Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Bennis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started off working in a salon as a hair stylist. I started getting my lashes done by a local lash artist and became lash obsessed! I was 7 months pregnant and I hated my current job. I decided to quit my job and took my lash course 2 weeks later. Being 7 months pregnant this was a huge risk! I started promoting myself on Facebook and Instagram and was able to get a couple of my friends and family in. I was working out of my living room! Within a month I had grown a pretty steady clientele and decided it was time to find a place out of my house to work. I found a tiny room for rent in Holden. Within 6 months I grew out of that tiny room and decided to open my own studio. I found the perfect spot in Worcester and opened Lashed Studio. Within months I became fully booked and could not take on any more clients. I hired Jessica who started as my receptionist and took her lash course. I taught her everything I knew and she quickly built a huge clientele. Just shy of a year being at my studio we needed something bigger! I needed to hire more employees to keep up with the clients that were calling to book appointments. That’s when I decided to open a full service salon and bring back my first passion which was hair. I found the perfect location in Northborough and that’s where I opened my full service salon which is now called Lashed & Beauty Boutique. There is 8 people that work in my salon and we offer everything from hair, lashes, waxing and makeup!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road but it’s been an amazing one! I truly started from the bottom and worked my way up. I started my business out of my living room 7 months pregnant and not knowing a single thing about running a business. I worked endless hours and was only able to take a two week maternity leave after I had my daughter. My clients depended on me and I had to be available. The biggest struggle for me has been trying to balance work, being a business owner, all while being a wife and mother of two little girls. Working 50+ hours a week was not easy but the hard work and time I’ve put in has gotten me to where I am now. I am now able to be home more because I have an entire staff that keeps my salon going.
Please tell us about Lashed & Beauty Boutique.
Lashed & Beauty Boutique is a full service salon where we specialize in lash extensions. We offer classic lashes and Russian Volume lashes. We also offer lash lifts and lash tinting. Besides lashes we offer hair services from color, balayage, ombres, foils, cuts, formal stylist, Brazilian Blowouts and more. We also have professional makeup artists and master and a master waxed! There are so many things I am proud of. Starting with a dream that turned into a goal that became an accomplishment. I have also been able to give my staff an amazing opportunity and a career that they love. I don’t hire just anyone. They have all started from the bottom and have worked their way to the top. I am most proud of the stylist they have all become and the amount of respect and appreciation they have for me is the icing on the cake. What sets us apart from others is that we are a one stop shop and our customer service. I truly believe in building relationships with each and every client. Most of our clients have become our friends and every time a client walks through our door it’s an amazing time and experience. Everything from girl talk, to therapy sessions, to lash naps, to hysterically laughing or even crying! Every client looks forward to coming to their appointments. And we are always keeping up with the hottest trends and stay up to date with the beauty industry.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
This is such a hard question because I have so many!! But I grew up on Cape Cod and having the beach in my backyard I spent most of my days at the beach. Growing up on Cape Cod in general is such an amazing memory. I have an older sister and a younger brother so my favorite memory is riding our bikes or roller blading down to the beach where we spent the entire day!
Pricing:
- •Classic Full Set $200
- • Volume Full Set $300
- •ClAssic Fill $70
- •Volume Fill $90-$110
- •Lash Lift $100
- •lash Tint $40
- •Lift & Tint $125
- •Balayage $180+
- •Ombré $160+
- •Foils $125+
- •Root Retouch $60+
- •Cut $55
- •Brazilian Blowout $325
- •Keratin $200
- •Makeup Application $65+
Contact Info:
- Address: 269 West Main Street Unit 2B
Northboro MA 01532 - Website: Www.lashedbeautyboutique.com
- Phone: 508-466-2006
- Email: melissa.bennis@lashedbeautyboutique.com
- Instagram: @lashedbeautyboutique
- Facebook: Lashed & Beauty Boutique
- Yelp: Lashed & Beauty Boutique
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