067: Adding High Profit Experiences to your Permanent Jewelry Biz with Glow Beauty Pricing Academy

Jen Thyrion (: 00:01

Hey there, welcome to Goldilinks, a podcast that welds together creativity, connection, and cash flow for permanent jewelers who are ready to do things differently. I'm Jen Therrien, mama, maker, and the spark behind Goldilinks. Around here, we don't gatekeep, whether it's handmade hacks, business breakthroughs, or the mindset shifts that fuel real growth. So if you're building a business that shines as bright as your stacks, you're in the right place. Let's link up and make some magic.

Hey there, did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to Goldilinksupplies.com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, bangles, and more, including our non-permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by our tribe of mama makers. What is a mama maker? Stay-at-home moms that create on their own time between raising their children, serving as a self-care creative outlet and supporting their families.

Your items come with signage on how these supplies are made, along with gemstone property info as each gemstone has a special meaning. If you want to level up your business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out at Goldilinksupplies.com. Now onto the show. Chrissy and Callie are back on the podcast. And if you knew them back when it was pierced by glow, you're going to love this update.

They're now Glow, Beauty, and Piercing Academy because they are so much more than the hand pressure piercing training that you might know them for. With the addition of lip gloss, foot soaks, hollow needle piercing, and most recently, spray tans, they've truly evolved into a full-scale beauty academy built around experiences. What makes this conversation extra special is looking back and laughing at how nervous I was to add piercing to my own business and how it ended up being such a blessing.

If you're even thinking about adding an experience to your space, this episode is a must listen. Tune in, get inspired and allow yourself to think outside the box. Enjoy. All right, ladies, I am so excited you're back. So we're back today with Chrissy and Callie from, formally, by Glow, but now Glow Beauty and Piercing Academy, because you have so many new things to share. So if someone hasn't listened to the previous episode, I encourage you to do so. But if they haven't, do you want to reintroduce yourselves, ladies, and let people know who you are?

Chrissy Cressler (: 02:17

Welcome everyone. So we're so super excited to be here with Jennifer today on her podcast and telling you all the wonderful things about glow beauty and piercing Academy. So if you don't know who I am, my name is Chrissy Kressler and I am one of the owners of glow beauty and piercing Academy. I am a mama of six children. That's right. You heard that right. We are beautiful his hers and ours. ⁓ I also am born and raised in a tiny little town and I'll just fast forward a little bit have had a

became a spray tan artist in: 2013

We put our heads together, we kind of met in a beauty forum, got to know a little bit about each other and realized that we could learn and grow from each other a lot. And we created a business, listen to this ladies and gentlemen, we created a business and didn't even meet each other. Yes, that's right, we did. It's so crazy and one year in, we were still building a business and we hadn't met. And so thankfully we've grown this amazing academy together and really are just flourishing in our businesses and we had to share it with other people.

Jen Thyrion (: 03:29

was wild.

Chrissy Cressler (: 03:43

And that's really what the Academy is about is taking everything that we've learned and giving it back to other people to give them the confidence to go out and really just level up their business or create a new one. And so we're really excited to be here today and just share with you the growth that we've had, but not only that, what it could do for you and your business.

Jen Thyrion (: 04:03

for sure. How about you, Kelly?

Kali Hammer (: 04:05

So I'm Callie Hammer. I'm in a little small town in Ohio. So Chrissy and I are like eight hours apart, which is so wild, but we talk every day like we're neighbors. So, but I have a downtown business where I offer, we pretty much offer the exact same thing. So we'll talk about a little bit about our services, but I have something similar where I have booth renters and fray tanning is my main gig. I also do permanent jewelry, piercing and all the fun things. So.

Yeah, I started my journey. I was in corporate world for a long time and I just wanted a little bit more flexibility in my schedule with my kids. I have three kids and so I started my business. Chrissy and I met soon after that and then we put our heads together like she said and finally met a year later at a spray tan conference in person. So it was so wild because we would talk multiple times a day all day like, you know, our phones, we voice message each other all day and then finally meeting each other in person. I was like, Chrissy, you're so short.

Jen Thyrion (: 04:58

I'm sorry.

Chrissy Cressler (: 05:00

gonna say that about you? was like she's so tall! ⁓

Jen Thyrion (: 05:04

This

is so funny. Well, it reminds me of online dating. It's like, hear that a lot too. The guy shows up and you're like, whoa, a lot shorter than I thought. You know what mean? Or just like your chemistry. I mean, I've experienced this for a minute there with online dating back in the day. was like your chemistry over email or text is different than in person. So it's amazing it worked in person and obviously virtual.

Kali Hammer (: 05:27

Yeah, we've come together on lots of trips now. We're used to each other in hotel rooms. We'll sleep in the, like, we're just, we're comfortable with each other, but it's really been amazing to train so many women in our services and just continue to see these women grow and add new services with us, which has been awesome. We've had a lot of permanent jewelry artists add piercing and now scents have added spray tanning. So it's just incredible to see these women grow and just from us meeting on a little Facebook group and becoming friends.

Jen Thyrion (: 05:55

It's so cool what social media can do. Both of you guys started off in tanning though, correct? Is that where your original roots are?

Kali Hammer (: 06:03

Yeah, me spray tanning, Chrissy tanning bed and then into spray tanning, yes.

Jen Thyrion (: 06:07

Okay, so to be clear, what are you guys both offering right now in your brick and mortars?

Kali Hammer (: 06:12

So I offer spray tanning, permanent jewelry, ear piercing, teeth whitening, and the lip gloss bar. I do that mobile.

Chrissy Cressler (: 06:20

Yeah, and I do spray tanning, teeth whitening, we do detox foot soaks, we have our custom lip gloss bar, we have our charm bar, and then of course, ear and nose piercing. And we might add one more wellness service down the road, but that's what I'm doing in my new location in this town. It's a lot more walk-in traffic than I'm used to from my prior town. So we need to have some elevated experiences for those walk-in clients too. But they all really mesh well together.

Jen Thyrion (: 06:45

Love

er meeting you guys at PJX in: 2024

That's crazy. Could I really do piercing? Like I thought that was just so out of the box, right? I was like, I just, my mind was not going into any expanding any services. And I was telling them prior to this, like how funny it is, fast forward. I remember sharing with you guys how scared I was to put a hole in someone's ear, like all these things, right? And I was like so gun shy to do it. And then I went ahead and did it finally. And it's so funny that now we have a shop where we offer like a million different experiences. And it's like ear piercing is just so like.

I want to say easy, you know what mean? Like it's an easy, fast, like we've had such, especially with the little ones, because young ones to come into a place that feels safe, to get their ears pierced, and we offer like cute little tiara, or like we have like a treasure chest they can pick something from for being brave, and like we hear this again and again, how parents appreciate it, because at this point they really don't want to go to Claire's, right? Claire's I feel like they're closing left and right too. Or they go to a tattoo place or something, a piercing place where it feels very intimidating to bring your four or five year old to go get pierced.

Anyway, it's been a great addition for us, which I'm so grateful for you guys for that. And then also we were talking before we started this recording, Lip Gloss Bar. I have to say, like it's probably number two in the services we offer in the brick and mortar between Charm Bar and Lip Gloss Bar. It is so hot. Since we talked last, because you did have, when you were pierced by glow, you were doing the training with the hand pressure device. So what has transpired since then? What led you to change your name? And obviously I'm assuming adding different experiences you're training on.

Let's get into that.

Chrissy Cressler (: 08:37

I'll just start out by saying that, think about your business and where you're at right now. And sometimes where you start isn't always where you evolve to, correct? And so for Callie and I, like Pierce by Glow was that excitement about offering a service to, just like you said it Jen, little ones to be able to give their parents and them a comfortable core memory experience. That's a good one that'll last forever that they'll always think happy thoughts about, right? And so that's where that started from.

