Meet Emily Stites | Mama, Mentor & Beauty Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Stites and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how do you think about risk?
Risk is something I acknowledge, respect and wholeheartedly understand. However I do not fear it. I look at it head on and trust myself. I know the life that I want, and the career I need to feel fulfilled. So I take that risk and steer through my choices with that, but I don’t let IT guide ME.
If I am feeling weak, unsure, run down, THATS when the fear of taking these monetary risks/risks of embarrassing myself creep in. When fear surrounds my mindset of these risks, THATS when I don’t make the right decisions.
I learned that I need to constantly be connected to my ‘why’ and keep doing things that make me feel confident in my craft, life and business. When confidence surrounds my mindsets of the risks I am taking, rewards starts setting in.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started out as an esthetician~ little did I know you instantly become a small business owner as MOST working environments require you to be an “independent contractor”. There are only TWO practicing estheticians from my graduating class. I believe this is because there are so many choices, risks & other annoying business owner stuff you have to do to get started. P.s NONE of that that is taught to you in school.

So, besides licensing, permits, buying all your supplies, buying retail, marketing, bookkeeping, processing payment per client, scheduling ETC where does one even start with esthetics?
After much trial, error and risk taking, I felt as if I had a good handle on this.
I was very excited about this being a career for other women since I was a single mom making it happen, supporting myself and little family, I thought if I could do it anyone could do it! So, I started taking on beginning estheticians, hiring them & helping them. Unfortunately, estheticians weren’t as excited about being employees so I pivoted my business to providing Suites and Support (and even some supplies) to help independent artists & estheticians to be Successful.

Wow that pivot sounds a lot easier than it was! That was the most difficult thing in my world at the time. After tens of thousands of dollars put into branding, training, handbooks, supplies, furniture, equipment, marketing, product development, I had to let it all go. BUT I was for the greater good and is much more aligned with my business’s mission- showing estheticians and artists they can have a successful business as a solopreneur and be their authentic self.
AND dang did I get some great experience in the above list! I am happy to say I have a suites filled with talented, successful artists and have even mentored a few people to open their own salon suite style studio.
I am currently working hard on a new product line, Brow Fox Beauty, specific for estheticians and microblading artists to use in the treatment room as well as to retail to their clients. I used the “Launch Fast + Adjust” approach and so far and it is doing really well! I am so thrilled with the reaction to this line and I am so excited to give more time and energy to the branding and website. I am also working on online training videos to go with some of the products.
I believe education, confidence, and authenticity will lead others to success as well as myself.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to shoutout my friend Lorena, & her Dear Lash Love platform. She has given out so many outstanding tips on her blog for FREE. I wouldn’t have the same confidence in my business that I do today without her daily encouragement, advice and tips.

Website: thebrowfox.com

Instagram: @thebrowfox