Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, hey, beauty
community.
Shannon, your sugar mama, thisepisode of the Sugar Show is a
good one.
We're going to talk aboutlasers, because they are here
and we need to know what thecompetition is all about.
But I don't think it'scompetition.
I think it's actually anopportunity, and we're gonna
talk about that.
And even more important thanlasers is our beautiful,
(00:24):
beautiful, beautiful educator,georgia, who is going to share
with us her sweet success storyand also fill our cups with just
exactly how far she's come inthis industry and give you a
little inspiration.
See you on the episode, missGeorgia, in Wisconsin.
(00:47):
Hello girl.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Hey Shannon, how's it
going so good?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So good.
I you know it's so.
It's so been so fun to watchyour sweet success journey and
we spent time live together inNew York.
I looked at Jodi, one of ourother educators, and I was like,
oh, we got to get her on thepodcast.
Like, you are the most fun.
We had such a blast togetherand I knew you were a good
(01:16):
educator and I knew you were astellar student, but I did not
know that you were as sassy andfun as you are.
So I wanted to make sure thatyou were the first person after
New York that I interviewed thatyou could share your story with
with the world.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
so thank you.
Thank you, shannon, I'mseriously honored.
I can't even elaborate how funit was to meet everybody and get
my hands in sugar withliterally everybody.
Getting to see people in suchdifferent stages of their
sugaring career or even gettingto think about starting sugaring
was just an awesome experience,and the amount of people that I
hope we influenced and got totalk with and and share
(01:49):
education and the importance ofeducation, that's super awesome
it's really motivating for you,right, because it really does it
.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
It you realize how
many people are sugaring also,
which is cool, and then you canshare some product information
with them.
But then the people that arelike, oh I don't know what this
is, you're like, how do you notknow what sugar is?
Right, you have to kind ofadjust your conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
But in the end it's
so inspiring to see the people
that are so motivated andexcited about it, absolutely
Even the people who had neverheard it, and they're like, oh
my gosh, what is that, why don'tI know what that is?
And getting to be like, oh mygosh, let me tell you about it.
That was just so awesome, itfelt so natural and I just was
so excited to also see peopleexcited about it too.
(02:37):
It just really sparkedsomething in me to continue and
be like okay, let's go, let'stalk about it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Then you want to hit
the ground running when you get
back and you want to teacheveryone.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Oh for sure, I'm like
you on the street.
Get in here, let's show you.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Pulling people from
the aisles.
So true, okay, so let's getdown to it, because you have so
much to talk about.
We were at dinner and you weretelling your story and I was
like, ooh, we got to leteverybody know.
So let's go way back to littleGeorgia.
Yeah, she is thinking aboutgoing to beauty school and you
chose to be a cosmetologist.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Correct.
Yeah.
So originally I was kind of inthe midst of figuring out what I
was doing for college.
I was a brand new little baby.
I was about 18, 19 years old.
I was actually married, and soI was kind of going through some
turmoil and the amount ofcomfort I found going and having
(03:37):
personal services done is, tothis day, something that was so
influential for me and I don'tthink sometimes people realize
what clients are getting fromeven a good experience in
personal services.
It definitely pulled me throughsome really mentally emotional
turmoils and so I really I gotdone with my hair one time and
(04:00):
it was around my birthday, soNovember ish.
I was like, okay, let's get itdone before Thanksgiving, before
Christmas.
And I remember walking out andbeing like, oh my gosh, she gets
to make people feel like that.
She gets to make people leaveand feel so confident, so happy,
so excited.
And I was like how do I getinto that?
(04:22):
Like how do I do that?
So that really sparkedsomething in me too where I was
like I need to do this.
So it was November.
I signed up for my program thatstarted in January.
It was full at the time.
I think I was on the wait list.
Somebody moved and I was like,okay, looks like I'm starting in
(04:48):
like two weeks, and it ended upbeing just so fast.
But I was at the same time Iwas like this is, this is what
I'm supposed to do.
Um, so I did that.
I do have a little bit ofbackground in here.
I don't really dabble in itanymore.
Um, I've found so much love forskincare and hair removal as a
whole, so that's really been mypassion.
(05:09):
When I was getting done withschool, though, I really was
interested in full service.
I pursued a full service spaand salon, and kind of in that I
was seeing some things in theindustry that you don't
necessarily love or you're like,oh OK, I wish that was
different, I wish that maybe wethought more about that.
I thought, when I started, Iwas having some migraine issues
(05:33):
and I thought it was maybe justthe stress of a new career once
I had graduated, and I meancosmetology school was just, I
mean, a pedal on metal.
You, I think they went from atwo year program to condense to
one right as the semester that Ihad started.
So they were working on how tocondense a two year program to
(05:54):
one or a little over one, andthat was intense.
I remember being in school for40, 50 hours a week and you're
just like, oh my gosh, how doyou get through that?
And so I was like, wow, maybeI'm just having some stress from
the new career.
How do I navigate this?
And so we kind of talked to myboss at the time a little bit
(06:18):
about like how to negate some ofthat feeling Maybe it's fumes,
maybe we need better ventilationin the salon and spa, some of
the feeling maybe it's fumes,maybe we need better ventilation
in the salon and spa.
And I started to nosedive intowhat we're working with.
What are we exposed to?
On a regular?
(06:38):
We're exposed to germicides,which is obviously very
important for sanitation, and Iunderstood that, but then we're
also exposed to so many ammoniasand cleaning products and
lighteners, and so then all of asudden, I kind of started to
take a whirlwind of what are wedoing?
How are we doing this?
What are?
How are we going to protectourselves from these?
How are we going to manage um,protecting our clients from
(07:01):
these um?
So I kind of started to lookinto what it looked like to do
more natural skincare, morenatural hair products and I
actually was pregnant at thattime with my second.
So I was like, well, I want toprotect me and my pregnancy and
make sure that we're not exposedto things unnecessarily.
(07:21):
So I started kind of going downa road of like what does more
natural look?
Like I'll think about it, I'llstart to dabble.
And it kind of always wassitting in the back of my head
like how can we do this?
How can we make it healthierfor us, how can we make it
healthier for our clients?