You know, we evolved and we realized that there are a lot of business owners out there looking for something more. And we know there are a lot of trainings out there that are, let's be honest, subpar, right? And unfortunately it happens where you'll take one and then you'll feel defeated and deflated because you just didn't get what you needed from it. And so we really put our heads together and decided that it was time to really take the things that we were utilizing in our own establishments because we were having such success with them.

and then bring an elevated experience to our trainings and then give that continued added support to our students with our closed group. And we do a lot of extra educational pieces and lives that we do in there and some Zooms that are coming. But we decided to add these extra trainings to just bring these things. So Kelly, if you want to explain, like we have our, wait, our lip gloss bar, right? Which is what Jen just talked about. I would say the biggest thing that we brought on on top of hand pressured is our needle piercing. So we are doing a hollow needle piercing training, which really allows

Students that have already taken the hand pressured or brand new people that just want to get in the piercing world, a whole nother way to do more things on the ear. But we specialize in curation of ear styling. So we really teach those beginner steps in the needle piercing course, those beginner placements to give them their clients that have already been coming in potentially for hand pressured or referring people out, give them another piercings to do with them, right? And so that's been a really big one.

and then I'll let Callie take over from there, because we do some in-person and now online trainings.

Kali Hammer (: 10:35

With the ear, what we found was like where I am, I can only pierce the lobes with our hand pressured. So in order for me to do all the fun piercings, I had to add the needle piercing. And Chrissy and I went through multiple trainings and we did find that a lot of the trainings out there are just, I don't know, they're just, yes, subpar. Like we didn't have the support we needed. If we had a question, we couldn't reach out and say, hey, I'm having this issue, can you help me?

So we really pride ourselves on how much we give back to our students and how they really have access to us at any time. Of course, we set boundaries there, but we really want to make sure our students know that we're there for them. And then what we found too is that

You know, we were spray tan artists, so we were like, have to, we're offering a service that's different than spray tanning, but then we started getting permanent jewelry artists and maybe people from the cosmetology world and they're like, hey, we want to know what you guys know about spray tanning. So we decided this year to add an online spray tanning course. And this is also something perfect for permanent jewelry artists because you don't have to have a brick and mortar for it.

You can truly do this mobile. can go to people's homes and set up for parties just like you would with permanent jewelry. And so now we're getting a lot of the permanent jewelry artists to sign up for our spray tan training. And that's been really exciting because obviously that's where Chrissy and I came from and where we feel the most comfort and we love and we love all of our services. But this has just been an awesome addition, which is why we really change our name to an Academy because we have all sorts of different trainings now and we can kind of appeal to every.

every beauty professional, permanent jewelry artist, kind of everyone out there, which is really fun. So we're starting to get tattoo artists to come to us now for our needle course. And that's been really fun and amazing. So yeah, it's just, it's been an exciting time.

Jen Thyrion (: 12:14

Well, yeah, and that's one thing I have to say. we have, and this wasn't intended when we opened our doors in March, but in July, it just happened to be through just serendipitous, really. There is a tattoo piercer that came in with her daughter and she was actually inquiring about like us doing a pop-up together. then one thing led to another and here she's actually in the shop full time. So she, it's a kind of like an entity within our shop where she's a body piercer. She's been doing it for 17 years and then also a tattoo artist. So it's been an amazing addition.

And I have to say, if she wasn't there, I probably would have graduated into the needle piercing. But because we're kind of just focused on that because we have added so many experiences, so we don't want to spread ourselves too thin. But it's nice to know that she's there because if you want to speak to what is the difference between hand-pressured and hollow needle, let's say that out loud. There's a lot of piercers that are very, can we say, to be honest, against the hand-pressure device. So can you share any information of why they are? And they're so hardcore about that.

and what the difference is basically.

Chrissy Cressler (: 13:14

this. This is like my most favorite. And I actually, just had a student who I trained yesterday, and she had made a comment that she had been following our journey when we were pierced by glow. Her owner of her company was and they realized we were doing hand pressured. Of course, they called it the gun, quote unquote. And she said, if my owner was totally against that. And so we kind of looked over your training. She's like, but then you popped up and we realized you do needle now. And that's why we're here. And I said, well, actually, let's take that back a step.

And let's talk about why this misconceived notion is about a quote unquote gun. And I explained that our system is pediatric safe. It's what doctors and nurses use. All of our stuff is manufactured in a medical grade facility. Even our device that we use, our hand pressure device, has a weight in the back of it. And that weight allows us when we are putting that earring into the ear with our hand to keep it nice and level, right? Also, all of our earrings are in pre-sterilized packages, so there's no contamination.

our earrings that are in those packages are finely honed, very, very finely to the tip, just to be like a needle. And then we have our patented design safety back that goes on, so it can't over tighten and cannot puncture the side of the head when kiddos are sleeping or let's say adults, right? Anybody. When I started explaining that to her and explaining the differences, she went, ⁓ I didn't know that. And I said, exactly. And that's okay, because people can't do what they don't know.

Right? So it's our job to educate and really just get that knowledge out there. And we have had some actual body piercers that have learned about our hand pressure and been like, wow, that is so cool. Like, I want to learn that. I want to have that for kids because even sometimes in the needle piercing realm, some piercers aren't comfortable with piercing kids with needles. It is just one of those things. And then others are. So I always say, hey, it's an option, right? Not for everybody, but it's an option.

And then obviously our hollow needle course takes them through the ear piercing locations that they couldn't otherwise do with our hand pressure device or like Callie said, legality, because once again, you have to make sure that you are regulated what you're regulated for and that you're following all those guidelines. And that is individual to even your local county or municipality, right? And so we don't know all those things. So you have to do a lot of your own homework on that. Cause we couldn't learn every state and every municipality.

But we know a good bit when it comes down to state stuff, but we're able to least guide those students in the right direction so they can find the information to make sure what they're able to do. But we're excited that we have both.

Jen Thyrion (: 15:46

Can you speak to what the difference is though of actually creating the hole? What does the hand pressure device do versus hollow needle? Because I know that's kind of, how does that work?

Chrissy Cressler (: 15:57

Yeah, so when you're thinking about tissue, right, and you're thinking about the ear anatomy, our tissue is very, very, very flexible, right? And it moves a lot. And that tip of that actual earring device for our hand pressure, when it goes through, because it is our hand, no different than a hollow needle, it is making that nice little trajectory right into the spot we want it. And the angle is really everything too, right? It is. You have to make sure that you are piercing correct, because if you're not,

Typically, whether you're using a hand-pressured or if you're using a hollow needle, it's not gonna heal. That's just brutal facts. So the hollow needle itself has that little beveled shape to the top of the needle and it's a little hollowed spot. But whenever you're sending it through, it needs room then for that flat back to go in, for the head of the piercing to go in. So it creates that space. But when you're looking at the tip of our earrings on the hand-pressured and the hollow needle, they resemble each other very well. Like they're very close to one another.

But we also pierce gauge to gauge. And gauge to gauge with hollow needle, what that means is there's less space that's coming out. So it's less to be filled, there's less trauma, and it seems to be an easier healing process for our clients, which is why we teach that method.

Jen Thyrion (: 17:09

Okay, perfect. Yeah, and I have to say speaking too, because my piercer is really great at talking about the difference of hollow needle and the hand pressured. And of course she's very team hollow needle. mean, she's got trained in it. She's been doing it for 17 years. But I mean, she has to say, she also is somebody who with minors, they have to be able to say, yes, I want this. It's not a parent coming in with a one year old being like, nope, you know what mean? I want her ears pierced. It's honestly, we haven't really dealt with that very much.

It's more the girl, even if she's three or four, has been saying, I want this done. But having said that, so her own daughter, who's seven, she actually tried to hollow needle her earlobes and she got through one and the girl was so traumatized by it that she did not want to do the other. And so it just took, so that's why she ended up bringing her, when she first started with us, bringing her daughter in and using the hand pressure device because it is just faster.

You can do, have usually two employees, one on each ear, so you can do it at the same time. So I have to say, like for younger ones, usually people do prefer that route. And then, Hello Needle, I have to say, do you guys cover different, or are you only covering ears and nose in your training? Are you covering like body as well, or no?

Chrissy Cressler (: 18:23

So at this time we are not. No.

Jen Thyrion (: 18:25

Okay. I was going to say that's mainly what people come in anyway is ears and nose, but I'm just, you know, with honestly, when it comes to any other body parts, obviously at hollow needles a way to go. So of course she's doing all the other body parts as well. Our own piercer.

Chrissy Cressler (: 18:38

We like to differentiate ourselves in the training realm to be hollow needle training on ear and nose so that we can actually take more time with our students to dive deep into ear anatomy. Proper way to pierce trendy spots will come in our master class. So if they take the beginner and then they go into master, they'll learn like trendier spots that are not just the basics. Beginners, but you have to start somewhere. So we don't want to be body piercers. Like I tell people this all the time, listen, there are some amazing body piercers out there.

