Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Tucker.
Hi Regina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Regina Tucker and I live in Lanham, MD a small town in Prince Georges County. My path to business ownerships spans over 15 years and is nothing short of a testimony of how following one’s purpose, hard work, and commitment set the stage for success. My journey began during my summer breaks from school teaching.
During my downtime from classroom instruction, I would make handmade body scrubs and sell them at local markets across PG County and neighboring DC. It was at that time I realized I had stepped into my passion. From that point forward, I became engrossed in learning and leveraging my knowledge into a scalable business. I entered esthetics school in 2006, after graduating I entered into a mentorship program through the Women Business Owners of PG County. Shortly thereafter, I developed the business acumen to open my own business. I knew that options for men and women of color to take care of their skin were limited. To learn more, I spent time working in the industry learning the ends and outs. I paid careful attention to opportunities for growth, barriers customers experienced, and profitable solutions to those problems. CRU-MM opened its doors in 2016 and incorporated in 2018. The business has grown and matured by leaps and bounds. Our recipe for success is PASSION + EDUCATION+SKILL. In 2019 I decided to go back to school. I graduated this past May 2022 with my Master’s degree in Skin Biology and Dermatological Sciences from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. CRU-MM is the direct beneficiary of the wealth of knowledge I have gained.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has absolutely not always been a smooth road. Along the way, there have been numerous setbacks that could have easily gotten in the way of CRU-MM’s success. As a self-funded business CRU-MM’s growth has been slower due to the absence of many of the resources available to larger businesses. I have relied on my faith in God to guide my decision-making and do what is right for the business. Often times that meant holding off on big-ticket items, keeping our menu simple and even getting a part-time job to keep things afloat.
We’ve been impressed with CRU-MM Skin + Beauty, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Among consumers, skincare remains a daily priority. The skincare service market is 7B and the product market is 103 B and growing. In 2021, Black Americans spent 6.6 billion on beauty. A whopping 11.1 percent of the total US beauty market. Despite this significant spending black consumers are three times more likely to be dissatisfied than-non-Black consumers with their options for haircare, skincare, and makeup and are markedly more frustrated.
Moreover, Black consumers are 2.2 times as likely to conclude that products from Black brands will work for them and show an affinity and preference for Black beauty brands. Despite the category size, significant structural challenges exist. In addition to racial inequity, the market is overwhelmed with overly expensive or cheap treatments, few expert brands, and overwhelming choices in the product category. CRU-MM Skin + Beauty helps solve this problem by providing preventative and support care facials, expertise and clarity in a crowded industry, and accessibility beyond traditional spas and medical spas. We meet the emotional needs of our audience, many of whom feel held hostage to non-inclusive beauty standards that deem them unattractive and unfeminine (Banks, 2000).
Our clients are not yesterdays’ spa goer. They describe CRU-MM’s services as wellness, self-care, and a lifestyle choice. They read the ingredients. They are frustrated by the disparities in training and treatment by skin care professionals that lack knowledge on how to treat the skin of individuals with darker skin (Gallegos, 2020). They seek brands they connect with and are meaningful, they appreciate great design and are interested in forming lifestyle and lifetime habits. CRU-MM creates a positive impact on our client’s skin and their sense of self. We connect with who our guests are as people and provide a personalized experience for them.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Support CRU-MM Skin + Beauty by engaging in preventative care and visiting our facial studio. Shop our online store, and engage with us on our social media platforms. Estheticians, can connect socially via @beautifullyyoursmetro for faith, science, esthetics, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: crummskinandbeauty.com
- Instagram: crummskinandbeauty
Image Credits
Thomas Kirk Photos