And I had been getting regularsugar or not sugaring, but
(07:44):
regular waxes done.
And so I, as I hit about, I wantto say probably middle of my
pregnancy, I was going to thesame girl for quite a while and
I remember going in one day Iwas had same things as always.
We went through all mypotential hazards that I was
pregnant.
I was maybe a little moresensitive and I remember sitting
(08:08):
in that appointment and she wasnervous I mean I'm getting
bigger, pregnant, we're workingon different positionings and I
was about halfway through myservice and I hear her gasp I
audibly gasp during my serviceand I remember just feeling such
immense stinging and I was likewhat just happened?
(08:30):
And I actually am someone whogot the top of my pubis mountain
ripped off with hard and softwax.
So I just remember laying thereand she literally handed me an
aesthetic wipe and told me toput pressure and said somebody
(08:51):
will meet you out front.
And that was our encounter andit was someone I had had a good
relationship with, good clientprovider relationship with, and
the look on her face.
I was like what just happened.
Her relationship with and thelook on her face.
I was like what just happened.
And I remember I stood up offof the service table.
There was a full-length mirror.
I was pregnant.
(09:12):
I couldn't see past my belly atthat point and I remember
seeing what happened and Iliterally jaw to the ground, was
like how did this happen?
I mean, I was offering waxing alittle bit to my clients.
I was like what just happened?
How did that happen?
And so we sat, or I sat, Itried to compose myself the best
(09:34):
I could and they actuallyreferred me to the emergency
department because of how severeit was.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
So when you yeah, I
thought I't even wrap my brain
around how that would feel, andwhat you even say to your
practitioner.
Oh sure, and about it, like I,you know what do you say?
Speaker 2 (09:56):
yeah, you kind of and
at that point too I was like,
oh my gosh, like she's somethingscared her one, something
scared her and you just are likeit kind of breaks your heart
hearing like them gasp like that, and you're just like something
went wrong.
I can't tell you what, yet Ican't tell you how, and and
something went wrong and it wasjust really, I mean, and and
(10:20):
talk about a reason forliability forms.
When I got out, they walked methrough my liability that I had
signed and I was like,absolutely, and they did refer
me to the right place after, butI really, after that experience
, I sat there and I was like howdid that happen?
Why did that happen?
How do we make sure thatdoesn't happen to anybody else?
(10:42):
Um, and when I was in the ER,one of the nurses was like oh,
I've seen this a few times.
And that stuck with me, becauseI was like you've seen this a
few times, like I thought I wasgoing in freak, freak accident.
I'm like, oh my gosh, they'renot even gonna know how to help
me.
And she's like I've seen this afew times.
(11:03):
And I was like oh my gosh, likeyeah, yeah, I mean I was
bleeding.
She literally handed me a chunkof aesthetic wipes to set on
while I got dressed and itreally just was mind-blowing,
because I, I really, and thenI'm getting myself to the
(11:25):
emergency department making sureeverything's okay and you are
sitting there and you're likewhat happened?
And it could be combination.
I mean, you're sensitive, theheat of the, the wax, I really
do recall it being too hot.
But I'm sitting here and I'mlike you don't really realize
what too hot is too hot, um, andespecially if you've been doing
(11:48):
it, you're like, oh, I'm aseasoned pro, I'll suck it up.
I'm not someone to saysomething.
If something feels wrong, I'mkind of like no biggie, it'll be
fine.
But I'm like, oh, yeah, that'sprobably.
How long did it take for you toheal um?
I think it took over threemonths for me to heal um, and so
that was like that huh did youdeliver with it like that, yeah,
(12:11):
yep.
So I think I was mostly healed,um, but yeah, I delivered like
that and I actually, kind ofright after it happened was when
I had found you, um, because Ireally I was sitting there, I
was pregnant and I mean mypreference was to not have hair
for delivery, which iscompletely normal but I was like
(12:34):
what are my options?
Oh, my gosh, what are myoptions?
What are other people's options?
Laser was not an option.
I was pregnant and I havereally fine hair, so it was not
an option for I was pregnant andI have really fine hair, so it
was not an option for me.
And so I was like, oh, allright, I remember seeing a video
from some I cannot evenremember her name, I could tell
(12:56):
you if I saw her but I rememberseeing a video on Buzzfeed of
her.
She's from California and she'swearing these big overalls.
She's huge, pregnant, and itwas an introduction to what
sugar was.
And I remember seeing a littlebit about it and I was like, oh
cool, I'll kind of dabble andsee if there's even anyone in my
area.
(13:16):
And when I looked, there wasnobody within a five to six hour
radius of me who was offeringit.
And so then I was sitting and Iwas like, well, I want to see
what this is, I want to see howthis is.
I am reading up on it beingmore natural and I was like, how
do I not know what this is?
I just got done with school.
(13:37):
I just got done with like areally extensive program.
I flicked back in my big bigcosmetology book and I found one
singular paragraph on sugaring.
It was literally, it was justlike this little tiny.
It was in the escalation and itwas just one teeny little
paragraph.
And I was like, oh, like I,that's crazy, how do I not know
(14:01):
what this is?
Um, so I kind of was like, well, all right, we'll figure out
what it is.
And so I started looking intothat more.
Um, I was trying to findeducation and I could not find
education in my area.
I couldn't find a provider inmy area, I couldn't find
education.
And that's when I reallystarted deep diving.
(14:25):
I had found I Sugar Universityonline and I was like that looks
a little bit sketchy.
But OK, ok, come on now.
But I like smile on my face.
Yeah, sweetest thing, I thinkthat told me it really did.
Yeah, sweetest thing, I think.
(14:47):
That told me it really did.
But I was, I mean, I wasskeptical.
I said how, how am I going tomake sure I get the education I
need?
How do I make sure that I'mdoing the right technique?
And when I went through your,your program stuff because I had
seen a few other like teachingthings, kind of like that um,
but yours was the only one whosaid you're going to send videos
and we're going to, we're goingto send them back if they're
(15:08):
not good enough.
And you sent my eyebrow back tome and I am so grateful because
that was when I really wasstruggling with and I thought,
oh, I'll just send these theydon't even watch them and
they'll just send me mycertification.
And boy was I wrong.
