Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Sally.
Cynthia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey in the beauty industry began in 2001 after graduating from the well-known makeup academy Makeup Designory in Los Angeles. Upon graduating, I started a bridal beauty business in my early 20’s. The business took off like I never imagined. Each year I expanded, adding more team members while holding a corporate job unrelated to the beauty industry. In 2011, I decided to pursue my interest in skincare and attended The University of Esthetics. In 2012, not only did I become a licensed esthetician, I also lost both of my parents, I knew life was too short and I needed to pursue my passion full time. 5 years after leaving the corporate world, we’ve had our largest expansion yet into a 1,500 sq. ft. store front in downtown Lisle. We are a full service salon and spa providing haircuts, color, facials, massage, manicures and pedicures.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Losing my parents was definitely a wakeup call. I lost them both in the same year when I was 31. That year I decided I had to pursue my dreams. It was scary leaving a stable position and steady paycheck but it was the best decision I ever made. It’s not about money, it’s about being happy and doing what you love. Success follows. I owe a lot of my success to my parents, I know they are helping me along my way in this journey. I have also been blessed with some amazing women along the way. They have really shown me the type of business woman I want to be. Unfortunately, I have also met women in this industry I don’t want to be. Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow from my mistakes and others.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Blend – what should we know?
Blend is a boutique skincare, hair, massage, nail and pedicure studio located in downtown Lisle. At Blend, we strive to make you feel (and look) like the best version of yourself. We utilize high performance ingredients, tools and methods to better customize our services to your specific needs. We believe in personalizing every service for each individual client.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
There have been times when it would have been easy to throw in the towel and give up. It’s those moments when I really had to dig deep and kept going no matter how exhausted I felt. The beauty industry has evolved so much in the 15+ years I have been in it. It’s about evolving with the changes all while staying focused on your success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1111 Burlington Ave
Ste 103
Lisle, IL 60532 - Website: www.blendbeautystudio.com
- Email: info@blendbeautystudio.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/blendbeautystudio
Image Credit:
Kara Schultz – Storyteller
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