Today we’d like to introduce you to Dari Williams
Hi Dari, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, my name is D’Ari Williams and I go by nails by “Rackz “ on my social media profiles. I stumbled across nails around 2018 when I graduated from high school, However, nails were never something I saw myself doing at all. I thought I was going to go into construction or something dealing with abstract art. I was always in an Art Magnet Program from sixth grade to graduation Under the impression I would go into 3-D art or abstract art For a career. My 12th grade year didn’t go as planned Because I was taken out of the art program by my mother who had to move from the area. So I was stuck, kind of figuring out what I wanted to do after high school as far as college goes and a real career. The issue was I was an artist, and I didn’t know exactly what field an artist could go into. I thought about tattooing, construction, murals, interior design, or photography. Even though I was into art, I didn’t think it was smart to go to school for art because if I was going to pay for something, I wanted it to be a guaranteed career, not a guess. So I ended up attending for two years in accounting, And then I was going to switch to Florida Atlantic University for my remainder two years. Along the way attending school, I did have to get a job and I felt like every job was holding me back or piling up stress overtime because I was eventually working at the airport full-time and going to school full-time either 4 to 5 classes per semester to get it done quicker. This did take a toll on me and through time I realized I needed something that could work for me where I wasn’t Straining myself Physically and emotionally. So I just started to think about what could I do that involved art (which was something I loved) but also brought money in at the same time consistently, but was also relevant enough with social media to where I could profit through climbing trends and do what I love. One night I was up very late and I saw a girl doing nails somehow it clicked to me that maybe I could try and do that because it didn’t look as hard and it allowed me to draw as much as I wanted to, I could learn a new craft. Nails Fit in perfectly to where I could follow social media trends, grow as an artist, create a stable income, and also evolve through other passive income paths. Once I got my associates from college I immediately jumped into a cosmetology school called Boca Beauty Academy, and I retained my license from there I made my social media page, and I just started to post as much work as I could on the models I had around me like my sisters and my classmates. I would say I’ve been doing this for about three years consistently and I don’t regret it. I’ve met so many amazing people along the way I’ve been introduced to so many different ways to become a big-known technician that can profit and make nails a career. Also, nails were a door opener to other people and opportunities. I eventually ended up Getting laid off from my job at the airport after two years of working there and on the last year of getting my cosmetology license, This was Because at the time COVID-19 began. So With the money I received from Being out of a job at the airport, I saved all of the checks and put everything into investing in my nail career. I invested in everything down to nail supplies, A travel desk, chairs etc. I did end up receiving a callback from the airport. Once COVID slowed and they wanted all the workers to come back and work, however, I was making enough to where I felt I shouldn’t go back to the airport and I should just market myself through the nail business to see where It could take me. Currently, I have 29,606 followers on my social media platform and it is just the beginning. I plan on making multiple streams of income through doing nails and I plan to teach other Artists how to do it. When I was in school for cosmetology, I taught myself through YouTube because I didn’t have a good teacher, I learned myself, and I learned what my audience was looking for. That is where I am currently and I plan on making Digital classes and e-books as well as physical classes, press-ons, a supply store, and I also want to work on getting a commercial space for my business where I can rent out suites to other Beauty technicians, Last but not least I am also working on my YouTube portfolio and Amazon storefront so that I can reach my audience and see what nails have to offer me. I plan on teaching other entrepreneurs how to do the same thing. I plan on Coaching them and specifically letting them know to never give up because if I had given up, I would’ve still been stuck at the airport On a $ 14-an-hour salary. Thank you!
Alright, 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?
Building my nail brand has not been easy at all. I’ve run into many road bumps along the way, but I didn’t allow them to discourage me. A couple of bumps I’ve hit was how to maintain consistent clientele through each month of the year so that I’ll be able to be financially stable each month. I had to become more strict on rules when it came to my clients and I had to learn how to enforce them and not treat clients as friends 100% of the time because then Clients will run over you and your business. Working as a nail tech I’ve also hit bumps on how to make it so There is a little to no Complaining on any nail designs and work, i changed the outcome by making sure my client was involved through the whole process of the service they was getting so that by the end, they are happy and a returning Client Because I listen to what they wanted. Another struggle was upgrading prices Because I was so comfortable with my prices and scared to raise them, I had to learn how to upgrade my services to allow clients to have add-ons that could be added to generate more revenue. Also I had to realize how to keep clients entertained During their service. I could keep my clients more interested like giving Snacks, having television, massage chair and other incentives Because this also created a positive customer service vibe and comfortable atmosphere for my clients. Another issue along the way through building my brand was learning how to market myself properly to where I was getting the right audience and traffic through my page, It was super hard at first, but then I started to realize the trends is what keeps my clients coming back and keeps my brand more relevant.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a nail technician,travel nail technician and soon to be nail instructor. I specialize in acrylic powder enhancements ,gel-x enhancements, and Acrylic reusable press ons. I am known for my dramatic designs and use of charms and excessive diamonds. I would also say I’m known for how long I allow clients to get their nails which is up to 4XL. I am most proud of the fact that I turned my little room space into a growing profiting career To where I can consistently make an income without working a 9 to 5. What sets me apart from others is my colorful dramatic designs, my willingness to teach other entrepreneurs what I do Without gatekeeping any steps, and my nail enhancement retention of one month and one week for all clients.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would like to share that yes this industry can get over crowded but once you really focus on what makes you great it doesn’t matter what the next technician is doing, it becomes a community. A community that will accept you and critique you and the only result from that is you become 10x better. There’s always someone watching your growth!
Pricing:
- $70 Full Basic Short Sets
- $80 Full Basic Medium Sets
- $90 Full Basic long Sets
- $110 Full Basic XL Sets
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nailsbyrackz.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailsbyrackz?igsh=cmhrbW5tOTFsOXZi&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nailsbyrackz?si=KJ894F_X_0t1nkR_