Yeah, boy was I wrong, and I'mso glad I was.
(15:29):
Um, and yeah, I remember too Ithe support that came with that.
I was like they can't supportyou from so far.
How are they going to do this?
Speaker 1 (15:41):
We watch them, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah, oh, for sure,
I'm like you guys skim through
those and you watch them reallyfine, cause you.
I remember getting the emailback too, and you told me
exactly what I did wrong and howto correct it, and it was like
immediate.
As soon as you said it, I waslike, oh, yeah, okay, I can do
this.
So I think I was.
(16:03):
I was still pregnant when I gotmy certification.
I was, yeah, I was probablyseven months pregnant, yeah, and
so that was my whole rest of mypregnancy.
I was practicing on my legs.
I was practicing on my arms, myhusband, brandon.
I was practicing on him and Iwas like, sorry, you're gonna be
(16:25):
as smooth as a baby because Ineed to get this down.
Be really honest, I did notpick it up quite as fast as I
thought I would, um, but it wasso cool to have a support system
because I did.
I had questions and I think itwas either you or Brandy.
I'd be like what is going on?
How do I fix this?
(16:46):
Sometimes it was humidity.
Um, being in in the Midwest, Icouldn't.
I'd watch videos on you guyssugaring and you guys are in
California.
So I was like, oh, I don't knowwhat's going on.
Yeah.
So, just having thattroubleshoot it.
It was so cool to have anetwork immediately and it
(17:06):
really pushed my passion forskincare again, because it was
like no, we can help each other.
Like, oh my gosh, like I, youcan learn virtually, you can
have support system virtually,and I literally got to be the
first children's salon in myarea.
As soon as I decided to comeback from maternity, I decided
(17:29):
to re-evaluate everything.
I am a completely natural salonand spa.
I do not use anything beyondwhat is legally required for
sanitation.
Otherwise, we are using organiccotton.
We're using biodegradablegloves.
I'm using hormone balancingproducts to make sure that we
(17:52):
aren't disrupting anything thatis not necessary.
Now I get to use RADIC lab forpre and post biotic and I'm
super excited about that.
But it's crazy because youreally I got to be the first and
I was like why aren't you guysdoing this?
And people thought it was crazy.
They're like what is that?
Even the amount of times peoplewere like oh, sugar scrubbing,
(18:21):
what are you doing?
Oh, and I was like is sugarscrub?
Like we're sugaring?
And they're like I don't knowwhat that means.
Um, but getting to like walkthrough that with everybody.
And I was part of the firstgroup of sugars, I think when
you started to switch over tolove to sugar.
It was the Sugar Tribe and Iwas part of that and it was
really cool to get to see thattransition.
And I've kind of been on thatsideline for quite a while.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I think I've been
certified with you for seven
years, eight years, yeah, well,and what is even part of that
journey is so cool is feel likewhen we circled back around to
look for educators, youliterally like raise your hand.
You're like put me in coach,like I want to be here.
(19:06):
Yeah, whatever it takes, I'lleducate because I want people to
have and and uh, and that'sbeen really cool.
So talk about your um, let'stalk about you as an educator,
and then we'll talk about yourstory, like so I think how did
that come about?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
how, yeah, so I think
it really did stem on.
I loved my online.
I loved it so much, but I waslike I really want, I wish that
I had somebody to be like here'swhat I'm doing.
Can you show me how to move myhand?
Because even that, like when wewere at New York, a lot of the
times I was like it wasergonomics a lot of what I'm
doing.
Can you show me how to move myhand?
Because even that, like when wewere at New York, a lot of the
times I was like it wasergonomics a lot of what I was
(19:41):
seeing.
They were trying so hard, butI'm like you gotta sit up, you
gotta turn your wrist out, yougotta.
And so I'm like to physicallybe able to help students and be
like here, let's move your body,let's here, let's do this and
have that support in your area.
Um, there's times, too, I'vegone with people I've already
certified or educated and youyou're like, let me come in, let
(20:06):
me come in and watch you.
What are you doing?
Let's, let's break this downand you kind of pretend like
you're a fly on the wall and youcan get to see what's going on
and sometimes you're like that'ssuch an easy fix and I'm like I
wish I could be the fly on thewall.
I want to help you.
I want everybody to besuccessful.
I really didn't think that Iwould have the amount of success
(20:27):
with sugaring as I do.
I support my family my husbandstays home and homeschools our
kids and it was because I waspassionate about learning and
continuing to learn and I wantto also strive to help people
continue to learn, because youcan learn how to sugar, but then
you're going to keep learninghow to sugar and you're going to
(20:47):
keep learning.
There's even in New York.
We got to see so many differentcorrect techniques, but
different techniques, and it wasso cool to see everybody have a
little bit of a spin on it andit's such a beautiful art form
and I will say it to this day.
You see people do stuff andyou're like it looks so natural
(21:08):
and like a rhythm and I'm likebeautiful, it's so cool.
You get to see each educatorhave just a little bit of their
own thing, and even from you toArmando or to literally anyone I
was like or Joey, I'm like whoa, where do you guys get these
moves?
I'm like that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Yeah, yeah, just a
couple of tweaks and there's for
sure.
Let's talk about your successjourney in Sugar Sweets, which
is your space in Eau Claire,wisconsin, and you touched on
the fact that your husband getsto stay at home with the kids
and he makes sourdough bread andhe raises baby quails.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Yeah, we're busy.
We are Midwestern busy.
He is on the farm man, I loveit.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
So, yeah, talk about
you.
Let's go back to school andwhat your journey was to opening
your own place.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Yeah.
So I think when I started kindof reaching into what do I want
to see in our industry I mean,obviously we're in an industry
that is very female focused toan extent, and I just remember
feeling not good about some ofsome of what goes on and I think
that falls into a little bit ofthe education too is I want to
(22:26):
hold hands with the cat, witheverybody.
I'm like we can do it together.
We're gonna daisy chain up andwe're gonna.
We're gonna work on thistogether, chain up and we're
gonna, we're gonna work on thistogether.
Um, and it's because I I thinkright off the bat I was seeing
that cut throat that this is myclient, this is your client.
