Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Lewis.
Hi Mariah, please kick things off for us with an introduction of yourself and your story.
My name is Mariah, and I am the proud owner of Confidence by Mariah Ashlen! It has been a long time coming since I decided to launch a small business. It dates back to 2017 when I received my B.B.A in Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio (GO RUNNERS), and I found my first “big girl” job as a Project Manager Assistant for a construction company. During this time I was a recent graduate, newlywed, and graduate student pursuing an M.B.A. You may be wondering how I went from the Construction industry to the beauty industry, and the only answer I have is that while I enjoyed working in Project Management, I was not fulfilled in the slightest bit.
As I found myself going through the motions of a routine that lacked purpose, I realized I needed to make a change. All my life I had the desire to pursue a career in the beauty industry, and I believe this was stemmed from my passion to help build the confidence of others. However, I was always told a career in the beauty industry would not be financially sustainable. Fast forward to 2020, the demand for beauty services was at an all-time high and it gave me the boost I needed to start my business.
Out of all the beauty services I could offer, I found that I could help men and women feel confident in their skin through the sunless industry by providing them with a beautiful golden glow. Unlike other beauty services that focus on one area of the face or body, a spray tan is a full-body service that can have the biggest impact on an individual. It was evident I needed to become an expert in the industry, so I became a Master Certified Spray Tan Technician and have continued to expand my knowledge as the industry grows.
Confidence by Mariah Ashlen strives to build the confidence of clientele and understands the need for beauty services. My business now offers teeth whitening and will expand its service menu in 2023 once my Esthetician License is obtained. So many great things are coming, and I cannot wait to help new clients feel their absolute best!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While there are many positive aspects to being a small business owner, I have experienced hardship in keeping my business operating effectively. A few challenges I faced were building a clientele while working a full-time job, finding creative ways to differentiate myself from other spray tan technicians, and relocating my business. When I first launched my business in Maryland in 2021, I was only able to run my business part-time for the first year, making it difficult to market my services and maintain a consistent client schedule. Our time came to move back home to Texas when my husband transferred out of the military in 2022, which I saw as an opportunity to upgrade my booking system and try new marketing tactics. As a small business owner, relocating from another state presented many unforeseen obstacles. Being new to San Antonio, I knew I had to rely on my Google business profile and Ads to reach an audience outside my network in order to rebuild a clientele. Unfortunately, updating my location from Maryland to Texas on Google caused an error in Google’s verification process, which took two months to resolve. During this time, potential clients were still looking for my business, which was detrimental to building a clientele in a city with multiple spray tan artists.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Confidence by Mariah Ashlen?
I specialize in luxury airbrush spray tanning and professional LED teeth whitening. Although I provide teeth whitening services, I am mainly known for airbrush spray tanning due to my NO ORANGE guarantee and the golden brown developments my clients receive. I offer a range of spray tans, including depths from light to extra dark, the addition of a moisture seal spray to not only hydrate the skin but to prolong the life of the tan, tan line corrections, and a contour tan to emphasize curves and body definition.
Along with great customer service, my studio is a one-of-a-kind structure that has been remodeled to fit my brand and enhance the clientele’s spray tanning and teeth whitening experience. I pride myself in using vegan and non-toxic products; my spray tan solutions and teeth whitening gel are vegan. Aside from the products, clients can expect to receive a luxury and professional experience from booking their appointment to when they leave my studio and wait on their spray tan/teeth whitening results for the next 24 hours. My clients will always receive communication regarding preparation instructions, what to expect the day of, and what to do following their appointment for optimal results.
My top priority as a beauty professional is to build the confidence of others. My brand is body positive, all-inclusive, and focuses on empowerment to help clients feel confident in their skin. My goal is to, of course, alter the appearance of clients through sunless tanning and teeth whitening; however, I feel most proud when a client who struggles with insecurities says they felt incredibly comfortable during their service and mentions how fitting my business name is due to the confidence they have after their time in my studio. I would love to spread awareness about how important it is to protect your skin from the sun. Skin cancer is not selective, and anyone can be a victim, even those who do not experience sunburn from sun exposure. The only safe tan you can get is a spray tan (aka a SUNLESS tan). A spray tan is for all skin tones. I have experience spray tanning men and women of all skin depths ranging from skin type 1 to skin type 6 on the Fitzpatrick scale. If you wish to whiten your teeth, client results, on average, range from 2-4 shades brighter within their first session. The whitening gel I use is vegan, safe on the tooth enamel, and formulated with those who have sensitive teeth and gums in mind.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
Entrepreneurship requires a strong and healthy mentality. Always remember why you started. That said, your why has to be deeper than money and time freedom. Your purpose for starting your business will motivate you on the days you feel like giving up or days when business could be faster. Being a small business owner has pros and cons, and it is easy to become hard on ourselves when results do not manifest.
You will find that most of your support comes from strangers rather than friends and family, which is normal, so do not take it personally. Know your worth, stand behind what you bring to the table, and be confident! How you feel about your business and how you represent it is how others will perceive it. If you view it as a hobby and do not treat it as your profession, then potential clients will take their business elsewhere. Aside from your “why” and confidence as a business owner, the best advice I can give is to create a brand that is true to who you are and you will attract your ideal client. Keep your brand consistent and be a reflection of it every single day.
Pricing:
- Spray Tan: $40-$60 (price is dependent on which tan is booked)
- Teeth Whitening: $110
Contact Info:
- Website: www.confidencebyma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidencebymariahashlen/
Image Credits
Robert Vargas Jr., Nathaniel Ortega-Torres, Shelby Seabranch
