Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Gonzalez.
Jody, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I never thought I’d end up in the beauty industry. I wanted to work in Federal Law Enforcement, so I got my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After college, I worked jobs totally unrelated to my major for several years. I always wanted to be my own boss but never thought it was possible because I could never find a job I was passionate about.
It wasn’t until my son was born did I know what I wanted to do. I wanted a job that was flexible enough for me to raise kids and spend time with my family. I had been getting eyelash extensions for about eight years and saw how my lash artist was able to make great money working whenever she wanted. I decided to take an eyelash extension course and to my surprise, I fell in love with the art of lashing. It felt good to see the look on my client’s face when they opened their eyes and saw themselves with lash extensions. Being able to be creative and use my artistic talent to make someone feel great about the way they looked was what I wanted to do. I wasn’t interested in having a boss anymore, I wanted to be the boss. So I jumped right into finding my own space and opened Winkz Lash Bar.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a business is definitely not a smooth journey. I think the hardest part is trying to balance work and home life. Owning your own business doesn’t stop when the clock hits 5 o’clock. I’m on my phone and laptop at all hours of the day whether it be answering calls and messages, purchasing product, doing payroll, or fixing the website, all while trying to keep a three year old, six year old, husband and a dog alive. Being a mom and a business owner means sleep is the last thing on my mind, but I am fortunate to have a great team at Winkz that I can trust to hold down the fort when I’m not around. I also have a great team at home that understands when its time for mommy to work and when it’s time for mommy to play.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Winkz Lash Bar story. Tell us more about the business.
Winkz Lash Bar specializes in eyelash extensions and lash lifts. We also offer brow lamination, facials, and waxing. We have a great team of lash artists who are always learning and keeping up with new techniques and trends, and that’s what sets us apart from others. We understand that in an industry that is constantly growing, we need to keep growing with it in order to offer our clients the best service and products possible. As a woman-owned and operated company, we are proud to be a company that strives to bring others in our industry together. We love getting to know other lash artists, rather than think of them as our competition. Building a great community of individuals that share our same values and vision will only make our industry stronger and allow it to keep growing at the rate it has been growing.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The lash industry has grown so much over the past five years, and I think it will continue to do so for the next five years and more. There are so many people learning how to do lashes and starting their own business now. New products and brands are always coming out. With the way lashes make people look and feel, I don’t see this industry slowing down or going away anytime soon.
Pricing:
- Classic Full Set – $150
- Classic Fills – $65
- Mixed Full Set – $175
- Mixed Fills – $65-$80
- Volume Full Set – $200
- Volume Fills – $75-$90
- Mega Volume Full Set – $220
- Mega Volume Fills – $80-$100
- Lash Lift – $85
- Brow Lamination – $100
Contact Info:
- Address: 649 W. Imperial Hwy
Suite A2 Brea, CA 92821 - Website: www.winkzlashbar.com
- Phone: 714.822.9132
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winkzlashbar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winkzlashbar/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/winkz-lash-bar-brea
Image Credit:
Briana Cap
Suggest a story: VoyageLA 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.
Check out the VoyageLA Podcast:
