Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lynn Schuster, founder of ECHO Lash & Brow, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Echo Lash & Brow is an intimate salon space specializing in the care of eyelash and eyebrow services, including eyelash extensions, lash lifts, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, brow lamination, eyebrow shaping, facial waxing, and rehabilitation of damaged lashes. Echo’s foundation is in the education of healthy services approach and sustainability practices. The salon offers licensed instruction to stylists in person and self-paced online classes.
Tell us about yourself
Helping folks gain confidence is my jam! I love creating lash and brow designs that give people a feeling of self-esteem. Sparse natural lashes can come from all kinds of reasons. Typically, lash loss would be an instant turn-away from receiving services. At Echo, special techniques are used to enhance lashes to a fuller glory! Empowering people to feel good about their appearance in such a unique way makes me feel good too.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment is in converting the salon’s nature sustainability practices. I make a conscious effort to choose supplies for the salon that are made from sustainable resources and compostable. The products used in services and those available for retail are intentionally selected to have top-quality ingredients, limited packaging, and are as local as can be. The building has solar panels to offset power. The salon is off to a great start but continues to take actions that are better for people and the planet.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The blessing and the curse of owning your own business is the flexibility of your schedule. There is no punching the clock. That also means that business matters get completed or neglected at your discretion. It is fantastic that my workday can work around appointments or events. It isn’t as fantastic when work affairs spill into personal time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Run the numbers, and make them make sense before making big decisions.
- Seek out support. SBA has a ton of resources to help you get your biz off the ground.
- Have a plan and courage! Be prepared to be flexible as things change.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
There is room for everyone! As I tell my students, we all have faces waiting to be groomed. Go for your goal of becoming a stylist. More folks than you know are rooting for you to succeed. ;)
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.echo-lash.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Whiplashes.Twincities/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiplashes.twincities/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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