Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Cassady Gales.
Hi Marie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a photographer, photo booth owner, mobile notary / certified notary signing agent, licensed esthetician and spa owner, event collective owner and event center owner. I have been a photographer for 14 years; I decided to go to Esthetician school in order to learn more about makeup to add it to my photography business. I currently focus my photography business on professional business headshots, military retirements and promotions as well as small events.
As an esthetician, I initially tried working for someone else but I had prepared myself to open a place of my own while in school. I worked at a local spa for a few weeks, then I found a room in the back of Anointed Cuts barbershop and rented there for a few months. I then partnered with a barber from the shop to open a unisex salon in Universal City. Finding it difficult to build business as a spa, I decided to open my first spa Flawless Spa Retreat of Distinction in June 2019 the spa was a big hit. In 2020, I decided to sell the salon and open a spa on Northeast side of town in Schertz. The Schertz community is a great community; we have built a solid business there and it continues to grow.
My spas offers skincare, waxing, massage, nail services, body slimming and other great services. I also have a lash line, skincare line and other body and skincare products.
I have several businesses listed in order I opened them:
Marie’s Images of Distinction 2007
M & M Photo Booths 2014
Tarheel Notary & Professional Services 2016
Flawless Spa Retreat of Distinction – Blanco 2018 in Live Oak moved in 2019
Flawless Spa Retreat of Distinction – Schertz 2020
The Ebony Event Collective 2020
Fierce Event Space 2020
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with any business, it has been a rough road initially. Finding the right staff, issues with business partners, lack of clients in the spas, difficulty in working in the wrong environments. As I faced all of this, I kept focus and planned for changes necessary and worked my plan to make sure my businesses were stable and continuously growing. I set goals and hold myself accountable for meeting my goals.
Difficulty building clientele was a struggle initially until I set the spa out as a stand alone not connected to the hair environment and while it started out slow, it has grown tremendously over the past year or so. I do attribute some of the growth to more people focusing on small black-owned businesses. I find this not only black clients but I have had other races say they found us in support of black-owned business on Facebook. Many of our new clients find us through social media groups such as Black Girl Magic San Antonio/ Austin, Black Queens SA, Support Black owned businesses San Antonio and the yard sale groups close to our spa locations. We are often tagged multiple times on posts by our clients or other entrepreneurs who know me and/or my business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Flawless Spa Retreat of Distinction?
My spa is a day spa offering skin care, waxing, massage, yoni steam, body contouring and slimming services, wood therapy, nail services and more. We stand out because we are a one-stop location for pampering needs. Our clients love to come for spa days.
As an esthetician, I hire new estheticians out of school and train them on all areas I have been trained to help them prepare for the business of treating skin. I love training others and sharing my knowledge.
I obtained special training from Michelle Obama’s esthetician (Joelle Lee) on how to handle all skin of color so my primary focus is corrective skincare. I help those with hyperpigmentation, acne and scaring issues. I am known for this focus as well as waxing.
We also offer couples evenings that include dinner, wine, a facial and massage for each. It is very popular and has been successful.
We also offer spa parties for ladies to get together for spa days. I use local caterers to provide brunch or lunch for the group of ladies.
We have also done father’s day and mother’s day specials.
We are a great group of professional licensed estheticians, manicurists and massage therapists who believe in making our clients feel special in every interaction.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is cooking and learning how to bake and sew with my grandmother.
Pricing:
- Waxing head to toe pricing ranges from $12 to $65
- Facial services for men and women $40 to $300
- Nail services range $25 to $70
- Massage services range $40 to $125
- Body slimming services $100 to $175 per session
Contact Info:
- Email: Flawlesssparetreat@gmail.com & Marie@Flawlesssparetreat.com
- Website: www.flawlesssparetreat.com
- Instagram: Flawlesssparetreat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flawlesssparetreatofdistinction/
Image Credits
MELISSA McDonald my headshots ASHLEY EVANS PORTRAITS
