Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Lucarotti.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nicole. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Lashes have always been a passion of mine, but the idea to open WinQ came about when my partner and I were looking at lash franchises to buy. We looked at a number of business concepts, but we wanted the ability to really shape the brand.
We wanted to create a place that people want to hang out in, where they can relax and let the stress of daily life melt away while they get glammed up. For us, getting lashes put on is both relaxing and empowering.
We started by meeting at our houses, building a business plan and making lists of all of the things we needed to do. In retrospect, we have learned so much since the beginning. We had no idea what we were doing.
We only knew that we didn’t want to open just one. The goal for WinQ Lash Bar has been to create a repeatable process from the start. Our dream is to have WinQ’s in all of the major cities.
After much searching for space (we almost opened in South Boston) we found our current location on Commonwealth Avenue in Packard’s Corner. It was formerly a European Wax Center, so it was kind of perfect for us.
The fun part was the build-out and design. We wanted it to feel like Miami meets Beverly Hills complete with pink, white, and banana leaf. All of our treatment rooms have a unique beach themed murals to create a sense of escapism.
Today, we are in our eighth month of being open for business and I can’t believe how much we have grown. I almost have to pinch myself when I look around and see our staff has grown to ten!
We have worked really hard to try to curate a great culture as well. We value everyone on the team’s input and are committed to providing ongoing training, reviews, and growth for our staff.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely not. Everyone tells you that starting a business is hard work and success definitely looks like more of a zigzag than a straight line. We have definitely had some rollercoaster days and weeks.
One minute you are on top of the world, the next you feel like you’re going to have to close the doors. We learned some tough lessons early on about hiring the right team. Those experiences shaped the questions we now ask when screening potential candidates.
Winq Lash Bar – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
WinQ Lash bar is all about eyelashes. Whether it’s extensions, lash lift (perm), or lash tint, our focus is on creating beautiful, healthy eyelashes. We get asked to offer other services all of the time, but we feel like that would take away from our primary focus on being eyelash specialists.
We are most proud of the team we have built. It took us a while, but we feel like we have some really great stylists who love what they do and are passionate about lashes.
What sets us apart is probably our focus on service. We are committed to providing our guests with an amazing experience and excellent service. If for any reason a client is unhappy, we offer a complimentary one-week touch-up. We are also animal lovers and we do not use any products that are tested on animals.
You won’t find any real mink eyelashes in our salon, only synthetic. Some salons offer real mink extensions for their luxurious look, but the methods used to harvest this mink are cruel and unethical. We find that some of the synthetic products can look even better.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For us, success means continued growth. Our goal is to continue growing our team, our customer base, opening more locations, and developing our own products. We love hearing that people have heard about us. That means that our marketing has been successful.
Contact Info:
- Address: WinQ Lash Bar 1094 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215
- Website: www.winqlashbar.com
- Phone: 6175055358
- Email: freenaps@winqlashbar.com
Image Credit:
@behindtheclick
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