Don't, don't let them muddle,muddle together, and you're like
(22:46):
no, everybody like chill out.
Yeah.
So I was like one.
I don't want this to be anindustry standard.
I think you can genuinely loveand be compassionate about other
women and other providers inyour service industry and show
that and you can say, oh, yeah,we back each other.
(23:09):
But then you can do it and youcan be support to other women
and other men in the communitythrough what you do.
And so I was like I want peopleto know I have a safe space, I
have.
My heart has always been here.
My heart is always in educatingclients also, and then I want
(23:30):
it to be good for you, like I.
Really, after going through atraumatic service, I could have
been somebody who was like neveragain never will I try any
other hair removal ever againand it could have taken me away
from being someone else'spotential client and so making
sure you're safe and beingrespectful to your client's skin
(23:51):
and what's good for them.
I'm not afraid to turn clientsdown if I think it's going to be
bad for them or not a good fit.
And I really I'm like I'm sosorry this might kind of put a
damper in your plan, but I careabout you and that has been so
cool to know.
My business as a whole caresabout clients and people.
(24:13):
So that was a really big thingwhen I opened, because when I
was working at a bigger spacewith multiple service providers,
you're kind of like they don'tcare about their client.
They care about did that clienttip enough?
Did that?
Oh, this client was fiveminutes late.
Oh, I can't stand that and it'slike I don't.
(24:33):
Like I don't want to be a partof that.
It's like you can give gracewhere grace is given, for sure,
but I'm like I want to see.
I want to see a change.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
I want to see people
have care for their clients but
also provide a professionalservice and a beautiful
byproduct of that is you've beenable to make enough money that
your salary is big enough thatyou can support the family.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
I kind of remember
the conversation and we joke
about it now because there was alittle bit of a point too,
because I was like we kind ofhad our finances separated
because I was like, yeah, thebusiness that's my baby, don't
worry about it, we'll just I'llfigure it out, you do your thing
and I'll make sure that this ispaying for itself, that we're
(25:24):
doing well enough with it, thatI can get all my supplies.
And it was after we bought ourfirst bigger home together and
we, our little kids, were it'sprobably about two, three years
into into my career as abusiness or as a business and
Brandon, my husband, was sittingthere and he's just like I
really I just don't like goingto work.
It really is putting such anemotional like toll on me.
(25:45):
And he was working.
I think he was working likefour tens and it was just a lot
and it would be staggering hoursfor me.
And so it felt like we didn'tsee each other, we didn't get to
spend that connection together.
And I remember sitting thereand I was like so don't.
And he's like what do you mean?
I was like just don't, like youdon't have to work.
(26:07):
And he's sitting there and he'slike looking at me like, what
are you talking about, woman?
And I was like, oh, we're fine.
And that was the first time hewas like what do you mean?
I was like you've never asked,you didn't ask how we were doing
, um.
And so we got to sit down andit was like he's like, oh my
goodness, I can stay home.
(26:27):
And I was like, yeah, you canstay home.
Um, and that was such a crazytransition to go from.
I mean, when I, when I openedmy business you don't know
anything I went from I was a one.
I was in a Phoenix salon suites.
When I first opened, I was in alittle tiny hundred square foot
room and that's what I ran offof.
(26:49):
And then when I started outgrowing, I think I moved up to
like 200 square feet, startedout growing, I think I moved up
to like 200 square feet and nowI have multiple, I think like
1500 square feet now, and it'sjust like, oh my gosh, great, we
love this.
But I was like, yeah, we'refine.
(27:11):
And even he could see thatprogression happening.
But I think for him to all of asudden get to see that he's
just like, oh my gosh, gosh,we're fine.
Um, but now we've had theflexibility and freedom to we
homeschool our boys.
Um, we bought 10 acres ofproperty and just built our own
home.
Um, my husband, with stayinghome, got to build everything
himself.
Um, so that's been reallyawesome because it was like
(27:33):
those opportunities wouldn'thave been there if I wasn't
successful in sugaring and theeducating clients to tell them
what it is.
Even potential clients they'relike oh, what's this sugar scrub
you're talking about?
And it's like, oh, here's whatsugaring is and having like
visuals for them.
I had so many photos and videosof me actually performing big
(27:55):
legs, big chest backs andbecause I want them to see that
art form and a lot of the timeseveryone's like that looks so
cool, that's so satisfying andit's like, yeah, it really is.
Um, but that has been justlife-changing because you talk
about going from not havinganyone in the area to being the
(28:15):
first real salon and spa doingit to now I there's multiple
other women in my area startingto sugar and it's so cool
because I get to kind of be theOG to an extent and be that
guidance for them and if theyhave questions I'm here and it's
cool to also be that person forother businesses to look up to
(28:38):
and also knowing that my familyis cared for and my boys get to
see their mom in an environmentthat I go to work.
I love it.
I have always said that my goalfrom day one was to never dread
going to work and I don't thinkI've ever felt that way.
And I remember when I worked ata bigger salon I would cry
(28:59):
you'd go, you'd be going in,you're crying, you're like I
don't want to go to work.
Yeah, but I, with the clientsI've had now and with how I get
to operate my business, knowingit's good for everybody, it's
like the amount of like sight.
I'm like excited.
I'm like, wow, what do we gotin the books today?
What are we doing?
and you're just excited andthat's such a nice joy yeah,
(29:22):
true joy, and I think that waswhat I was looking for.
And now to be going on over sixyears of business, um, with my,
my salon, and always feel thatway, is just completely
incredible, and I think that'swhat pushed me.
I'm like how do I help otherpeople get this?
Because that was I'm like howdo I help people do that?
(29:42):
I'm like I just here, do thatso.
I forward?
Yeah, absolutely.
And so I'm like I think that'swhat makes me passionate, too,
about education.
I'm like I mean Brandon and Istarted.
We were little teeny boppersstill um, I mean early 20s
trying to figure out how tonavigate, how to figure out
(30:05):
raising your kids together, howto figure out finances, how to
figure out how to run a businessright off the bat and to go.
When I opened my business, Ithink I had $500.
I had enough for a deposit, myroom, and then I borrowed
somebody's massage table for afew weeks until I had enough
(30:27):
appointments to pay for a table.
