Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Holley.
Heidi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My close friends and family know me as a fiercely independent and creative woman with a love for all things beauty. Early on, I figured out I could help people express themselves through a service that also required my creativity. This led me to a start at great clips at the age of 16. That introduction to the salon world taught me a lot about the value of happy employees who in turn make happy clients. While I was very focused on the work that was creating my freedom at that age, I found it difficult to prioritize schooling until I found something that truly spoke to me. That’s why I’m glad to have learned from the experience of getting kicked out of my first high school and later on cosmetology school in my early 20s. It was actually after being kicked out of cosmetology more than halfway through my program that I realized I was looking forward to aesthetic clients more than anything else. After taking some time away and living in the San Francisco area for a while, I returned to Minneapolis to pick up where I left off.
In 2011, I graduated from the Aveda Institute Minneapolis Esthetics Program. This was the first higher education program I was able to fully commit to and complete at the first attempt. I was so excited and confident in my abilities that I started Sapphire Spa the same year I graduated. This again required me to balance two jobs to maintain my independence, meaning that most days would start at the laser clinic and finish at my clients’ homes where I was offering in-home lash extensions. I loved the service and look of lash extensions when I first came across them in California, and that interest gave me the confidence that someday Sapphire Spa would be my full time focus.
That’s why in 2016 I was ecstatic to move into my first studio where Sapphire clients could come to me instead of me driving all over the Twin Cities to serve them! On average, I drove thousands of fewer miles and could then start to focus more on developing the ambiance and reputation of Sapphire Spa. Growth came steadily, and before I knew it, I was signing a commercial lease for a 3 service room suite on the west side of Minneapolis! Imagine my delight when I realized believing so passionately in myself could manifest into something like that.
Nowadays, we’ve developed into a specialty medi-spa that primarily focuses on lash extensions and results driven skin services. I love seeing our reviews pop up on google and elsewhere that remind my Beauty Coaches and I of how appreciative all our clients are of our ambiance and attention to detail.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As I mentioned, getting kicked out of my first high school and later on cosmetology school were setbacks that I could have let derail my goals entirely.
Finishing high school in an alternative format let me balance nearly full time work and while earning my diploma. Shortly after, I was again unfocused in cosmetology school and a few years after getting kicked out of that program was when I realized that I will excel at the things that interest me, and anything else was a distraction. With that clarity, I finished Aveda Minneapolis’ esthetics and massage program at 27, starting my business in the same year. Those years helped me realize I had to actively seek out those settings, friends, and habits that would foster my creativity and independence.
It’s probably fair to say that we all love being ourselves; it’s just not all the time that we feel we can “be ourselves” if we’re in a school that doesn’t teach how you learn, or in a workplace that doesn’t reflect your passion and values. That’s why I also learned what not to do from past workplaces, which didn’t seem to value the client’s experience as much as I thought we should. I remember being frustrated and moving on to starting my own business primarily because I realized that few or none of the large companies I worked for were owned by people from/ in the industry. That led to a disconnected client experience, despite my best efforts.
We’ve been impressed with Sapphire Spa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
While we are technically a med spa, Sapphire Spa is most widely known for our work on lash services (extensions and lift) in the Twin Cities area. Besides lashes, our skincare and skin services are results driven, meaning we select specific esthetic services that will noticeably progress our clients towards their desired results.
Our clients rave about the consistent results, easy scheduling online, and wide range of services. Our brand is probably relatable to clients because of both our ten-year history in business and attention to detail with each client. Even the plants, cleanliness, and retail are curated to aid in the seamless way our clients experience our services during their busy lives.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
For people looking to do what I do and build community in the industry, I’m looking forward to coming out with products and resources that will help newcomers and established practices succeed. I was lucky to have a business coach who knew me well enough to give me the custom guidance I needed. As Sapphire grows and changes, I want to help others succeed in a similar way.
Contact Info:
- Email: heidi@sapphiremn.com
- Website: www.sapphiremn.com
- Instagram: @sapphirespa
- Facebook: sapphirespaservices
Image Credits
Peel Design Co.
Hannah Herrig
Heidi Holley