I send a lot of my clients, hey, you want an eyebrow? Go to them. You want a septum? Go to them. What we are doing is we are focusing our training specifically on getting really good at ear curation and all of those cute looks that people go online and research, we help do those and achieve that special look for our client.

Jen Thyrion (: 19:27

Well, in the end, too, like if your body or if your business ends up going that direction, that's one thing. But even in my mind, that's why I to say even my experience having no piercing experience, right? Starting off with the hand pressure just to see how you feel about piercing, you know, and if you find that you have this like love for it and you're like, my gosh, I want to get further into it. Like you said, ear curation, people coming in with all these pictures and your customers are coming in and like listening to your customers. So key, because if you're having people come in and be like, I want this like this, the tragus or whatever, and you're like, sorry, I can't do that with this, you know.

And if you're finding you just love it, then okay, step further, right? And obviously ear is definitely something to focus on and master. And then in the end, if you just want to go body, that's something else to kind of get into later, right? But it's like, I feel like it's one step at a time. Sometimes you think you might really love something and then you start doing it. Cause I actually thought like before I even met Kayla, who's our tattoo and piercer and that takes care of hollow needle.

I thought I would want to get deeper in a piercing, but I'm actually really comfortable just doing hand pressure device, to be honest. Like I want to focus on the jewelry part. I want to focus on every other experience we have, because we have a lot. So for me, I don't have the time to focus on going deeper there. But so it's good to know, because I actually totally assumed that I would go that direction, and I'm actually not.

Kali Hammer (: 20:37

Yeah, and I, when you guys were talking about too, like Body Piercer's saying stuff about us, all of the stuff that's out on the National Association for Piercing Professionals, it's all gun. So it's all the blunt force trauma that has those spring loaded guns. They don't have any education on their site about hand pressured because it is still new. But what we found is that the scientific research that's out there proves that in the lobe, the needle and the hand pressured are going through

exactly the same and they are not causing trauma in the lobes. And you know, I think that's key. It's that the education is not out there for them. So they automatically think it's exactly like that spring loaded gun. But when they see it and they understand it, they really are.

more pro hand pressured because I tell parents that come in that are like, no, I only want needle. I'm like, okay, remember though, when we do a needle piercing, you're going to put the needle through and then a taper and then jewelry. And then most likely you're going to have some fluid. So I'm going to have to apply pressure for, you know, 30 seconds to however long until you get that fluid to stop. And kids, they freak out, you know, if so.

lot of times if they're really pro, we'll talk about it, we'll walk through it, and then they're like, you know what, I do think the hand pressured sounds a lot better because it's quicker, we can do two at a time. So I think that's important, and I do think we have a lot of students like you that are just really comfortable in that hand pressured setting, and that's okay.

because they know that we're gonna be there for them when they're ready for that next step, if that's something they decide to do down the road. But we love all of our hand-pressured students and adding, we call it luxury needle piercing because you're coming into a place that's more luxury. You're getting more of a luxury experience. And like Chrissy said, that ear curation is really a luxury experience because not a lot of tattoo places are offering that. So you can literally come into an appointment and map out your ear and what you want and we teach you how to do that.

and how to have those appointments and still make money off those appointments. So if they decide not to go through with it, you're still getting compensated for your time. So we put our heart and soul in our trainings. We went through as many trainings as we could together, as much information, and we pierced into we were ready to launch our training. And we're really proud of it.

Jen Thyrion (: 22:45

Yeah, no, I agree. And I think it's such an amazing addition because I have to say, even when going back to permanent jewelry and always talking about the experience part of it how that's always come more or less as a surprise to me that, you know, it's not just jewelry. It's so much more about creating the memory and the experience. Same with piercing. Anything that you're like doing a service like I have to say, because I actually got both my girls ears pierced when they turned one at the pediatrician. So.

Because I was like, I'm just going to do it. And they say they use the same device, just like you said. So that's how I do educate people when they call or they ask. They're always like, they go straight to, is it at the gun? I'm like, it's probably not the gun you're thinking. So there is a spring loaded gun that yes, and actually one time I did order some studs from Amazon and I didn't realize I ordered the wrong ones. And they were the ones for the spring loaded gun, which obviously are not protected. You take them out of the little thing, you probably put them in the gun, I'm assuming, because they were just they were individually in this little plastic container.

They weren't in a medical grade facility like you said, like everything you mentioned, Chrissy, that is what I relay to the customer. And then they're like, ⁓ because again, all these a lot of these things are assumptions or with social media of someone posts in a group like I catch us a lot like on the local Facebook groups here, people like anyone know where I can get Pierce to bring my daughter with not that gun. And then I have to like I have to post and be like, hey, it's Jen from Goldilinks. We actually do like Pierce with the hand pressure device, which is great for little ones because of A, B and C.

It is not with the spring loaded, like you're probably thinking. It's this, this, and this. So it's really educating people. Once you tell them, then they're like, ⁓ OK. Because if you simply said, yeah, it's a gun, then they're like, ⁓ no. It's like, no, this is not what you think. And that's spring loaded, yeah. That got it a bad rap, right? So everyone sees it, and they see it, and they're like, it's a gun. Sure, I guess you could say it looks like that, but it's a hand pressure device. It's totally different. So it's really about educating. And really, the experience with us

with hand pressured, I've only had one girl in almost a year cry. Like, it's always like they're shocked, because it's like that look on their face where they're like, ⁓ and you could tell they're like, should I cry? But then they're like, that didn't really hurt. And then they just move on. it's actually like, it ends up being a really great experience for them and the parents feel relieved because you don't want to bring your five-year-old in and have them bawl their eyes out. I mean, that's not something you want, right? So the fact that they get to like, they're happy when they're done, it looks so pretty, they're finally like, I did it.

Chrissy Cressler (: 24:49

Right.

Jen Thyrion (: 25:04

and then they get a little prize. And like the whole thing is I'm sure they're remember that, and especially for the parent, because I remember bringing my daughters in. Of course they have no memory, they were one, but I remember it. So I'm like, I think back and I'm like, that would have been so cool to bring them in somewhere. And I still have that memory, but it would have been so much more fun.

Chrissy Cressler (: 25:21

If you don't mind, I'll add this to you. Kids is great, and we're talking about kids a lot, but our hand pressure is amazing for teenagers that have weight loss, and then anxiety sits in, right? Because they actually now are older, so they've lived more of life and get a little bit more anxious. I've actually had moms who have never had their ear pierced before that come in, and we talk about the difference of the systems, but I always, always, always, my first times to any of them, I'll say, listen,

Kali Hammer (: 25:29

yeah!

Chrissy Cressler (: 25:49

let's use a hand pressured. It's gonna be such an amazing experience. And they're like, yes. And then I will have people that'll even come in and say, listen, I'm afraid of needles. Like you cannot, I know you do hand pressured, I need that. And I'm like, okay, girl, and we're doing seconds and we're doing hand pressured. And I think once again, Jen, you said it, it's education, getting your community to understand what you offer. And the best part is if you're listening to this today and you're thinking about adding piercing, we, Callie and I, and our team that we're growing right now, which is so exciting,

educate you. We help make sure that you know what to say so that when that happens, you're not caught off guard and you get really upset and you get really nervous and you get scared and you're like, well, what do I say and what do I do? No, no, no. We teach you that. Like our training goes through that and then we are there and we have a back team of support that help you on our like private number that we use now. We have a phone number that's private to all of our students that really allows them to understand what they're going through and know they're not alone. Because I think one of the biggest things in business that

men and women, right? All of us, all of us at times, business feels lonely. And whenever something happens, it feels even lonelier, right? And so we get really nervous about what are we doing? And should we be in business now? Because something might some adversity might happen. But guess what we do? We help you through that. And I think that's the part that I love most about our academy. And I think Callie can contest to this. I, by heart, my heart is teaching, my heart is training, my heart is leading.

And so this has been really big for me to be able, I'm gonna cry, I think, my gosh. It's been so beautiful to watch the journey of all of these women that have taken our classes, the money they're making now, the changes they're making to their families. It's huge. And some days, like I know we get tired, right? And we have a lot going on because our company is growing, but I know that we're doing it for those people, right? We're there for them because it's changing. It's changing people's lives financially.