I got my table and I would buytwo jars at a time until I could
slowly start building up.
But I can't tell you howsparing I was with my pace at
the beginning because I was like, all right, you can't waste
anything.
But it's also a good.
(30:47):
I want people to see that youdon't have to have thousands and
thousands to start your journey.
I saved up, I paid for myonline class with you and that
was such a big purchase at thetime.
But I remember and I'm like itwas so worth it.
It was like if that was theprice to be where I am, I would
do it tenfold yeah, yeah socrazy it's not even.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
It's not even that
expensive.
No, I'll be considered.
I mean shoot like triple theamount to learn how to do that.
Sure that takes a lot of skilland you know patience and you
you know there's all thosereasons which.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
But the fact that
when you hear people talk about
yeah, when you hear peopletalking about making sure that
I'm like just invest in yourself, invest in your, in your future
, because at the end of the day,I could go buy 10 coffees and
it would cost me more than that,so you're like invest in you,
um, that's a really big thingbecause it will take you really
(31:45):
far when you do start tomentally and invest in your
education and continuingeducation.
It's insane and I love it.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
so tell them where
you are willing to go.
I know far and wide, but you'rein Wisconsin, and so where else
are you an educator?
Because we're going to bebringing you to other areas of
the country, but mostspecifically, you are.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yeah, so I am
Wisconsin, I am Minneapolis,
minnesota area, I am Michiganarea.
I, if you're within probably a300 mile radius or more, I'm
gonna find you, I'm gonna putyou down and make sure you I'm
gonna come help you because thatis something that I'm really
(32:28):
passionate about, cause we talkabout these Midwest rural areas
and it's like you guys can do it.
I mean, we have upper Michigan,that's up the upper peninsula
and stuff, and you're sittinghere and it's like you guys can
do it.
Hey, I mean we have upperMichigan, that's up the upper
peninsula and stuff, and you'resitting here.
You're like, why is nobodyhelping you?
Speaker 1 (32:43):
but let me come to
the backwoods and I will teach
you it's here, she's here andyou know there is something to
be said for those of you thathave achieved sweet success, big
success, um, in smaller towns.
You know, I mean one of mygreat Estee Besties, Rhonda, is
in Alvin, Texas, where they havelike a stoplight.
(33:03):
You know, like that's it andshe's killing it.
You know, I mean you're in EauClaire, Wisconsin.
You know you're killing it andyou don't have to be in Houston
or San Francisco or Miami tokill it.
I mean you should be killing itin those states, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
I think it's cool too
, because I think that's a
really good viewpoint to see.
And when I've compared withother people in our industry, I
make equivalents of people whoare in these big cities and I'm
like you can do it, like you canabsolutely do it.
I always joke.
I'm like, why is there nobodyin Minneapolis?
(33:40):
I mean, I have a plethora ofclients who are driving an hour
and a half to come see me.
I'm sitting here.
I'm like, why are you guys notsugaring?
I'm like I'm over here with50,000 people, but like I'm like
you have so many opportunitiesand nobody's in it, so that is a
goal I have this year.
I'm like I'm gonna findsomebody in Minneapolis and I'm
(34:01):
gonna make you sugar that'sright.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
You're gonna find
multiple people.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
I love it absolutely
we're gonna find so many.
But yeah, I I really wantpeople to not be stopped by the
fact that they're in the Midwest.
There's so many opportunitiesand I am so excited to be on the
journey of helping people findthose opportunities and teach
them the opportunities.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Yeah, and so now you
have a booming business.
You're going to be educatingYou're already educating people
in your states, and I want totake this moment to congratulate
you because it has been abeautiful six years.
You should be very proud ofyourself, because owning your
own business is not for thefaint of heart and we don't stop
(34:49):
often enough and remindourselves of how far we've come.
And I want to send a kudos toyou through the airwaves of
great job, girl, because you area an official badass boss babe
and you are making things happenfor your family, for yourself,
for your clients and, um and now, for fellow estheticians, and
(35:11):
that's really what it's about ispaying it forward.
So good on you, girl, and it isan honor to work by your side.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
I appreciate you.
Shannon, thank you so much forthe platform you've created and
the mentorship that you continueto give people in our industry,
because it really has pushed meto strive for better me and
also just know we're humans.
I mean, you put your heart onyour sleeve and I am so
appreciative because sometimesyou see people online and you're
(35:39):
like, wow, they have everythingtogether, like no, they don't.
But I appreciate that, becauseyour mentorship through love to
sugar has been absolutelyincredible and I'm so, so
grateful for it.
Thank you, friend, I appreciateyou uh, okay, so onward to
educating.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Um, we are going to
spend the next half of and we'll
talk about this for a quicksecond we're going to spend the
next half of this podcasttalking about um, when um, about
lasers and, uh, have you had alaser?
You know franchise, come toyour town and kind of change.
You know the trajectory of whatpeople.
(36:20):
You know there's lots ofchoices now, right, and this
podcast is going to be about howwe deal with, you know, lasers
not being as expensive.
You know, back in the day we'dsay, oh, that's so expensive to
get.
You know, 12 treatments oflaser is $2,500.
People say, oh fine, I'll justsugar and we never really had to
know much about what the lasersdid.
So, yeah, so we're going tospend the second half of this
(36:43):
podcast talking about, you know,the attitude about having laser
centers come and the um, theactual symbiotic relationship
that you can have that you and Italked about.
What have you seen in Wisconsinwith lasers coming to your town
?
Speaker 2 (36:59):
Yeah, for sure.
So I think that there's a hugeuprise on many spa services as a
whole.
So talking about continuingeducation, even if you don't
intend to provide those services, is really important, because
we want to be able to give thecorrect information to any
service and to be honoring tothat other person's business.
(37:21):
But I think it's really coolbecause sometimes people look at
laser and they're like, oh mygosh, that's going to take my
business, that's going to takemy clientele.
And we did a little bit earlier.
Yeah, we talked about thesymbiotic relationship between
those two and it's like you dohave people who are excluded
(37:41):
from being able to get thoseservices, and so we talked about
pregnancy earlier a little bit.
Pregnancy is an exclusion fromgetting laser, but what are
those laser clients doing duringtheir pregnancy?
