Meet Marion Lawson | Licensed Esthetician & Acne Specialist

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

Hi Marion, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In the first 5 years of my carrer, I truly never thought I wanted to own my own business. Prior to finding my buisness partner. Hillary Bacigalupo, I was 100% okay with having someone take a percentage of my pay check to do the mundane things I didn’t want to handle.

After meeting and joining forces with Hillary, that thought changed completely. I went from not ever wanting to own my own business, to being handed an opportunity to not only run my own business, but be given a runway to do so.

As I started working for myself, I learned that I was absolutely meant to own a business and run the show myself, and I would never change that now being 5, almost 6 years into it!

What should our readers know about your business?
I own and operate my own esthetics business which primarily focuses on clearing acne, and acne scarring. I love being able to take someone who has tried every thing within reach to them to clear their acne, who hasn’t been able to, and give them the education, tools, and products to clear it together. I do this with a mind, body, and gut approach and all without the use of harsh antibiotics, prescriptions, retinol, or Accutane to do this. I am able to breathe life back into people after feeling so broken down and raw from all the years of not having clear skin. If you haven’t had acne before, it is very disheartening and makes us feel very shameful. Before becoming an Acne Specialist, I myself struggled with acne for almost 10 years. Once I had the proper training and knowledge, I have been able to clear (and keep clear) myself, my mom, my sister, and countless other people. This approach is not for everyone, and requires a level of commitment not everyone has.

The ones that do posses this, have wildly great success and live a fuller and much more free life not being brought down by the weight of something we cannot control without proper knowledge. This is the MOST fulfilling part of my career and I truly cannot express the way this fills my heart being able to change someone’s life in a way someone who doesn’t have acne, doesn’t understand. If you have or have had acne, you understand the jail it can put you in.

I also co-own a collective (On Point Collective) with my business partner, that houses 5 powerhouse women, where we provide services for; permanent makeup, facial waxing, brow and lash tinting & lifting, lash extensions, natural nail services, and body tattoos.

We all own our own businesses separately but, we operate as a collective together. We interact more like a traditional commission based salon and spa without the downsides. We have quarterly meetings, set sales and productivity goals, and focus on continued education to keep ourselves the most up to date we can be in beauty industry for our incredible clientele.

What I know sets us apart from a lot of different spaces, is that everyone owns and operates their own business, and not one of us provides the same type of services. We all provide a different set of skills that we are all specialized in. This type of set up really keeps team morale up, and stops the internal competition between one another when we all focus on our own craft. This has been incredible for all of us and allows for each woman to thrive within their skillset as well as, promote one another within our collective which in turn, helps all of our businesses grow.

Hillary and I started our business together under one umbrella (On Point Permanent) but, we each own our own individual businesses aside from the Collective we own together. We worked with just one another until we felt we were able to grow intentionally and have added women slowly. We only add women we feel bring a strong work ethic, a specialized skill set, they don’t just provide a service but create an experience, and someone who really fits within all of the different personalities we have. We have not grown fast and it has taken us almost 6 years to get to 5 women total. We are not in this for profit what so ever. We really want to bring strong women together who already provide an incredible service, but give them a space where they are supported, celebrated, and where we can all succeed.

This has not been the hardest venture but, has definitely not been the easiest one either. As we have grown, there of course has been challenges but, nothing that we haven’t been able to overcome, especially together. If you own a business with someone, having strong communication and being on the same page is an essential, Hillary and I are extremely alike, which has allowed us to stay on the same page while growing our businesses. We have had times where we were not on the same page, but we have sat down and had an open dialogue (that is, and always stays kind to one another) and we have always come out the other side, and even better than before.

Growing and maintaining business is not an easy feat. There are times where you have to say no to opportunities if you feel they are not right for you, or say no to clients who don’t fit within your morals or business model. There are times where you get a little lost in the sauce and have to refocus and find which direction you want to follow and decide the best route to get there. That can be a little difficult at times but, I truly believe as long as you have a strong support system within your business and outside of it, owning a business has so many more upsides than downsides!