Jen Thyrion (: 27:43

And it's like a pay it forward thing because when I hear you talk like the joy and I get that because I mean, even just me have my membership and seeing these women like evolve their businesses and feeling like I have some little tiny bit part of that of helping them support that. It's amazing. But also just even me and the experience I've had with having a brick and mortar now and the experiences like piercing and lip gloss bar. It's like people are thanking me all the time for creating something in this community and for having this opportunity for them to bring. And I know.

Thank you for mentioning that because yes, I talk a lot about children because A, I have two young girls and I had the experience too of being like, where do I bring my girls to get their ears pierced? But trust me, we have so many adults getting their ears pierced. It's definitely, definitely, I would say 60, 40 at this point. Like I think of more children and adults because adults too, they want more different parts of their ear, which is why again, we're not, because we're just doing lobes. So, but having said that, yes, I have so many who bring their daughters in and they're like, oh my gosh, I've been meaning to get my seconds pierced for years. I'm like.

let's do it. And then I convinced him and then he do it too. So it's like, or I can tell you how many women are like, I have a two women who one of their second holes closed and they were always too scared or didn't know where to go to get it pierced. And I'm like, girl, let's do this. Like, and it's so funny, the weird anxiety fears they have them like, you've given birth, you can do this. Like you've been through worse. And then they end up getting pierced and like, my God, thank you so much. just really the joy that this is also like,

being able for them to bring their children somewhere safely and have a good experience with piercing or just all the things that we're offering to have create these memories just for the community alone too is an amazing feeling. okay, beyond piercing, what have you added? You talked about spray tan, which is so funny that you guys didn't train that from the beginning, because that's like where you were really schooled the most, right?

Kali Hammer (: 29:27

I think we were kind of like, there's a lot of really good trainings out there, but what we, you know, we both took one training and then, you know, we hear from other people, well, we did this training, but we don't have any support now and we don't know where we should get this. And, and we were like, you know what? We are having more people ask us. So we might as well do it. This is what we're, this is our bread and butter, what we're doing in our facilities now. So we created that online training and I forgot to mention too, cause I think Chrissy, I took it over and we, so for our

Our trainings, our hand pressured is online for those who are listening, if you didn't know that it is online. It's all online modules that you can work at your own pace. Our needle piercing course, we do have in-person courses. You can come to us for a two-day course and really deep dive, but we also have that online, which we just launched recently. And then you always, again, you'll hop on a call with Chrissy and I and go through any questions and actually live pierce and everything.

We decided to do that because what we found was a lot of students couldn't get to us. You know, they're signing up for a training, but they couldn't afford to travel or they couldn't afford to do the lodging as well. So we decided to really put our heart and soul into that online training as well. And we feel like it's really, really good. And again, they have access to us because Chrissy and I are always accessible to our students, but our spray tan training then again is online too with our.

lip gloss bar and our foot detox. So you can do this all from the comfort of your own home when you guys are signing up with us. ⁓

Jen Thyrion (: 30:49

Do you guys help at all with like, again, we know every state and region is different when it comes to licensing or whatnot. So do you kind of assist in that way to kind of lead them in the right direction?

Kali Hammer (: 31:00

Legally, we really can't because it actually differs every county. If it was per state, Chrissy and I would have those memorized by now, but literally you could be in one county and the county over allows one thing, but your county doesn't. So really legally, we need our students to do that research. But what we found with hand pressured is pretty much every state and county allows low piercings with our hand pressured. It's when you get into the cartilage where you need to ask your health department and then

Why we chose not to really do body piercing because we both are trained in belly button piercings is when you get out of the ear, laws change, insurance changes, things because...

Body piercers are piercing different areas that we are not trained on, but it gets a little dicey when it comes to insurance and all of those things. So that's why we really stuck to with the ear. We wanted them to really be specialized in the ear, but we do have a lot of people who want to learn the nose, but we have a hand pressured piercing for the nose and we have a needle piercing training for the nose. So yeah, if it were per state.

we would be able to help you no problem, but really we want you guys to do your own research and reach out to your local county health department and just figure out what, ⁓ we found that sometimes the health department will be like, you need to call the board of cosmetology. sometimes it's just like, we think the health departments really don't know what they're doing.

Jen Thyrion (: 32:20

It's funny, I was telling my own, actually the director or the girl from my health department who came in and helped us get Kayla all set up and she came in actually with a friend and came into the boutique the other day. And we were talking and I was like, gosh, I've heard so many from others because again, of the membership and whatnot. And asking me too about like where to reach out for health department or they're not hearing back or having difficulties and not getting straight answers.

And I have to say, my health department, was telling her, I'm like, thank you so much. You were so incredibly helpful. Because even that pamphlet they give you can be very confusing. And she said that too. She's like, I will walk you through it. And she sped up the process for us to get Kayla started ASAP. So my health department was amazing. I know that's not the case for everybody. And I've heard from people who are like, I've left numerous messages I can't get anyone to talk to. So I think it just depends on where you live, unfortunately. And that's why it's a hard question to answer.

Kali Hammer (: 33:09

Yeah, with hand pressured, we can do a quick search and usually figure it out. But it's the needle that we really want you to spend that time before you dive into the training because we want to make sure that legally you can do it. you know, like here where I am, Chrissy didn't have like a lengthy, I have to pay a yearly fee through my health department. They inspect some places are not like that. So that's why we really want you to do the research. We want to make sure you're doing this legally. We don't want you to get in trouble.

We want to make sure that you're doing it the proper way. They're checking all the sanitation. Sanitation is a big part. Bloodborne pathogens, when you get into the needle piercing, you are coming in contact with blood. So we want to make sure that you guys are taking first aid. You know, if you have someone that passes out or has a reaction right away, that you're taking your bloodborne pathogens because you will be coming in contact with blood with our needle piercing with our hand pressure. That's why I said it's so easy. We don't see blood with our hand pressure. So, you know, it's really great. It's such an easy thing to add for permanent jewelry art.

this.

Jen Thyrion (: 34:04

And I feel like it touches on the one thing that we typically don't obviously with permanent jewelry cover is the ears, you know? So kind of nice that we like, you can jewel up any area, wrists, ankles, necks, know, now ears. So it's kind of nice. Okay. Real talk for a second. Running a business can feel overwhelming. The content, marketing, social media, decisions, it's a lot. That's exactly why I created Goldilink Society. It's a space where permanent jewelers can get real support, education, and tools.

like quarterly photos and video, done-for-you templates, trainings, weekly calls, support group, and access to expert trainings who understand this industry. If you're craving clarity, confidence, and community, Goldilink Society is built for you. You can join us anytime. Go to goldilinksociety.com. I can't wait to get to know you and your business. See you soon. Okay, let's get into spray tan. So when did you guys launch the spray tan training?

Kali Hammer (: 34:58

We just launched it. It's been a few months. So it's new for us. Obviously between both of us. What did you say, Chrissy? We have like 18 years of experience between both of us.

Chrissy Cressler (: 35:08

Plus 13 and how many are you?

Kali Hammer (: 35:10

Yeah, that's so crazy. We have a lot of experience and it's very similar to our hand pressure where your ROI is really good. It's not a lot of time. Once you get to be an expert spray tan artist, I schedule out a half hour for my clients, but if they're a regular, usually they're in and out in 10 minutes. It's very quick. Obviously, when you have new clients, you want to get to know them. You want to go through customization of their color and figure out what works best for them, their skin type.

for, but we teach you guys all that so you don't even have to stress about that. We go through everything that you need to talk with them about and it's very similar to the piercing where your supplies are not very expensive and you can charge a lot for a little amount of time.

Jen Thyrion (: 35:56

Yeah, and like you said, think people don't realize how you can take it mobile.

Kali Hammer (: 36:00

Yeah, you can do spray tan parties, bachelorette parties, wedding parties, and you can go to them, you can set up a tent. And if we come to PJX, we're hoping that we can, you know, pop up a tent, show people how easy it is to set something up and do it in a home or, you know, if they have a hotel, you can set it up and get it all ready. But it's a fun service too. I love it. And the best thing about spray tanning for me is seeing a woman, especially someone who has previously had babies and maybe they're not very confident in their skin.

