Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashanti Ambrister.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashanti. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began working as early as my Junior year in Highschool. I always had the ambition and drive to provide for myself. By the age of 18, I was supervising adults twice my age during the jobs I obtained over the years. I did not understand it then but, I had leadership qualities that would benefit me soon.
Earlier in the year of 2020, I took a Certification Course in Lashing amid working a 9 to 5 job in Hospitality. To be completely honest, I invested in the course to bring in extra income to provide for my son. I was bringing in a good chunk of money from my 9 to 5, but it still wasn’t enough. A month into getting Certified in lashing, I lost my job of six years due to Covid-19. My benefits and seniority were all gone in a blink of an eye. All I had left to fall back on was becoming a lash technician. This was hard for me to grasp at the time, but I genuinely believe everything happens for a reason. I never lost hope. I invested my Stimulus check into inventory and birthed Minkx It Up.
Minkx it up provides a luxury lash service in the comfort of your own home. In the beginning stages of starting my business, I quickly realized becoming a lash technician required an abundance of patience. Not only patience to provide the service but patience to grow clientele and bettering my craft. I look at lashes as a form of art. You have lash styles that will introduce you in a room full of strangers before you ever open your mouth. In my opinion, lashes draw attention to your face, enhancing your beauty! During Covid-19, being a traveling lash tech has been ideal because no one was looking forward to leaving their home for beauty. I decided to capitalize on this opportunity. I had support from my family and friends every step of the way and it truly kept me motivated.
I started part-time, lashing family and friends for little to nothing in exchange for pictures and promotions. I marketed on Social Media every day, sometimes 2-3 times a day to get my name out there. I invested into smaller businesses like myself for my logo and flyers. I kept the momentum, and I will give that advice to all Entrepreneurs. Within a month or two, I increased my pricing to reflect my worth. My clients could not believe how new to the Industry I were based on the quality of work I was providing. Word of mouth and social media has been playing a key role in my success. I would like to think my management skills in prior careers, aids in how I run my business now. I stepped out on faith and I am currently running Minkx It Up full-time. This is still the beginning. I have much more in store for my clients, or Minkx Babes as I like to call them. My family and friends are proud but most importantly, I AM PROUD.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been delightful. Running Minkx It Up has provided the opportunity to work on my faith. Every so often, someone would tell me to keep going and not to give up. I needed to hear that every time because it was watering a seed that will soon blossom. Finding the energy to consistently promote my business is something I’ve grown to love. I used to be shy and speak only when spoken to. For the sake of my business, I must proactively announce who I am and the service I provide. That was a struggle that I quickly overcame.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Minkx It Up – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Minkx it up provides a luxury lash service in the comfort of your own home. I am known for Hybrid and Volume individual lashes. What sets me aside from other lash technicians is that I travel to all my client’s home. Now, I service clients from Homestead to Pembroke Pines, Florida at no additional charge to their service charge. Something I learned on my own in the beauty industry is that your clients pay attention to Customer Service. Not only does my Minkx Babes receive the lash set they desire but a relationship. Rapport is my main priority because before the skill, my clients were coming to me solely on how I made them feel. That is where luxury comes into play.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I look forward to the day of owning a primary location. The experience I want to offer my clients are going to blow their minds. I want my clients to feel appreciated while in my care and that will be my goal to achieve soon. Minkx it up will be a whole house brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minkxitupscheduling.as.me/schedule.php
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minkx.it.up/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Minkx.It.Up/
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