Um, they would like to behairless as well.
So we should start creatingrelationships with these places
(38:02):
that maybe, maybe, areintimidating to us, um, and
creating a relationship withother providers in our
communities to also create anetworking system, because it's
like, maybe that client is atthe end of their package and
they they aren't going to bebuying another package, but they
have 80 reduction, what aboutthe other 20?
(38:24):
And if that laser facility hasa good relationship with you and
your business, they're going to.
Oh, I see you're at the end ofyour package.
I know you don't anticipatebuying another one.
Here's so-and-so, here's what Iwould suggest, because it's
more sensitive and gentle onyour skin.
It's more friendly to thevellus hairs, the fine blonde
(38:47):
hairs, and those are usuallywhat are left.
So you talk about that as well.
The laser is going to get themore coarse hair, but if it's
too coarse it won't get them.
So you're kind of in a littlebit of a range, and I think
that's where the education partis really important too, because
you want to know what thatrange is.
Um, we talk about pigmentation.
Some lasers are not, um set upto treat clients with
(39:12):
pigmentation or a higher melaninin their skin.
So we want to make sure we canhonor those clients as well,
because sometimes they'll go inthinking they're, oh, I'm going
to get laser, and then theirlaser technician says you're not
a good candidate.
And so, having a relationshipagain with these, they'll say
you're not a good candidate forlaser.
(39:33):
But hey, go see Georgia atSugar Sweets.
She specializes in all hairtextures and skin types.
So we all of a sudden can havea community with these instead
of being scared.
Once you can start to haverelationships, you're going to
get referrals.
Or maybe somebody starts theirlaser sessions and goes this
(39:56):
isn't for me which happens to.
It's a little spicy, a littlemore spicy than sugaring, I
would say.
But you talk about again hairtextures, types.
We want to have relationshipswith these MediSpa services and
have education, knowing when youcan sugar after, because some
(40:18):
of these are going to bequestions you have to ask a
provider If you're not sure.
If you don't provide laser, ifyou haven't gone through the
training, how do you know whenthey're safe to start sugaring
again post laser treatment?
And being able to have somebodyto kind of ask some of those
questions to um on an openplatform is a great idea and um
(40:39):
again builds a good relationshipsaying hey, you might not know
me, I'm so, and so I just wantto welcome you first.
Welcome welcome to our town,and I also want to just
elaborate and ask some questions.
I have some questions.
If clients are coming andseeing you and seeing me, how do
we work together?
How do we make sure it's safefor the client?
(41:01):
So I think those are important.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
I think I'm going to
have you as a co-host on the
podcast now, because you know Idon't need to do my half.
You're amazing.
So, yeah, I and I'm glad tohear that you haven't that you
took the right perspectiveinstead of saying, oh man,
they're going to take mybusiness and being negative,
right, you're like, okay, howcan I work with this?
And so the second half of thispodcast is going to be
(41:26):
supporting just that.
So, thank you, george, forbeing on the podcast.
Thank you, yes, and cheers toyour sweet success.
And, uh, we will see you in thenext class and everyone in the
audience.
Stay tuned, because we're goingto talk lasers.
See you guys, all right.
So was I right, or was I rightabout Georgia?
(41:46):
She is awesome and I lovespending time with her.
I know you will too, for thoseof you that are blessed enough
to be educated by her.
You just never quite know whatshe's going to pull out at those
classes and teach you with.
She loves props and bringingmusic and fun to the class, and
so I hope that you are blessedto have her as an educator
(42:07):
someday.
And, as you know, you can seethe show notes and see when her
next classes are.
As we discussed, we wanted totalk a little bit about lasers,
and so I've dedicated the secondhalf of this show to really
kind of touching on the factthat lasers are having a moment.
But sugaring is a movement andI really really feel strongly
(42:31):
about this, and not just to tellyou all the ways that sugar is
better than laser, but really towalk you through how you
navigate if someone comes totown and has lasers and your
clients have questions.
Okay, because this conversationis lighting up my DMS.
It's in SD chats.
Um, clients are talking aboutit everywhere and really, the
(42:53):
rise of laser hair removal, ofhome hair removal units, um, as
is here.
And what does that mean foryour sugar business?
So I'm sure you've probablyheard it already.
You know, oh, there's a new medspa down the street or they're
doing full body laser for $99.
That's it.
Or should I try laser instead ofsugar?
I'm sure you get all thosequestions right and, let's be
(43:17):
real, it can feel veryintimidating, especially when
those flashy ads start poppingup on your client's feeds and
you're sitting there wonderinghow do I compete with that?
Because back in the day we usedto say, oh, it's so expensive
or oh, it's so painful, and thetechnology has really changed.
And how do we address that assavvy professionals?
(43:37):
Okay, so, if there's anythingthat I want you to know is this
you don't compete, you pivot,you educate and you lead.
That is how you will build asolid foundation for your
business.
That is how you will stayinspired, because laser might be
trending, but sugaring is amovement.
(43:58):
We've been proving this for thelast as long as I've been doing
this 16 years.
We've been proving this for along time, and now let's talk
about the rise of laser and whyit's not the end of the world.
Let's talk about how toconfidently talk about the
differences with your clientsand why you don't need to slash
(44:19):
your prices or shrink your power.
Right and a twist you might nothave expected, but maybe it's
time to partner with a laserclinic.
That might be one of thesmartest moves that you ever
make.
So I just want to touch onthese topics so that you can
feel strong in your business andyou can be educated, so you can
educate your clients.
(44:39):
So let's get into it.
All right, the first topic isabout laser having a movement,
but I don't want you to panic,okay.
So laser is booming.
You see on TikTok, the handheldunits where people are using
those on themselves, wearingglasses, zapping themselves.
(45:00):
You can go to a med spa, youcan go to a laser franchise, and
it's gotten cheaper.
The technology is cheaper.
Franchises are really kind ofpopping up everywhere.
Georgia talked about that withme earlier and the clients are
wanting this promise ofpermanent hair removal and to
never shave again.
The ads are all over their feed.
(45:21):
But let's talk about whatpeople don't know and how you
can kind of answer this foryourself and for them.
