Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Breedlove.
Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I owned a private Pilates studio in Venice for several years. I have always sought out the best services within the health & wellness realm and happened to try Infrared sauna about six years ago and fell in love. I knew at some point I wanted to create a business around Infrared but it took a few years to get here! After working on a business plan for quite some time (that had many different iterations) I began my quest for the perfect location. That was tricky to say the least. I had a pretty specific vision of what I wanted so I held out until I found what I believe is the perfect space for Breedlove Beauty Lab. Although I am a Venice person, the little zone we landed in on Ocean Park in Santa Monica is a hidden gem and feels like home. The neighborhood is pretty tight-knit, which I love! Even before our doors were open, I met several of the locals who welcomed me with open arms. I knew I had found the right location when every day someone new walked through the door with such enthusiasm about a small business owner bringing a wellness space to the neighborhood.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My goodness, no, the road has certainly not been smooth! Believe me when I say, there were many times I thought I was going to throw in the towel. Even in those times of uncertainty, something in the back of my mind told me to stay the course and I’m so happy I did. I think there will always be some fear and uncertainty about what’s to come – that’s just part of owning a business. But, I am so grateful to be exactly where I am.
Please tell us about Breedlove Beauty Lab.
Breedlove Beauty Lab is an Infrared sauna studio, beauty & wellness boutique. I think what sets us apart is that we are really primarily an Infrared sauna studio. Our Sunlighten saunas offer the full spectrum of Infrared (mid, near & far) which basically means you are getting a whole lot of benefits in one 30 minute session. It is always interesting to hear why a customer is drawn to Infrared – whether it be to detox, relieve stress, lose weight, recover from joint & muscle pain/fatigue, boost immunity or help with fighting aging (hello clear skin!)…the list of benefits goes on and on. We love to see and hear how our sauna services are making a difference in people’s lives.
What stands out in our customer reviews that makes me so proud is that 1. our space is really beautiful and 2. is really clean. I love creating beautiful spaces and I am a clean freak – so of course, this feedback is super gratifying!
I’m also really proud that our retail shop features a selection of products by mostly female-owned small brands. The products we sell were selected specifically to support the Infrared services but also to encourage awareness of local small brands who have put a lot of thought and research into their products.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I come from a huge family – when we are all together, there’s 35 of us. I think? It keeps growing. Nonetheless, we always took at least one annual summer vacation with the whole crew. For many years we went to an island off of Hilton Head S.C. where the main transportation was golf carts. One of my favorite memories is of all of us racing those golf carts off the beaten path and laughing until our stomachs hurt. No matter what we were doing, there was always laughter – it’s still that way and its the best thing ever!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1728 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405 - Website: www.breedlovebeautylab.com
- Phone: 310-310-3959
- Email: Info@breedlovebeautylab.com
Image Credit:
Steven Lake Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Ginny & Bill King
June 13, 2019 at 12:50
Mary
That is fantastic ! Everything looks wonderful although my expertise is very limited. Hope all goes well for you. We’ll keep up to date through your Dad.