Photography Anna Clark Photography Emma Trevino Photography