Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Issakhani.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lucy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My sister is a cosmetologist. She is incredibly talented and loves her job as a hairstylist. Her dream was to open up a nail salon one day and have one to two hairstyling chairs for herself. About 3 and a half years ago, she was involved in a very bad accident where she was hit by a car while crossing the street.
She sustained a traumatic brain injury to the right side of her brain. She was given 1% chance of survival rate and if she survived, we were told she would be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Not only did she survive, she walks, talks uses her brain in new ways that doctors didn’t believe she could. Due to her severe injury, the left side of her body is paralyzed.
Although she walks, she is unable to use her left arm and hand, FOR NOW! Since she can’t use her left hand, she has put her hairstyling career on hold for now. My sister is a very strong fighter, who has beaten all odds.
Fast forward, knowing she really wanted her nail salon and seeing her unhappy, I decided to quit my job and help her open up a nail salon. We started this project May 2017 and opened our doors in October 2017. We are new and very excited about this new venture we get to do together. 🙂
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth? 50/50. This is our first business, so it has been scary. We wanted the construction of the business to finish in 2 months, but it took us 5 months. Financially, we took a hit, which was hard as well. I believe I have become an expert contractor. 😉 Once we opened our doors, we had slow days, which were extremely scary and busy days which were super exciting. We have been through a rollercoaster of emotions. I learn something new every day, not just about the business, but about myself. I love the challenge because without it, we will not grow.
Nail Ink and Spa – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Burbank-raised Lucy and Anaeis are two sisters with a passion for their community, their work, and their customers. At Nail Ink and Spa, you know you’ve found a peaceful haven with skilled technicians who will always help you express your best self, even if your go-to tech isn’t available. With respect for tradition but an eye on innovation, Nail Ink and Spa will always deliver the utmost quality in styles, techniques, and finding your Zen.
You can always count on Nail Ink and Spa for a friendly face, a relaxing respite, and the little boost you need (or don’t!) to be confident and be you. We run the salon together. I do the backend of the business as well: payroll, bookkeeping, etc.
The design of our salon sets us apart from other nail salons. “Rustic-Chic” as we like to call it. Its a blend of wood, warm, and shabby chic design. We want the customer to feel “Zen.” As much as we take care of our customers, we strive to make it as wonderful for our employees. We decided to create a lounge for our employees where they can hang out and relax when they are not working. We are a big family and we treat everyone as equals. Happy employee equals happy business.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I ask myself this question every day, especially on bad days. I still don’t really have an answer, but I will try. I want Nail Ink and Spa to be the most talked about salon here in LA. I want to be recognized for the beauty of the salon, and also the quality of our work. I want people to be excited to be coming to us. I vision the salon with 15-20 employees working together side by side with lots of customers.
I would also like to reach a financial success. I don’t have a marker on what to value that amount to be, but I want to be comfortable. Comfortable to make financial decisions to expand and grow. Maybe success is a feeling of accomplishment. That I did it! Haven’t felt that feeling just yet, but I can’t wait. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Address: 3507 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505
- Website: www.nailinkandspa.com
- Phone: 818-859-7733
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailinkandspa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nailinkandspa/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nail-ink-and-spa-burbank-2
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.
