Meet Lexi Carlson & Luci Suiter | Airbrush Tanning & Permanent Jewelry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lexi Carlson & Luci Suiter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lexi & Luci, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We both knew early on in our friendship that we wanted to be business owners. We both have a drive and love for the beauty industry, which is what formed our passion for airbrush tanning and permanent jewelry. Being a business owner always seemed like a distant goal we both had, but it almost felt like only a dream. When life was slowing down for the winter in 2022, we decided it was a great time to take the leap and learn how to successfully open a business. Being that we started our business in the slow months, we felt we had the time to grasp marketing concepts, as well as learn how to do accounting, web design, and building a clientele. Along with learning all of these skills, we had time to test a ton of solutions on the market, to narrow down the best of the best for our clients. We officially launched tinted. by lex & lu on October 1st, 2022.

We added linked. by lex & lu, our permanent jewelry business in May of 2023. We love dainty jewelry and the idea of it being a sentimental option for couples, family, and friends. We think theres a beautiful meaning behind the beautiful jewelry we offer, and wanted to dive right into it.

It has been such a fun and exciting process learning how to be great business owners together!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the hardest things about opening a business was narrowing down the best way to allow our brand to represent us. By lex & lu went through a few changes throughout the past few months. We started out with a darker brand to fit the “norm” of spray tanning, but realized we were just representing any tanning salon. We ended up doing a complete remodel of our space, website, color palette, business cards, merchandise, everything you can think of, to better represent the excitement and fun we have doing our jobs.

Once we did the remodel, we instantly felt more upbeat about our brand. We feel it is more unique to us, which is so important. We want to grow our brand, but had to ensure that the brand itself brings joy, along with everyone representing it.

It was a bold decision for us to switch everything up. We didn’t want to confuse our clientele, and it was also a ton of work re-doing what we had already put so much time into. Ultimately, it was important for us to dedicate the time and expense to making our brand into something that twists the norm, and represents how we feel about our brand.

We want the world to know that whether you’re getting tinted. or linked., by lex & lu is a fun and inviting place. Our brand is a place that you can let loose, express yourself, boost your confidence, and feel welcomed.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Erie is a great town 25 minutes North of Denver, and is very up-and-coming! We would love to adventure with our friends to a self guided tour at Lil’ Buckaroo’s Farm to start out the day. They have the cutest pigs, donkeys, alpacas, goats, cows, and chickens that you can hang out with & pet during your tour.

When hungry, we would definitely make stops at Piripi, a cute place downtown Erie for Tapas & Small plates, Beltrans Grill in Broomfield, which is well known for their amazing Mexican Cuisine, and Acreage, a super beautiful spot with New American Cuisine & Stem Ciders.

Another fun activity we would do during a summer visit, would be heading to Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon Flights to take a flight in the awesome hot air balloons that launch all summer in Erie.

During a fall visit, Anderson Farms would be one of the top spots to stop in Erie. They have the cutest pumpkin patch and also have a haunted house in the fall, we go every year!

We would also check out the Erie Community Center website to check for local events. One of the reasons we love Erie so much is because it’s a tight-knit community with events going on all the time!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We would like to recognize all of our family and friends for the constant love and support they have offered us throughout the process of learning and becoming business owners. We don’t know what we would do without all of the wonderful people we have in our lives to look up to.

Website: www.bylexandlu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinted.bylexandlu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinted.bylexandlu

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tinted-by-lex-and-lu-erie?osq=tinted.+by+lex+and+lu

Other: https://www.instagram.com/linked.bylexandlu/

Image Credits
McKenzie Coyle Photography