There are three issues that Lilly Rojas likes to do to calm down and escape: get her nails performed, get pleasure from a glass of wine or have a cup of espresso with good firm.
She and her husband Jorge created an area to just do that once they established Lili and Cata in 2019, a stupendous, city oasis with a stocked cafe/wine bar and much more area for nail creativity. Nailpro sat down with Lilly to study extra about her imaginative and prescient and the secrets and techniques to her success.
Getting Into the Business
Lilly Rojas (LR): I obtained into the trade from the patron facet first. I needed to create an expertise the place getting a mani and pedi grew to become an escape from the every day rat race that may be NYC. Nevertheless, I understood that with a view to create this expertise, I wanted to completely perceive the technical facet. That is why I did an incredible quantity of analysis on non-toxic nail care and accomplished my 250 hours course with a view to be a completely licensed nail technician. We solely carry non-toxic and vegan nail manufacturers. We don’t do acrylics, ideas or dip powder (which is mainly acrylic in powder type).
The Design
LR: We needed a homey really feel, not the everyday salon pedicure thrones and sterile really feel. The furnishings we procured has extra of a residential really feel than salon furnishings. We’re always complimented by shoppers once they step into our salon and say this doesn’t really feel like a salon, which was precisely our purpose. Since we’re a waterless nail salon, we use recliners as our pedicure chairs. They’re so snug that we always see our shoppers take a nap whereas they’re getting their providers performed.
Latina Affect
LR: My latina heritage is integrated into our enterprise by hospitality, as they are saying “mi casa es su casa.” It additionally makes it simpler for me to speak each day with our nail techs and likewise to narrate to them. They’re all onerous working girls/mothers, and even when they didn’t develop up on this nation, they’re working onerous to perform their American dream. I be sure they’re paid pretty and never overworked, which isn’t at all times the prevailing follow on this trade.
The Backyard Spa
LR: The out of doors area was one thing we needed since we first rented the area. We initially thought it was going to possibly be a few manicure tables. Nevertheless, due to the pandemic, a few tables was a full blown everlasting tent and a complete different salon. It has been a difficult endeavor as a result of we have now needed to cope with mom nature, heating and fixed upkeep of our tent. On the plus facet, it carried us by the pandemic, and we had folks come from different areas simply to expertise our backyard spa. Now, these shoppers hold coming again to us even when they should journey over half-hour or an hour.
A Cup of Joe
LR: The cafe was not an afterthought however at all times meant to be a part of the salon. Like I discussed earlier, it’s an all-in-one enjoyable escape.
A Stress-free Escape
LR: Our shoppers at all times point out how they really feel so totally different and never rushed like in different salons. All our providers are at the very least 10-Quarter-hour longer than our rivals. We purposely taught our nail techs to do detailed work as a result of we deal with high quality over amount. Our shoppers always praise us on our nail techs’ and entrance desk workers’s work and pleasant demeanor. That is additional demonstrated by the excessive on-line rankings and feedback we get.
Getting New Purchasers
LR: Most new shoppers discover us by phrase of mouth, some from social media platforms and a few additionally from simply googling “non-toxic salon” or discovering a salon with nice evaluations.
Prime-selling Service
LR: Our principally booked providers are the luxurious manicures and luxurious pedicures. We’ve three totally different leveled providers (important which is the fundamental, lush and escape). Lush providers embody a 5 minutes shoulder therapeutic massage or a 5 minute leg/foot therapeutic massage. That is the service folks select when they need a little bit one thing further however not the total, longer “spa” remedy.
Come go to us…
Web site: www.liliandcata.com
Instagram: @liliandcata_nailsaloon