Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Shelton.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While Working hospice as a hospice aide for five years, and also doing hair as a side hustle I decided to go to school to become a Cosmetologist. February of 2016, I began my hair school journey attending night classes at CCI in Charleston SC. Which required me to spend a lot of time away from my children. Going to school for 18 months was a lot of sacrificing because I still worked hospice during the day. My children weren’t able to participate in many activities because of my school and work schedule. I absolutely hated my hair school journey until I was at the finish line, I struggled with holding myself accountable to show up every day, not having time for my children was so overwhelming. While attending school I fell in love with eyelashes so I started selling falsies (strip lashes) then I started seeing lash extensions were the new thing, so I traveled to Fort Lauderdale in March 2018 and took my first training on lash extension and became a certified lash tech. After taking the training class I wasn’t motivated so I through it aside and continued with hair and school. While having so much on my plate I started my home buying process and let me tell you it seemed like everything came spiraling down on me, almost at the finish line in school, in April of 2018 I loss my grandmother ugh major setback for me I became very depressed and wanted to give up on everything I was working so hard for. The day after my grandmother funeral I was summoned to family court smh. Now I need a lawyer to represent me in family court for a custody Hearing in June, one of my patients at a nursing home gets a skin tear now I’m being investigated and can possibly lose my job at this point I’m completely ready to throw in the towel. Sitting in school my phone rings and I walk outside and answer to hear Ms. Shelton I’m calling to inform you that your clear to CLOSE!!! What a relief I was screaming and crying, went to court a few days later and everything worked in my favor. July 16, 2018, I purchased a home for me and my children in Columbia SC, while still working and attending school in Charleston SC. I put in a transfer with my job they approved it and then they took it back so now I driving to Charleston every day for work and school getting home every night at 11 pm to do it again the next day. Thank God my little sister lived be me so my children would go to her house after school. I’m almost at the finish line with school so I have to make a decision and at this point, I decide to put in my resignation letter. I was so over the job not helping me I didn’t give them a two weeks notice I gave them a as of Friday notice and it was Wednesday but I was over it. September, I resigned my position with my job I graduated from cosmetology school October of 2018!!! In December I was referred to a hospice company in Columbia SC in which they hired me on the spot still wanting to do my own thing I knew I needed a steady income so I accepted the job an put my lash business second. I worked hospice five days a week but I needed to build a portfolio so I started working at a lash spa a few hours a week horrible experience but I was there to build a profile as a lash artist. January 2019, I didn’t know how I was going to get the word out about me starting my own business but I had a plan GROUPON I created an ad on Groupon not understanding how Groupon worked I just knew I needed exposure. I launched my Groupon on February 12th and it took off in 30 days I sold over 100 vouchers and had clients coming through the door at a salon I was renting a small space from. In the two weeks of being at the salon, I knew I needed a change of atmosphere for my clients, I found a suite near my home and relocated after two weeks of being in business. I did lashes after work every day part-time. Right before the pandemic, I decided I’m going to work for myself moving forward so again I put in my resignation letter, unfortunately, the HR lady would not except my resignation she agreed that I could work weekends only and be off Monday through Friday I took the offer so it’s back to the drawing board for me. A few weeks after submitting my resignation and it being turned down the world shut down and I had to rely on hospice as a full-time income, I had to close my lash suite and rely on my hospice income. When the world shut down, I knew God was covering me because I almost quit the job and my business shut down. During the shutdown, I decided to educate myself on more services to offer my clients when we come out of the shutdown. One morning on my way to see a patient I come across a building with a big sign in the window that said for rent and I’m thinking to myself I’m gonna call them when I come back from seeing the patient. I go back and get the number off the building. I called the number the landlord agrees to meet with me, when he gave me the price for the building it was out of my budget but I still wanted to see the location. He had another location in the rear of the building and asked if I wanted to see it, I agreed to see it but I wasn’t interested because I wanted the space in the front. We get to the back and he unlocks the door and immediately I said this is my spot I’ll take it I didn’t know the price I just said I’ll take it. The landlord tells me the price and it’s only $100 more than what I’m already paying for a monthly booth rent I agree to it I’ll lock it in I pay all the deposits and the fees that need to be paid. They lift the shut down and now I’m able to get back to work but now my hands are tied because I have my own location and I’m still in a lease with a salon suite. I give myself a deadline to have my build-out done in my new location and to have somebody sublease my salon suite the deadline is July 2020. I was able to meet my deadline I had somebody in my salon suite paying weekly and I moved in my new location! I decide to continue working hospice on weekends and run my salon Monday through Friday not knowing what would happen if they’re would be another shutdown, I was a little scared to walk away from the hospice job now I was fearful of the negative what IF instead of the positive what If happens. This time I decided to move according to God’s will, I promise myself that when God made my path clear I would move on his word and I did on October 18, 2020, I decided to submit a resignation letter again and this time it was approved I became a full-time entrepreneur working for myself in a pandemic on October 18, 2020. Today I am the proud owner of the Lash Cafe located in Lexington South Carolina single mother of two daughters with a lot riding on me but I believe in me and God’s plans for me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing about entrepreneurship is a smooth road discipline is a big factor in entrepreneurship. I’ve had ugly experiences with my landlord I’ve had ugly experiences with contractors I’ve spent ridiculous money but all that comes with being the owner
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do lash extensions for a living… I specialized in healthy lashes lash education health and beauty awareness. My main goal is to encourage women and to make them feel good about themselves enhancing the beauty with brows and lashes. I am known for hybrid set of lashes. I’m mostly proud of myself for never giving up being open to constructive criticism allowing myself to learn new ways being the student and not always feeling like I had to be a teacher and myself discipline and accountability. What sets me apart from others I’m not just a lash lady I’m like a friend I’m a cousin I’m that person that just listens and doesn’t always have to give a response some people just need someone to listen and I’m that friend so my clients aren’t just clients they are my family they’re my friends and I create those bonds in relationships with my clients so even when they’re not getting lashes or service from me they still keep in touch that’s the type of relationships that I have with my clients so I’m not just the lash lady I’m there sis.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My children are my biggest supporters but all my support and strength and everything else in me comes from God. My mom and my sister are very big supporters along with my best friend Dee, she keeps me together. I’m just becoming a part of more women groups mentor programs different support groups so the support is there the encouragement the motivation it’s there in time I’ll see what comes from the groups that I have become a part of
Contact Info:
- Email: Monalisa@thelashcafe.net
- Website: www.thelashcaffe.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/the_lash_cafe_llc
- Facebook: The lash cafe