Within the On Point Collective brand we are women owned and operated. We want a space where women and men feel not only safe and secure to come, but a place that celebrates them and really gives them an experience while they are in our studio. Our clients are not just clients to us. These are humans who we create real relationships with and even become friends with outside of work. I have gotten to be a part of the highest of highs with my clients and the lowest of lows. I have been with my clients through loss of family and friends, miscarriages, breakups, and even addiction. I have also been by their sides for graduations, engagements, marriages, their first baby, owning their first home, getting their first big promotion, starting their own businesses, and more.

There is so much more to the beauty industry than the fluff that is shown from the outside looking in. You see so much depth within people while working with them, and you get to know and meet so many wonderfully different and beautiful people which, is probably the biggest blessing there is in our industry.

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.
Our studio is located in Bethoud, Colorado. We are nestled just in between Boulder and Fort Collins. If someone were coming here I would start our morning off at Rise Bakery. This is a locally owned and operated spot that has incredible fresh baked goods and an espresso bar. We would get some coffee and a breakfast sandwich and sit outside on their patio to watch the traffic off Main Street. If this is a Saturday, we would then walk to the farmers market to get some fresh sourdough, pressed juice, and delicious sweet horseradish pickles.

After, I would want to take them to Carter Lake up the hill. This is where I have spent many summers growing up, and as an adult, boating, paddle boarding, camping, hiking, and just enjoying the sunshine! Next I would want to take them to Longmont, where I started my career. I would take them for lunch at The Roost, which is also locally owned and operated. We would get a craft cocktail (or mocktail) on their rooftop patio and enjoy some of their delicious, locally sourced, food.

We then would take a walk up and down Main Street, and stop by their plant shops, home stores, and little boutiques that have filled the street over the years. Maybe we would get our tarots read at the Magic Fairy Candle shop to keep it interesting and fun.

Finally, I’d bring them back to our home in Berthoud. I would cook them some dinner and sit outside with my three dogs and husband on our back patio that overlooks 4 different small farms. We would sit back, listen to some music, and wind down for the evening. If we are still up for it, let’s finish the day with a movie from the 90’s or early 2000’s while doing a luxurious skincare masque to refresh, hydrate, and brighten up our skin after having been outside all day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Number one, my husband Blaine Lawson. My husband is the entire reason I pursued esthetics and didn’t end up going back to college to finish my bachelors degree in business. He pushed me and made sure I followed not only my passion, but my dreams. He believed in me more than anyone else and I wouldn’t have pursued this path, had he not been my biggest supporter.

Number two, my parents, Patrick and April McFall, and my older sister, Bre Stricker. My parents not only believed in continued education, but believed in me and my dreams. It was a little out of the ordinary to go to trade school over college at the that time i did, and they stood right beside me as i toured cosmetology schools to figure out which school would best suit my needs. They not only supported me emotionally but supported this dream financially. I was able to start my career completely debt free because of them and their hard work throughout my life. My sister also was one of my biggest supporters (and test dummies) to get me to where I am today. She never questioned anything I did, just stood by and clapped as loud as she could for me.

Number three, my first mentor, and manager, Kayla Bliven. Kayla was the person to hire me right out of school. She was the spa manager at the time and an Esthetician of 5 years. She believed in me and pushed me more than anyone ever could have. She challenged me and made sure I was able to build my confidence up within the 4, almost 5 years, I worked there. She put me in every class that Aveda had offered for continued education. I was in classes 3-4 times a year because of her. She helped train me further once I got out of school and made sure I was truly one of the best estheticians I could be. I would never be the esthetician I am today, without her and her mentorship.

Last but not least, my business partner, Hillary Bacigalupo. She is the sole reason I own and operate my business and the sole reason I had left my little comfort zone of the salon and spa i was at prior. As I had said before, up until meeting and working with Hillary, I had no desire to go off on my own. Once Hillary and I connected, it was clear there was no other way to go.

Almost immediately, I saw all the benefits of operating as a solo esthetician. I got to control the front, and back of house and that changed how my business operated immensely which had an incredibly positive impact with my clients and my business. I was able to retain more clients and build my books faster than ever before. She truly took me in under her wing, invested in me, taught me everything she knew about business, helped me see the value in myself, and really provided an exceptional runway for me to start my business. I would have never owned my own business had it not been for Hillary.

Website: www.onpointpermanent.com

Instagram: @on.point.esthetics

Image Credits
Emily Moon; owner of e.Moon photography.