They get that spray tan and they look in the mirror and the confidence that you see in their eyes and just like up in their step when they leave, they feel so much better about themselves and being able to see a woman, just that light in their eye kind of flicker a little bit. And then the next day they text you and they're like, I feel amazing. that's like being able to feel that and being able to be a part of that is really special.

Jen Thyrion (: 36:51

Do you guys charge different, I know you're in different areas, so what is like the average people are charging for a spray tan? I'd probably just, again, like anything else depends on where you live, but do you guys charge around the same or what's the average?

Chrissy Cressler (: 37:03

charge 60 a spray tan.

Kali Hammer (: 37:05

I'm at 50, so we're a little bit different. But again, Chrissy's been doing it a lot longer. So if she brings a staph on, it might be a little bit lower. But I would say average is probably anywhere between 45 and 75. It really depends. I know there's some girls in bigger cities that are charging like 75 to 100 bucks a spray tan. So in a 30 minutes.

Chrissy Cressler (: 37:26

Now, if I did mobile, let's just take that back a second. If I did mobile, it'd be a lot more because number one, is money and travel, et cetera. So there are women that charge over a hundred dollars for a mobile spray tan, but that makes sense, right? For their location. But I do not do mobile. It's just something I'm not into doing personally because I've been doing it for so long. But if I had big enough groups like Callie and I've talked about like the cheer groups and those things where you go and you're spraying like 30, 50 girls at a time, it's worth going mobile. And then think about once again, that ROI.

because your timeframe, right? So I think that it's really in what you want to make it, which is the best part of spray tanning. Like you get to choose that part. What do you want to get out of it? The only thing that I think the reason why, when you said about, why didn't we do that first, our training, think it's, spray tanning is so seasonal for us, especially I'm in Pennsylvania and there's just, I mean, I've been in this industry a long time and

I don't even have to advertise, I'm highly sought after. But the facts are I only am so busy at certain times of year. And then there's other times that it's just slow and I needed to offset that. so Callie and I really, how Pearson came about is because we needed to find another way to create more revenue and help spray tan artists understand that it's okay if you have that downtime, don't get so stressed, work on your marketing, work on your game plan for the upcoming busy season, but do this in the meantime to help get that.

consistent money to pay your overhead and your bills,

Jen Thyrion (: 38:48

There you go. I love that. What is a learning curve? Because I've never spray tanned anyone in my life. Again, I'm going to say I will never do that, but I said that before. I don't know what the future holds. But what is the learning curve with learning how to spray tan? I just imagine my first spray that someone's going to walk out with streaks down their face.

Kali Hammer (: 39:09

think really for people that are outside of the beauty world coming in, it's a comfort level of learning how to be comfortable being in front of someone that doesn't have their clothes on. mean, because I think that was me. I just like, wow, I didn't come from a background in beauty world, but cosmetologists that are used to waxing and stuff, they're comfortable right away. But for someone who maybe would be coming in from permanent jewelry, they might be like, ooh, I don't.

you know, how do I feel comfortable looking at someone, but you're not really, you're really, have to think of it as you're wanting your client to leave with an even spray tan, but we teach you how to do two light layers so that everything is covered and we use, you know, our solutions have bronzers so you can see what you're doing. The biggest thing is making sure you're not over saturating. So putting too much spray tan solution on them and you know, the even thing, honestly,

When you're starting out, if you might get a little too close and there's too much solution when you rinse and typically it ends up being beautiful. really, I think the comfort level and standing in front of someone that doesn't have their clothes on and learning how to make them feel comfortable in your space, because most women, it doesn't matter if you're a size zero and you have a perfect body. Every woman is uncomfortable in their skin. So it's our job as spray tan artists to really make those women feel comfortable and make

them feel like you're not judging them because I have gone to places before where I have felt like they may have I may have left and they may have talked about me. We really teach our students like it's important to make your these women feel comfortable and that you're not looking because you're not you're really making sure everything's even. I think that's the biggest learning curve for people is how to make a woman feel comfortable in your space so that she leaves and she's like you know what I think that's my number one review is that I truly make women feel not judged and they

they just feel comfortable in my space. And that's what we want all of our clients to feel. So I would say that's the biggest. Chrissy might say something different, but I think that's the biggest learning curve.

Chrissy Cressler (: 41:04

say mine would be almost on point with yours. I think one of the things that I want women to feel that when they're in there getting the experience that they feel covered and that I take this time and that's what we teach our students. Like, you know, we just talked about body shapes, right? And everybody's so different, but to make them feel flawless with their tan and taking the time, I think in educating the students on where to spray and make sure you get every nook and cranny, right? And so you don't want somebody like, I know I've got these little rolls in my back.

them. I don't care. I love them, right? But I need to make sure I got a tan in between there. So when I'm on the beach, if I'm like going like this, I don't see white, right? Or under my hind

Jen Thyrion (: 41:43

Well, yeah, so I'm not going to lie when you were talking and I'm like, oh, like, I, you know, I have some, some big bosoms. What's the right word? Well, I don't want to say I have big breasts. Okay. And they're, they're, and they're not, I've had two kids, right? So they're not like perky. Right. Yeah. So would you make me like lift those to get underneath my boobs?

Kali Hammer (: 42:05

people it's comfort level thing. if you're tanning out in the sun, most likely, unless you have a bathing suit on, if you're outside tanning naked, you're probably going to have white spots. So I asked her what she's going on vacation or if she's obviously going on her honeymoon or something, you don't want to have those. So yes, lifting is good or even like lifting your arms up.

Jen Thyrion (: 42:28

I don't know if it would do enough for me to do that.

Chrissy Cressler (: 42:31

⁓ I have

methods in my room because every time a woman will come in they're like, I don't know, I don't want to take this bra off because my boobs are going to hang and I'm like, listen, I'm going to get there. I'm going to help you achieve all that and I'm like, we got this girl and they usually like, okay, all right and they you know, they laugh and they chuckle. It's really cute.

Jen Thyrion (: 42:51

Yeah, I good for all women. And I think when you get to be on a certain age or you also, I feel like there was also a different view of your body once you have children. You're like, you know what, you talk about the weirdest stuff after you have kids with, and if you've had a kid, we all, you just, you get over it, right? You get over it really It's not a glamorous situation to give birth, okay? So you're just in a whole different place with your body. But it's so funny, cause like, this just brings me to it. Like, let's just talk about boob sagginess. But I was listening, I'll never forget this. was listening to the radio and they were like, you know, your boobs are saggy when you can put a pencil underneath your boobs.

went in it stays. Yeah. And so I went home and I like I literally could put like six pencils underneath my room. Might need a lift one day. That's okay. It's just hilarious. So if anyone wants to try that at home, let us know. Just kidding.

Kali Hammer (: 43:36

sign that says you know don't apologize for it and it has a whole list of things that they can't apologize for. Big boobs, little boobs. I have women that have come in with double mastectomies and they apologize. like no, I don't apologize. You are beautiful no matter what but I want them to feel again comfortable in their own skin in front of me and you can see like the first time they come in you know they're like this the second time you be whipping their clothes off before you've even left the room to get their solution ready.

Jen Thyrion (: 43:41

I love that!

Kali Hammer (: 44:03

That definitely evolves with your clients and they get used to you and they feel more comfortable and that's a beautiful thing too.

Jen Thyrion (: 44:10

I think not only spray tan, of course, yes, you're more vulnerable than you were to get permanent jewelry. But when you were talking, I'm like, this is what it is all about. It's seriously about relationships. mean, even permanent jewelry for someone to come back to you, because really when someone sits in front of you, things that we end up hearing, and it's like a therapy session sometimes. But that's the stuff why people come back, you know, and come back to you. They feel comfortable and they feel seen and, you know, they feel like you're not just a number and you're just, you know, there to like collect their money. You know what I mean? It's just like a relationship. And I think when you're talking about that.