So, as we know, laser worksbest on light skin and dark hair
.
It doesn't remove all thevellus hair or very light, fine
hair.
It often requires shaving inbetween and, as we know,
(45:44):
hormones can make that hair growback even after multiple
sessions of hair removal.
And on deeper skin tones,sometimes it can cause
pigmentation issues or othersensitivity issues for those
folks.
And so while laser might looklike a quick fix, it's
definitely not for everyone.
Okay, so that's where you comein.
(46:06):
Right, you are offering morethan hair removal.
At least, if you're one of mystudents, you are because I
require that you offer a skinfirst, holistic and, of course,
natural experience that yourclients can trust.
And if you've ever been a partof my coaching, my one-on-one
coaching, my group coaching youknow that I am about your
(46:28):
branding, your skills and yourrelationships.
Can you be trusted as thetown's go-to person for
aesthetics?
Can you be trusted as thatperson?
And so if you are offering awhole experience, if your room
is clean, if your skills are onpoint, if your education and
your imparting of education andwisdom is on point, your clients
(46:52):
trust you.
They know to go to you.
Now, in some cases, it mightmake sense for someone to try
lasering.
If they have dark hair, alittle bit lighter skin tone,
and you just cannot get themsmooth, it might be that laser
is actually good for them, right, that might be an option.
But you have to understand whatlasers are capable of and what
they're not capable of so thatyour clients can trust your
(47:14):
recommendation.
The key here is your client'strust, okay.
So when a client comes to youand says I'm thinking of trying
laser, what do you think?
Don't shut down, don't panic.
I want you to educate them,okay.
So here's something that youcan say Lasers can be a great
option for some people,especially if they have certain
(47:37):
hair skin combinations, but it'snot for everyone and it's not
always permanent.
Okay, I'll just put this in theshow notes because this might
be something that you have torewind and listen to over and
over again.
Right, laser can be a goodoption for some people.
Positive, it's not bashinganything and it's you commanding
.
Let me share with you why.
Right Now, sugaring works onall skin tones in comparison, on
(48:02):
all hair types, even lightvellus hair and the fine stuff
if they don't know what vellushair is, the fine stuff that
lasers can't touch.
Okay, it also helps withingrowns and texture and
pigmentation, because itexfoliates every time.
Boom, you've just positionedyourself as a trusted expert
without ever bashing the otherside.
(48:23):
Okay, because that's the goal isto empower your client to make
informed choices.
You're not here to win acompetition.
You're here to guide yourclients Again, some of them.
It might be something theyshould try.
Now, remember they're not goingto get every body part lasered.
Their bikini might be reallyfrustrating for you and for them
.
You just might not be able toget them clear.
(48:44):
Laser might be a great choicefor them, but you can still do
their eyebrows, their lip, theirchin, their nose hairs, their
ear hairs, um, their underarmsIf they're not ready for that,
their legs, I mean any otherbody part you can do but you are
educating them, you areempowering them.
You're not in competition,which is going to be the key to
(49:05):
your success.
Okay, let's also talk about justthe experience that your
clients are going to have inaddition to trusting you, right?
Okay?
So laser franchises, theirbusinesses, their volume-based,
their efficiency-based, and theyhave high turnover, but you,
you're a boutique experience.
We want to be efficient, wewant to move clients through the
(49:29):
experience right, but we are aboutique experience.
And again, if you've evertrained with me, you know that
this is really important.
What it smells like, what itfeels like it's not stark and
white and sterile in your spaceit sounds good, it feels good.
They love and trust you.
Your client gets personalizedattention.
They get consistent, trustedhands.
(49:50):
They get custom care based ontheir skin, and it's a
relationship, not a transaction.
Okay, lasers can't replicatethat vibe.
No, you might have very nicelaser technicians nothing
against laser technicians butwe're not in competition with a
franchise.
You deliver something theycan't, okay and own that.
(50:12):
I want you to post about that.
I want you to speak that truthout loud, because your clients
are craving that level ofconnection.
They're not coming in to getzapped and leave, and that might
be okay for them too get zappedand leave and that might be
okay for them too.
But if you really have anexperience, a delightful place
(50:36):
for people to escape, that is anadded plus.
Okay, it is an added plus foryour customers.
You're also giving them facials, you're also giving them
recommendations, you're alsogiving them a hug.
It smells amazing, it soundsamazing, it is an experience in
your space, and if you're notproviding an experience, it is
time for you to step up.
Okay, now I want to turn this alittle bit for you and reframe
this, because if you are worriedabout the laser clinic in your
(50:58):
area, if you are worried aboutthe quote, competition, what if
that laser clinic or that medspa isn't your competition?
What if it's your collaboration?
This is an opportunity.
I believe all businesses, alllocal businesses, have the
obligation to figure out a wayto work together.
I love working with spray tanartists.
(51:18):
I love working withhairstylists.
I love working with businessesthat you might not even think
about Bathing suit stores,boutiques, like I said, touristy
type things, working withconcierge at hotels right, these
are collaborations that canbuild your business.
But what if you were able topartner with that laser facility
(51:40):
for all of those folks thatcan't laser?
You are now the place that thatlaser company feels comfortable
referring, and you shouldexperience that laser company's
treatments so that you canpossibly refer people who, just
you, just can't get clear andthey just can't stop tweezing or
they just can't stop shaving.
Okay.
(52:00):
So I want you to think aboutalso offering post-laser care.
For clients with irritation,pigmentation, ingrowns, you can
offer a deluxe vagatial, you canoffer facials for them.
You can offer many, manydifferent things that a kind of
churn and burn clinic wouldn'tbe able to do.
Right, you can accept referralsfor hormonal hair, for facial
(52:25):
hair or laser tones that skinthe laser just can't treat.
So those skin tones my wordsare coming out backwards the
skin tones that laser hair can'ttreat.
If a laser hair technician sayswow, you know what?
Your hair is just too fine, itis just too light, we're
actually not able to do it, Iwant the next recommendation to
(52:47):
be you.
The next recommendation shouldbe you and vice versa, if you're
like I, your hair is so darkand so thick and it is just not
making you happy that you're notsmooth the entire three weeks
and your their, your client, ispicking or plucking or whatever
they're doing and you just can'tget them to stop doing that.
