Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Coco.
Jimmy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
2004 – I was at a crossroads in my life when I discovered spray tanning. I was fascinated as I was a former sportswear model with a port wine stain birthmark on my chest, and makeup was used to cover it up. I also layed in tanning beds to help mask the area as much as I could, but after learning how bad tanning beds were for our skin, I knew I needed a better option.
I ordered a spray-tan kit and began practicing on paper towels on an easel. After a month or so, I started my very first business “Mobile Tanning Pros”–mobile tanning that comes to you. I did very little marketing at local gyms and quickly word spread of the world’s first mobile tanning business right here in Hollywood. I had no idea of the promise or success this would render. I had little business education. And there was nobody before to mentor me, so I just “shot from the hip” and made the best decisions I could from a personal care services perspective.
As a bartender at The Abbey in West Hollywood, I was promoting myself when a woman walked in and changed my life forever when she introduced me to her friend who would become the most popular desperate housewife the world has ever seen. Soon after, I began working with A-List celebrities and supermodels. My life was literally taken over by the most beautiful, generous, and powerful women and men in the world.
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?
Oooh… this is a very sensitive question… I am from Sacramento, CA and my dad died in a car accident when I was just two years old.
My mother, in desperate search for a “father figure” remarried. I was raised by a very homophobic and abusive step-father. To him, I was never good enough at anything, and I struggled to be my best but to no reward. I knew from a very young age that I was a sensitive, compassionate person who has empathy and wants everyone around me to succeed. I never wanted it all for myself; however, I did want the best life had to offer.
Nothing in life (to me) is worth much unless you have people who love you to share it with. These qualities are the secret to my success. The abuse I suffered as a child molded me into the man I am today as I would never want anyone to feel unwanted, less than, or insecure, as I did growing up. I absolutely love giving people a beautiful spray tan, as it is more than just spray tan. It is my artistry. Giving them joy gives me more joy than they even know.
My entire career, I have struggled with “ankle biters”–the people who try to steal your business. I guess its the nature of the business, however, I don’t care (at all) what other industry folks are doing. I learned from a very young age to focus on myself and do not become distracted by others. This is why I remain innovative and think outside the box. I have a difficult time trusting people, so that remains my challenge but as I have learned, once trust is broken, its time to move on!
Through the years of all of it remain my very loyal clients wh always stand by my side. I am a very lucky man and take none of it for granted.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am an American inventor. The “world’s first” celebrity tanner and pioneer of mobile tanning. I specialize in the personal care service of applying spray tans to people. This includes, first and foremost confidentiality, the ability to make any situation work comfortably, being punctual, prepared, and always willing to do a house call even if it’s at 1 am. I have tremendous respect for people and their bodies.
I get so much satisfaction and joy from my clients loving their results. All of us tan for different reasons, however, we all get the same confidence/self-esteem boost upon seeing our bodies transform after a full body application with contour. The boost of confidence a great spray tan gives us just makes life feel better.
I specialize in tan line correction, body contouring, creating an overall, even skin tone giving the person the freedom to look flawless in anything or nothing at all. I also specialize in educating people on maintaining their perfect tan on their own.Jimmy Coco is known for being the very first spokesperson for the sunless tanning industry.
I am also known for my very exclusive, high-end clientele. I am known for being innovative and a leader in my field. I am an inventor. I love creating colors, looks, products, etc. I am also very loyal and hard working. Trust is key to my relationships. My clients trust me, and I must be able to trust the people I work with also.
I believe truly that who I am as a person is what sets me apart from others. I wear my heart on my sleeve and have zero arrogance. I am a service oriented person, so I always want to be my absolute best. Many people in my industry do this job as a means to something else, so they don’t care enough. This is my career, and I love it so much!
As a person, you need to have a deep desire for helping others however you can. For me, I get to do this every day I go to work. That is who I am. Anyone who has tanned with me knows this. This is not part of the craft you learn, but a characteristic of who you are as a person. You are either born with it, or you’re not. It is in my blood. I love it.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Remaining innovative and understanding my industry, what it needs, what’s missing and how I can fill in those gaps is how I measure success. Additionally, maintaining the trusted relationships with my core clientele and building that trust with my new clients and business partners. My greatest achievement to date is definitely my patent pending IP Buff n Glow applicator.
I am so proud of this product as it proves to me that I understand my industry and also that I remain true to myself adding convenience to the self-tanning regiment.
My other greatest success was crashing the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2006 and then being hired back the next nine years in a row. WOW… Additionally, I feel to be a true success you need to give back to the community as well. So I enjoy giving to Best Friends Animal Society and St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Additionally, I have also enjoyed volunteering at the LA Zoo and Sea Shepard beach clean up.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7095 Hollywood Bl. Ste.552 Los Angeles, CA 90028
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
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.
Wendy Stebbins
December 1, 2018 at 19:09
Aloha – this is a fantastic article and so nice to hear how down to earth you are!
I recently joined the Sunless Evolution group with Grant and I look forward growing with this group.
I appreciate your advice & waering your heart on your sleeve. I look forward to hearing more about your product.