That is literally you're building a relationship. So not only spray tan, but they're going to think of you for other stuff too, because you offer all these amazing experiences. They're like, my God, I love her. I feel so comfortable with her. course, whoever comes in town or someone asks me, I'm going be like, my God, go to Chrissy, go to Kelly. She's amazing. Da da. Yeah, when you were talking, people can go in stages, obviously. I they can dress how they want. They can put something on at first, and maybe they'll graduate into being like, you know what? Actually, I'm going to go naked this time, because they feel comfortable. So it's like stages. OK, startup costs.

because that came to my mind while we were talking. So if someone's wondering, well, adding an experience, as we know, we have to invest in getting the things to create this new experience and add to what we're doing. I can say, I mean, I know with a hand pressure device piercing training, it does come with so many that you can't even start that way. You can even just offer what comes with the training, right? But I could say safely to have a good variety, you really only need a few hundred dollars. Can I say that safely to start hand pressured piercing?

Kali Hammer (: 45:35

outside of our training, is that what you're saying?

Jen Thyrion (: 45:37

Like just to start the service in general, what would you think how much you like startup costs for everything, hand pressured, hollow needle and spray tan. What do you feel like your startup costs or what to expect to add?

Chrissy Cressler (: 45:48

Yeah, so I would say our hand-pressured course and maybe a couple of things outside of it that you would need. Obviously, we say gloves, a mirror, a stool, a little place to organize your stuff. Like all of that could be around $250. So I would say at about maybe less than $1,300, you could get started in hand-pressured. That's including the course. And our kit gives you enough stuff right now, currently, the way the kit is designed. You get enough to pierce 24 ears, sets of ears.

And then with our hollow needle training, our in-person with our luxury beginner training is $2,800. And you get a kit that is enough to pierce 48 piercing sites, single piercing sites, which is a really good ROI to get that investment back.

would say depending on what you're currently doing though depends on what you need outside of your kit like barberside, a container, sharps container, hospital grade disinfectant, dental bibs, gloves, like those things. So that doesn't add up to much, maybe a hundred or so, but you have the travel involved in that, right? If you're coming to us because that's the in-person with our online needle piercing, we're at 2,100 with a kit that gives you enough things to pierce up to 15 single sites. So it's a smaller kit, but

There's a lot more to that needle training online, because it's really in-depth videos that allow you to make sure that you still feel good. Plus, we add that Zoom at the end, where you go on and schedule time with Callie or I, or one of our teammates, to take you through and make sure you pierce your first person with us live, right? And that you have that.

to ask us questions and then we have other Calendly links that you can go to and continue to grow with us if you need that like this virtually, which I think is really the most important part. Our spray tanning class, our training is 499, right, Callie? And then I would say typically what would we need outside of that kit about how much, depending on your equipment.

Kali Hammer (: 47:45

Yeah, so we don't include a kit with that training. So you need equipment, you need solution, and we kind of guide you where we think you should go. I mean, honestly, if you really want to start cheap, you could probably invest an additional maybe $500 to $750 in your equipment and solutions to get started. So maybe all in just around like $1,000 for that. But I was trying to calculate as Chrissy was talking.

With our hand pressured, mean, we average like if you're doing hand pressured, everybody can charge different. Again, this is same as spray tanning. It depends where you are. Chrissy and I are both in really small towns. So if you're charging seventy five dollars for someone to come in for our hand pressured service and we have twenty four sets of earrings in there, you're to make about eighteen hundred dollars if you're charging that minimum. We have girls charging one hundred and twenty five where they're living, like out in Colorado, out in the West. So, you know, you really can make a lot. But what Chrissy was talking about, our luxury needle course.

You could make, depending on, I would say about $70 per site. Don't you think, Chrissy, if they're coming in? Like, it really depends, but...

Chrissy Cressler (: 48:47

I'm about 70 to 80.

Kali Hammer (: 48:49

Yeah, if you did 70, it's about $3,300. You're making that investment back. And that was a goal when we started, especially Piercing, we really wanted our students to be able to make their money back and then reinvest in their business. So what we found with the spray tan training is it's really hard. We don't want to keep equipment on site because equipment is very expensive and it changes all the time. We found it was more important just to share our knowledge for the spray tan training and then guide you what we think is best as far as our equipment and solution. So.

Chrissy Cressler (: 49:18

We get, make sure we say that we give you links. So we simplify it because if you're busy moms and you're busy business owners, you don't have a ton of time to go research. All of our trainings, we supply you when you take our training with links and then they, when they change and we find new deals or we find new things, we give you more links. So that really is why Callie, we talked about not doing the spray tan training and having a kit. like, we'll just continue to give links to where they can get the best equipment, the best deal, know, spray tan solutions. What do we like? You know, we're, we're obviously

promoting a bunch of different ones that we love. We're open to that too and learning about new solutions. So yeah, I would say that, what do you think? I guess we have lip gloss too. So our lip gloss bar.

Jen Thyrion (: 49:57

That's amazing because I was doing the math too. So yeah, I'm here in Colorado and I charge $120 for, I charge $65 a hole and then $120 for a pair. For the 24 sets, I would be making like about $2,900 after if I were. So yeah, definitely, of course you're going to practice with some of those and whatnot. mean, obviously practice is required, but in the end, and I've said this a million times, but I am a fan, especially at this stage in my business and life, I'm a fan of yes, we could go about

researching and going on YouTube and all the things and finding anything out. We're in this information crazy. Nothing is off limits to us to find out, But it's just so nice even having Dana actually recently from Stones and Findings on the podcast and she's coming off an X tool training for laser engraving. And just being that you guys are in this industry where you're doing kind of the same type of things like permanent jewelry, whatnot, and having these structures of business is so helpful because same with her. We know that this training, she's talking to permanent jewelers. So it's like...

we're incorporating this. Granted, there's a ton of information out there about XTool, but the fact that I can join this training knowing that's her objective and intention is talking about specific permanent jewelers and also be a part of a group where I can ask questions where all these other permanent jewelers are dealing with the same thing is like, it just saves so much of my time. You know, Dave?

Kali Hammer (: 51:12

I just got one. I just got an X tool F2 and I'm like, you know, I've done a few trainings, but I'm, you know, specific to permanent jewelry. I think that's really smart because there is so much out there. Like I'm doing wood now I'm doing Memorial cards. husband's cool. But having something specifically like that helps us when we're at pop-ups and what fonts to use and what's, you know, I was telling Chrissy about it because it's, I've already had people like I'm ready to place orders for personalized stuff. And I'm like, I

out it a few weeks ago. Let me get this thing down in my head. Make me some memorial cards, make me this stuff. So I think that's great, she's doing that and I cannot wait for her podcast.

Jen Thyrion (: 51:51

Yeah, that's amazing. I'm so excited. Okay, that's awesome. So out of all the services you guys, maybe this goes without saying, because I know you started off and have the most experience with tanning spray tan, but what out of your services is kind like your number one and number two, like for you guys personally?

Chrissy Cressler (: 52:07

Yeah, I think number one out of all of our trainings is our hand pressured because that's what you know, that is what we started with and it's been just growing and a lot of people coming on board. Our needle piercing is second and I would say I can't not talk about lip gloss though because lip gloss is like one of those things where it comes in waves. Like we'll get 10 students sign up at one time and then you know, not for and then 10 more students and it just kind of like goes in waves but I think it's because

It's something that not many people know about. I everybody knows about ear piercing, right? It's just a matter of do they want to take our training and be a part of the Glow Academy family? But I would say lip gloss is like a whole nother, it's a whole nother entity, right? It's kind of like, really, what is that? What's a lip gloss bar? Okay, tell me more about it. So people get engaged because they see other people sharing it out and that's really where that comes from. So I don't want to ever say, I don't want to talk about that. And then of course, spray tanning is so new. We can't really put that in a number ⁓ field yet.

But I do think we'll have an uptake of that coming really soon just because we have so much education and background in it. It's kind of like if they're already doing trainings with us and they're already trusting us, they already like how we teach, I think it's just a no brainer if they're gonna add it to come on board with us.

Jen Thyrion (: 53:19

So, but for your own personal businesses, what do you feel has been like your number one?

Kali Hammer (: 53:24

I would say for me, it's still spray tanning. It's slow season for us right now because it's four degrees out right now, but I still, I'm book solid tonight with spray tans. And then my hand pressured would be second because I am like the go-to person for kids piercing. So I get a lot of kids piercings every single week because it's all moms like to talk. So it's all word of mouth referrals for my hand pressured, but I stay very busy with that because of the referrals.

Jen Thyrion (: 53:52

Okay, perfect.