Maybe the referral needs to beto them.
(53:07):
Now you have a collaboration.
Okay, co-host education nightsoffer contrast and clarity for
your clients, deciding betweentwo.
Okay, if you co-host anexperience and those blondies
that can't get lasered or havenot had success lasering can
learn about sugaring and thesugar people can learn about
(53:27):
lasering.
What a nice collaboration.
It's all the same people inyour town.
Why, why work against eachother?
Right?
So this is the power ofconnection over competition, and
that is going to be the thingthat distinguishes you in your
town, the thing that is reallythe, the glue that builds your
(53:48):
business, instead of making youthat island over there that
people don't really know about.
Okay, if the laser technician,if the med spa, is referring
people to you, there's plenty ofother things you can be working
on on those people.
Okay, you're not losing clients, you're expanding your reach,
you're building bridges and,honestly, you're showing up as
(54:11):
the professional you are.
And if you do not know how todo that, then we need to keep
talking about that.
You need to contact me and Iwill work through that with you.
That's my job, okay.
So I want you to ask yourselfwho in my community can I reach
out to?
I want you to reach out, I wantyou to start a conversation.
I want you to try their lasersand see what it feels like for
(54:32):
yourself before you go bashingit.
But be the one that goes tothat laser place first.
If there's one in your town, goto it, experience it.
You cannot talk about any otherbusiness unless you absolutely
know about it, so make sure thatyou get yourself really, really
educated on what it is you'retalking about.
If you are worried about thosehandheld lasers, you know,
(54:55):
honestly, people get stark gungho about it.
The little handheld units.
They're not reliable.
There's so many reasons whythose aren't great for your skin
right, and clients typicallycome out the gate like a New
Year's resolution and think thatthey're going to be consistent
and they're really not.
Okay.
So you're not losing business.
(55:15):
You just have to work on howyou communicate and how you
collaborate with otherbusinesses in town.
Okay.
So I want you to have a bit ofan action plan and let's break
that down a little bit bit whatthat might look like.
Ok, so you're going to starttalking in your marketing about
doing before and afters rightand start talking about glow ups
and making skin benefits theheadline.
(55:38):
So if you're someone who doessugaring and facials, what are
the benefits, what is the glowup that your client is going to
experience and what are thetools you use?
Well, the tools you use arethis skincare line combined with
sugar this you know treatmentseries combined with sugar.
It's about skincare and thehealth of the skin, and sugar is
(56:00):
the tool that you're using.
Okay, next thing I want you tothink about is creating
experiences, not just services.
So think about smooth skinrituals, seasonal sugar and skin
bundles.
Make the benefits a headlineand the calming service that you
(56:20):
do a headline.
People want that feeling.
They want to understand whatthey're getting is smooth,
glowed up skin.
They want to understand whattheir results are going to be
and the problem that you solve.
Sugaring just happens to be thetool that you're using.
Okay, if you use that first ofthe glow they're going to get,
then how you get there is up toyou, the professional, and
(56:42):
that's the.
That's the whole point of this.
Right, you are the professional, so make sure they understand
that.
And again, one of the tools isthe skincare line, the sugar
line, and you know thisessential oil line.
All right, that is how you aregoing to get them to that skin
right.
It's not a competition and Iwant you to stay visible.
So don't disappear when laserads show up, you know.
(57:03):
Show up stronger with education, with truth and that sweet
sugar energy that you have right.
Show them the way instead ofcowering in fear to anyone.
That's a quote competition inyour town?
All right.
And here's the other thing bethe comeback queen, you know.
Talk about this.
Hey, did lasers not work foryou?
(57:23):
Come on back to sugar.
Their skin didn't love it.
You're here with the solutions.
No judgment, Amazingopportunity for you to say.
Hey you know, other hairremoval didn't work for you.
Come on back and try sugar, allright, because these people are
going to try it.
We don't want to fight them onthat.
We want to educate them on whywe are doing a beautiful job
(57:44):
with their skin and it's okay ifthey come back after they try
it and it's okay for them to tryit.
Don't have a judgment thing orelse your clients will feel like
they can't come back to you.
Okay, so, so, so.
So many beautiful things aboutour industry.
My most favorite is really justhow we can work with each other
(58:05):
, not against each other, okay,and sugaring is a movement and
you are at the heart of it.
Okay, laser might be having amoment, but sugaring is a
movement.
You're seeing that now, in thevery beginning, when there was
no one at trade shows talkingabout sugaring and I'd stand on
stage and be like, yes, youshould sugar, it's so great and
(58:27):
there was no booths.
Now there's one to four boothsat every trade show that you can
experience.
It's a movement.
You see it on TikTok, you seeit on Instagram.
You're hearing about it.
Right, you are a part of thatmovement that is rooted in clean
beauty, deep care and realresults.
Okay, and a movement thatprioritizes skin.
(58:49):
It celebrates our bodies andinvites everyone in.
Your service isn't just hairremoval.
Your identity as an estheticianisn't just hair removal.
It's connection and confidenceand care, and confidence and
(59:10):
care.
So, if you have tools in yourtool belt and you keep your
standards high and you work withother local companies and never
forget, you're the reason thisindustry feels human.
That's what we need.
We need for you to reach outand collaborate with other
beauty professionals in yourindustry.
Reach out to the med spas,reach out to the holistic
wellness folks and collaborate,not compete.
(59:33):
So do not fear lasers, my sweetfriends.
Lasers can they have abeautiful place with for some
folks, and they have a placethat doesn't work for some folks
, and that's okay.
There's plenty of bodies to goaround, okay?
So if this episode lifted youup and gave you just a little
bit of extra insight, I wouldlove it If you would share it
(59:55):
with another sugar pro oresthetician um, that needs a
reminder has been kind ofwondering.
And if you could do all thethings like tag us on Instagram
and leave a review, that wouldbe amazing and help us to keep
getting the word out about sugar, and the goal is to grow this
sweet little movement together.
I'm proud of you, I see you andI hope that you have a
(01:00:16):
beautifully sweet week filledwith sweet success, and I will
see you next time on the sugarshow.