Local Business Spotlight | Stephanie Zeiler
NAME
Stephanie Zeiler
COMPANY
The Lash Lounge Brookfield - The Corners
POSITION
Multi-Unit Franchise Owner
WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?
Anyone who wants to streamline their daily beauty routine, have a look all their own, and feel confident that they are presenting the best version of themselves to the world.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK?
When I left NYC for Silicon Valley, I had a hard time finding a lash salon that was as good as the salon I left in NYC. After a year in Silicon Valley, I wasn't happy and decided to move back to Milwaukee for family reasons. My next thought was "Who is going to do my lashes?" Not "Where will I work?" or "Where will I live?". I had my priorities! ;) Yelp listed a few lash stylists with good ratings but most were sole proprietors so their hours and/or locations were not convenient for a typical corporate engineer like myself. It was then that I decided to bring a lash salon franchise to Milwaukee. But not just any lash salon franchise to Milwaukee. I'm bringing the best and oldest lash salon franchise, THE LASH LOUNGE. Our Founder and Chief Innovation Office, Anna Phillips, started doing lashes in 2004 and opened up the first dedicated lash salon in the United States in 2006. I am ECSTATIC about bringing this amazing service backed by 15 years of experience to Milwaukee.
WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE think THEY KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
Let's hone "people" down to most men. Most men think lashes are superfluous and many men have told me they "don't get it". I tell them that their opinion is ok as lash extensions are not for everyone. But invariably, they will come back to me at a later point to say how they've noticed lash extensions in ways they didn't expect. For example, my father told me recently he was watching a 1950s-era western / cowboy movie and he could see how the lead actress was wearing long lashes, but the leading man was not. He said he didn't realize lash extensions were being used "all the way back then." Just between us - lash extensions started even earlier around the turn of the 20th century. ;)
NAME ONE THING THAT YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
That starting a business, even a franchise, can be lonely as a lot of work is done by yourself in your home office. Yes, I have tremendous support from Anna and others at my franchisor but most days it is just me lining up business services like accounting and insurance, setting up and conducting interviews for salon staff, completing the necessary HR documents like the employee handbook, etc. To combat the loneliness, I attend different networking opportunities and have established a small group of accomplished women that get together for spin class and breakfast once or twice a month.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The honor to lead a great team that provides amazing services that help our clients look and feel their most confident.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
If you're starting your own business, you have to love what you do or it will become just another job. I love beauty/fashion and I'm industrial engineer who loves process. Franchising replicates successful processes. THE LASH LOUNGE is perfect for me!
WHAT IS THE ONE BOOK THAT YOU THINK I SHOULD READ RIGHT NOW?
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
CONTACT STEPHANIE HERE:
WEBSITE:
www.thelashlounge.com/wi-brookfield-corners/
PHONE:
414-436-2875
EMAIL:
NOTE:
I will be opening three salons. The Lash Lounge Brookfield - The Corners will start taking lash models next month and grand open in late October. I'm planning the second salon for Shorewood, opening in late 2019.
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