Today we’d like to introduce you to Samarah Ballard.
Hi Samarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started a small online business specializing in hand made press-on nails in April of 2020 after having my nail technician license for four months. I made the decision to only sell hand made press-ons during the beginning stages of the pandemic because nail salons around the country were closed during this time. I created an Instagram and posted my work which received over 700 likes in only 24 hours on my “Pink Jelly Flame” nails, a top seller to this day.
When I first opened my online store, I received my first order almost instantly and called my biggest supporter, my father, with gratification and excitement. He laughed over the phone and said, “look at the name on the order.” As I looked, I realized my first customer was my own father. I went from my first customer being my family member to getting well over 1,000 orders three months later. I quit my job being a pit dealer at a casino working overnight and decided to become my own boss at 21 years old. I’m very grateful that I grew up in the digital age of social media because it constitutes for much of my success. With the pandemic calming down over a year later, I decided to go back to school to get licensed in tooth jewelry and eyelash extensions. I moved from having an online-only business to a salon in Uptown named “Bare Bone Beauty Bar” in June 2021. I still run my online store solely by myself, but I have an employee in my salon and plan to expand my business even further.
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?
Ever since I quit my job at the casino, I had to learn how to sustain myself without having a consistent income. Without having the knowledge of budgeting as an entrepreneur, I decided to educate myself by reading financial literacy novels. These books have helped me grow personally and have taught me a lot about business, money, and budgeting. Although I had big dreams as an entrepreneur, I still had financial issues and decided to look for employment. None of the places I applied to would contact me back, so I took this as a sign to focus solely on my business.
Once I realized it was my destiny to be a business owner, I decided to stop looking for jobs that would provide a “consistent income” and put all of my time and resources into my business. At this point, with all of my time and energy invested into my business, it began to flourish. I never gave up no matter what because being an entrepreneur is who I am supposed to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a licensed nail technician, tooth gem technician, and eyelash extension technician. I also have my manager’s license which is a requirement to be able to run a salon. I specialize in hand-made eyelash fans so every look is unique. What sets me apart from others in the beauty industry is that I never charge deposits to book an appointment, late fees, and no show fees. I understand that in life things unexpected occur and you shouldn’t be penalized for that. I was always frustrated with other service providers in the industry because I hate paying upfront deposits to “secure my spot” and book an appointment for a service I have not yet received. I also never charge for lash bath and give luxury after care kits with every service which are necessary for keeping your lashes, tooth gems, and nails on for much longer. I am an expert in customer service and experience, and I want to make the process as relaxing as possible because self care is so important and is supposed to be an amazing experience. I am one of the only tooth jewelers in Minnesota, but I am the only tooth jeweler in Minnesota to be licensed by an orthodontist.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned throughout this journey is to celebrate the small wins. It is very easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks of being a business owner. I myself have dwelled on the negative for too long and it can really affect my performance for much longer than it should. I celebrate every single win no matter how small, and I use the positive energy to fuel myself to continue working hard and making my dreams my reality.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Barebonebeautybar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barebonebeautybar/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BareBoneBeautyBar/
- Other: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/LN26X3J02WJY7
Image Credits
Maria McCarthy
Alara Rae