Chrissy Cressler (: 53:53

Yeah, mine is definitely needle piercing at this point. Like I've been needle piercing for a while now and it's slow season like Kelly said with spray tanning. I put it out there. Kelly, I put it in our group recently in November. If I wouldn't have had needle piercing, whether it's some hand pressured in there too, I don't kind of like now when I do it in my system, it's kind of all together under piercing, but

If I wouldn't have had piercing in November, would have had like the worst month ever because it was so slow and nobody was coming in. They were just like trickling in spray tans. Not a big deal. I couldn't have afforded to keep my business open. But because of piercing, it was my biggest sales month I've ever had. Now, mind you, I moved to a new town and it's a lot busier, but we made over $10,000 in ear piercing in a month. It was insane. Wow. And that's literally because, you know, number one, you got to assess your business and know where your business needs to grow. Right. And so we did that.

made the move and obviously it's proved to us that we're at the right place. Now will spray tanning be the same here in a few months? Absolutely, I hope so. And if that's the case, then we're going to be golden. I just think that when you look at where your money is, right, and you look at what is benefiting you at the time, always make sure that it's sustainable so that you know where you need to grow and then understand what are those pieces, right? And if we can help you at Glow Academy, let's chat. Let's figure out where that piece is.

piece to the puzzle is to make it all kind of feel more well-rounded so that you have those successful months. Because once again, as a business owner, you can fill down and out whenever you have crappy months. And we see it in spray tan forums all the time. How about it, Callie? Where people are like, man, are you slow? I'm slow. I'm worried. I don't think I'm going to close my doors. And we all then sometimes remind ourselves, no, no, no. Every year we go through this as spray tan artists. It's just the business.

But then that's where I pop in and say, like this is the services I'm doing right now. And if I didn't have this, I wouldn't even be able to pay my rent here, you know? And then it gets people thinking and gets their wheels.

Jen Thyrion (: 55:45

Yes. I know that fear is so contagious and I know I've been in business now for, know, before promenadury and boutique world and same thing, same thing. It's like January, February, we're all like, my God, will it ever be the same? And it always bounces back and you know, but what would you say to the person that's kind of hesitant to add? Because again, I'm the person again, can't say it, I have a lot of experiences and you know, the fear of going like wide or not deeper, too many cooks in the kitchen.

being jack of all trades, master of none, you know, like what would you say to that person that's a little bit fearful of coming across like that where you walk in, it's just like a hodgepodge of stuff, you know? What would you say?

Chrissy Cressler (: 56:24

personally tell the person that wants something maybe and they're kind of like, I don't know. I don't want to be seen as this person who just keeps adding things. I would tell them, I need you to sit down and I need you to seriously look at your business right now. Lay it out. I need you to understand where are the gaps once again, right? Where are the gaps financially in your business and what's your passion? What's your vision and your mission for your business? Because

If you find something that aligns with that vision and that mission, it's not just one more thing. It becomes your passion. It becomes the fire that helps you get exactly the things that you've been setting goals for to get those things for your family and for your future. And so I just tell people, go back to your, go back to that, understand it, lay it out. And then let's talk because there could be a training that really aligns with you that you just aren't open to just yet, right? You haven't.

open the doors of opportunity or your mind to allow it. But I think once you do that piece, you can start to see that. And then that's when we love to have discovery calls and talk and kind of just dig a little deeper with you and to see what one of the services are that could really complete you. Because I don't think people know. I just I truly don't think people know. I think they sit there and we'll talk to people all the time on sales calls. How about it, Callie? And they're asking all these questions. Do all these things? Well, I don't know. And I don't. And I always say two things. Number one,

If somebody wants something bad enough in life, they will find the time and the money. How about it? They will. We all know that we're in a screw this business, right? And so it's the same thing in this. If you want something bad enough, if you want your businesses to succeed bad enough, you're going to sit down and understand where to find the time and where to find the money and what is going to complete the cycle of what you're doing. And so I just urge people to talk to us.

Talk to us and we can't not sit here and talk about payment plans, right, Callie? Like sometimes people look at those financial pieces. I mean, our needle piercing training is a high ticket. It is, especially if you're traveling to us. But what I want you to do is talk to us. Let us help you. You know, we offer shop pay on our website. If you're eligible on past six months, like we do a six months right now, we're able to do that. But if you need longer terms, you might have to see if you're eligible. And we also have tons of links we can send you of

personal loans and bank, small business bank loans that you could look into too and see if it's available. But if there's a will, there's a way.

Jen Thyrion (: 58:46

completely. mean, yeah, we're all finding time and money for our priorities. There's no doubt. I mean, we look at our lives and we can see what our priorities are really, right? By just viewing what we're doing every day and what our businesses and our lives look like. I'll speak to this probably further on another podcast, because I think it really doesn't. But I have to say, just being somebody who has added a lot, I think a lot of it is how you position it though, because it can come across like a hot mess if you don't position it correctly. And also, I'm sure maybe you guys can think of

a couple things that you're kind of known for. And yes, you might have those additional services, but really like you're known for maybe a couple of them. Right. And then you have these added things that people might want to do next time where they see that and they're like, Oh my gosh, I didn't know you did this as well. You know, because again, when you're talking about all the things that you offer, if you keep adding experiences, it can get confusing. But I feel like knowing, course too, like spray tan, you have a slow time. So it's like, Hey, let's, let's talk about this more than, know, let's talk about our piercing services, kind of like your top two of what, but also again, going back to

What you said, Chrissy, yes, your intentions and what you want to offer and what you feel people are needing in your area. What intention behind your brand is, right? Like, why are you even wanting to do that? I think, like you said, I talked to a lot of other permanent jewelers as well, that really it's down to clarity, right? Like clarity, clarity, clarity. Because I think a lot of people jump on, they're like, well, I don't know, I don't know. And so it's really asking yourself those questions, right? Like, what do I want my brand to be? What do I want to say? How do I want to serve? What do my customers need? Like all those things.

I love that you said that. I know it's been over an hour, which is crazy. Is there anything else that you want to share about what you guys are offering? Anything about the trainings? Anything you hear a lot that you want to address?

Kali Hammer (: 1:00:24

I was just thinking, we even, I know we touched on lip gloss, but did we talk about what a custom lip gloss bar is? I don't know if we did, so those are-

Jen Thyrion (: 1:00:32

I don't know if we did the first one either, but we can go real quick because I mean, I can even speak to my experience I shared with it before we started recording. Lip gloss bar is number two in my boutique next to Charm Bar. It's kind of a toss up because lip gloss is so hot. It's so hot. It's crazy. So, but again, it's not something I talk like I don't want to be because again, speaking to that, right, because I do. have permanent jewelry. I have Charm Bar. I have perfume bar. I have lip gloss bar. We have engraving. We have hair chains.

We have custom magnets. We have a dried floral bar. We have a tattoo and piercer on staff. We're doing custom apparel. We're pressing, you know, shirts and with DTF transfers and things. So I have a lot, but I don't post, I might make a reel or something about a lip gloss bar, but I never talk about it because it's not something that meaning on social media. It's right there smack dab when you walk in our doors and people come in knowing that it's there. But if I had to like.

gun to my head, get rid of every experience other than two, lip gloss bar wouldn't be something I would keep. I'm not gonna lie to you. You know I mean? It's not something I'm known for. It's just like, it's something I have and people come and they'll get an addition too. This is what's so great. Lip gloss is not a high ticket. It's so easy. If someone's getting a permanent bracelet, they're like, my God, let's make a lip gloss. Like so, and it's so inexpensive to start. It's ridiculous. Like that's my experience. Okay, take it away.

