Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarsha Johns.
Hi Tarsha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland as an only child. My parents both worked for Noxell Corp, the founding company of Covergirl Cosmetics which later became Proctor and Gamble. This started my love for nails, especially polishes while also destined me in the nail industry. I had so many polishes from reds, pinks, oranges, etc. My mother always had striking, long, and healthy nails and they always looked beautiful. She helped start my love for nails early on. Like my mom, I had nice nails growing up and I would get them done professionally for special occasions and this peaked my interest in nailcare, that I can do this too. So I attended “Fame school of Nail design,” after graduating from high school. Fame exposed me to learning the nail industry from the inside out and that owning my own nail salon was attainable.
Over the years, I worked at a few nails salons/spas part-time. Thats mainly because being an African American woman in the nail industry is a rarity. Doing nails was always my side business and I always wanted to have my own nail salon but I was working full time in health care and I didn’t see how I could do it. How could I afford it? My full-time job wasn’t my passion, doing nails and feet was. My goal was to work full time in my own nail suite.
With the support from my husband Douglas, (My biggest cheerleader)I stepped out on faith and opened my own nail suite “NailCandy1122” in December 2018. It was the most amazing moment in my life.
I still continued to work full-time while operating my business part-time. This made the process longer but my full-time job was an investor in my business.
Then in 2020 COVID hit, and I lost my full-time job.
I was nervous and scared but I could now operate my nail suite full time. It was a blessing for me because it forced me to give my business, my all. From my thoughts, energy, ideas, that I needed to grind for myself. Today, my business has soared in ways I never saw possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been an okay road, with a few bumps and bruises along the way. The common struggles I encountered early on my first year was, trying to gain new clients to build the business while still working a full-time job. It was a long days from 7am- 9:30pm, which made it hard to have a work-life balance (with my family).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a licensed manicurist with 26 years of experience in the nail industry. I passionately love the nail business, and I love doing pedicures, it’s the ultimate pampering session for feet and it’s a great nail service.
Pedicures are my specialty, “Feet are eyes to the soul” and they play an intricate part in our lives. I am passionate about doing pedicures and I feel that when I give a pedicure, I am putting my heart and soul into giving you great knowledge and experience while making you look and feel fantastic.
In 1999, I started doing my Pedicure parties. It was a concept I came up with because of my love of doing pedicures and making women’s feet feel and look good. I started with 6 clients in my parents’ basement, with food, and each client gets a footie bag (goodie bag with footcare products) to take home with them. I have been doing this for 20 years now and will continue to.
Feet get a bad rap, that they are dirty, and disgusting. Well, I see the beauty in them and how a polished foot can make a shoe fabulous.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Being people-oriented is the most important to my success in the nail industry mainly because I am able to focus on building lasting relationships with my clients while being knowledgeable on products/services and lastly giving great customer service.
Each client is different and the best way to keep clients loyal is to build a relationship that goes beyond the assignable relationship you have with them. They are not just a paying customer, but an appreciated client and a “friend”.
My love and passion for nails will show in every service, I perform and clients will see it.
It’s my mission to make sure that each client has the ultimate nail experience.
Contact Info:
- Email: nailcandy1122tj@gmail.com
- Website: Www.nailcandy1122.com
- Instagram: @Nailcandy1122
- Facebook: Nailcandy1122
- Other: https://nailcandy1122.setmore.com/
Image Credits:
LeneeFphotography
Lisa fleet photography
RoyCoxphotograpy