Kali Hammer (: 1:01:47

I was just going to say, mean, it also appeals to groups. So if you have a lot of birthday parties looking for a way to appeal to groups, it's something fun. But we teach you how to bring a custom lip gloss bar, which is exactly what it sounds like. You're basically teaching women how to make their own custom lip gloss that they can walk away and tell people, I made this, I made the color, I made, I put a scent in, I might have charms, fun things like that.

and they walk away and they're proud of what they made. it's just something fun too that if you're scared of piercing or if you're scared of spray tanning, the investment is low, but it also comes with a kit to make that investment back. And it's a perfect time to add it for holidays like Valentine's Day, like Christmas, like Mother's Day. Something that if you are going to have a lot of traffic in your shops for permanent jewelry, it's another added way for you to make a little bit more income. And it doesn't take up a lot of room. You can have a little table.

something fun for people that people are always looking for something different, you know? And I think if you're walking into a regular salon, you see kind of the same things. But when you offer things that are unique, it gets people wanting to come to your place more for those experiences. And when you wrap all these things together, it's just an amazing experience, especially for women and moms and sisters. I mean, I've had moms and daughters and grandmas, like generations come in and get piercings, make lip glosses.

permanent jewelry. So it's just another tool for us to teach you to bring on to your business that can make you more income.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:03:13

I love it. That is the biggest thing. have lot of, you know, we have all ages that come into our shop, no doubt. But like you said, parties is very, very common where a group of girls will come in, whether they're teenagers, even adults though. I have to say, I keep talking about younger girls, but really it's adults too. Like we have this one lady, she's got to be in her seventies and she's come in like four different times to make lip glosses. She loves it so much.

And it's like, because also it takes some time too to put together. So you can kind of take your time. Like it's just something fun that, you know, mom can come in and they're going to spend like less than $20 with their daughter and spend some time making a lip gloss. Like it just, it's a really great addition I have to say. Yeah, for sure. It's great because if you have Charm Bar, we also incorporate it with our Charm Bar because the soft, you know, lip gloss containers, you can add, you know, make it a key chain and add charms to it. So a lip gloss ends up being like,

$35 thing once they add charms and a keychain and it's really great and kind of incorporates other experiences as well.

Chrissy Cressler (: 1:04:08

Yeah, I noticed for me, it's a great walk-in service in this town I'm in. And so people will come in and they'll do the charm bar and do the lip gloss bar. And they feel like they had a cool experience in the downtown and then they'll go have coffee at next door. And it's just one of those things that it's, you don't have to have an appointment. You just kind of pop one in and have some fun and bring the girls along. And then when you talk about private parties, there's a lot of money ladies to be made in lip gloss. And I was only doing lip gloss at first.

Private parties and now I'm doing them combined to obviously increase revenue, right? So it's my charm barks I don't do permanent jewelry because I have a girl near me that does so I do charm bar and lip gloss combined and have a package deal and I can do it in studio or we can travel but I like to do them more in studio and have private hours but there's a lot of money to be made because it does not cost much at all for supplies on lip gloss. That's the best part.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:04:59

Okay, anything else you would like to add? I think we didn't cover. I know you do also have a training, which I want to say you were about to launch that and you hinted at it the first time we chatted, but is this about the foot soaks? It might've been what that training was that you didn't launch at that time. So do you want to cover that really quick just in case someone's interested?

Chrissy Cressler (: 1:05:16

Yeah,

we have it. just it's very how do I want to say it, Kelly, we do it as like almost for the people that are really into wellness stuff. And that's kind of it's kind of like a niche, right? You have to be into that to really want to elevate that experience. And you have to you don't just add foot soaks, you have to really understand them in a way and want to talk about them because it is kind of a it's kind of interesting looking. And obviously, it's very hard to market because when I

post out pictures, they're gross, right? Because you're showing foot soaps that are soaps bought to the wellness people that love that stuff. They're like, oh yeah, I'm coming. I'm coming for a foot soak. I actually do a ton of them in my business and it's very, very, very, very inexpensive to do a foot soak. And now I include a neck wrap and I include aloe socks with theirs. They pay $65 to come for a foot soak and people don't blink at it. It's crazy. Now if they come back and bring their neck wrap.

give them a cheaper price. it's once again, I do a bring a friend sale. So bring a friend and foot soak together, I do a party of four, all those things. If you're looking to once again, add something to elevate, but you're excited about wellness, then I would say foot soaks is the way to go. However, it is definitely like Callie once again, she has regulations wrapped around hers. I don't have regulations here where I'm at right

around it. So it's something you definitely should still check into and make sure that you're allowed to do those. And we don't have a kit with that either. We just send out two like different scented soaks with it to get you started. But I would say startup is not maybe like 250, 250 extra dollars on top of the class.

Kali Hammer (: 1:06:50

It's you know, you're getting the toxins out of your body. You feel really good The thing is the regulations that I have is I have a salon license because we offer salon services and since it's not ⁓ FDA approved We can't do them in the salon. It has to be a private room. That's not governed by the salon I don't have the space so I don't do them anymore when I was doing them I was slammed with them and people absolutely love them

but it was just, you I had to figure out, does it make more sense for me to rent a room to a booth renter or to take that and then maybe have appointments? So for me, I ended up getting somebody that's, you know, giving me monthly rent. Yeah, they are a little gross. Like the water goes from clear to like a brown green. You have to dump it out the toilet. It's gross, but I feel like if you're already in the beauty world and you're looking, like Chrissy said, for wellness.

these people swear by them. I sleep better when I do them. I do them at home now because I don't do them at my shop, but I sleep better. My mom is someone who says, you know, she always needs melatonin every night, but when I give her a foot soak, she'll sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom, which is a miracle for someone in their seventies, you know, so really do work, but you do have to have that right niche. I don't know if you have a brick and mortar for permanent jewelry. If someone's soaking their feet, I don't know. It might be a little.

Chrissy Cressler (: 1:08:05

Say

if you have red light therapy or something maybe, like I think if you were somebody that was in that realm, if you have like, or if you have a little room, if you're in that, I would say it's a great, it's a great add on. But also really quickly, we can't make medical claims. So let's just make that very clear. Like when we do foot soaks, it is no medical claims. It's all wellness. Just tell people like it's, you're going to feel better overall.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:08:11

Exactly.

Chrissy Cressler (: 1:08:26

And then when we have conversations with our clients in the chair, we're like, hey, we're not making any medical claims, but it could make you sleep better and have less pain and blah, blah. So you just have to be careful with that.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:08:36

Yes, for sure. All right. Anything else you want to... We might see you. We're hoping to see you. I want to say we will see you at PJX because that would be amazing to like, you know, witness all these things in person, ask you questions in person, kind of mold this over up until June so that way you kind of have an idea maybe what you'd want to add. But it's so nice to be able to again see you guys and connect in person, which is what I did with you guys two years ago. So yeah, anything else you want to share before we say goodbye and hopefully see you in June in Vegas?

Kali Hammer (: 1:09:04

would just say if you're interested, if you're listening now and you're interested and you want to chat with us, you can go to our website and we have a little form they can fill out and it gives them our information and we can actually set up a discovery call with you. We can go through what training programs you're interested in. We can answer any questions you have. And we also are like professional voice messengers. So if you voice message us on Facebook or Instagram.

We'll voice you right back. please feel free to, I mean, don't wait until June. If you're going to PJX, we'd love to get you guys on board because maybe if you sign up now and you start piercing, you can tell us your success stories in June when we meet you there. That'd be awesome.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:09:40

Okay, well, do you want to share where your Instagram, your social media, any other social media, your website, do want to share all that so where we can find you?

Chrissy Cressler (: 1:09:48

pretty much the same. So because we rebranded we are glow beauty piercing academy.com is our website and then our Instagram is at glow beauty piercing Academy and then we're the same on Facebook now too. So we're trying to get that ramped up and then soon to be we'll have some other ways of connecting on different socials. We're growing our team right now. So if somebody else you get to chat with through our what we call our phone line, you might get to meet other people. We're really excited. We're just

We're here to help you every step of the way. Callie and I have been pretty accessible, I'll say, for these last how many years to all of our students and that's not going to change. It's just you're going to get to meet new people, part of the Glow Academy team, which we're excited about because as everybody knows, when you grow your business, that part grows too where you'll get to meet new people. So those are the places to get us for sure.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:10:38

Love it. Well, thank you so much, ladies. This was so fun. And I hope to see you in June. Hey, thank you. Bye, guys. Have a good day.

Kali Hammer (: 1:10:44

Sounds great. Thank you so much.

Jen Thyrion (: 1:10:49

Well, how do you feel? I hope you found value in today's episode and you walk away feeling inspired. I would love to hear from you. Let's link up. You can find me on Instagram at Goldilink Society. You can find out more about our permanent jewelry membership at goldilinksociety.com, our handmade permanent jewelry supplies of connectors, chain, and more at goldilinksupplies.com. Okay, I will see you next time. Have a golden day.