Podcast Summary: Beauty with a Twist - "I Just Had My Worst Financial Year as a Business Owner"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Beauty with a Twist
• Host: Dede
• Guest: Leslie Mendoza, Owner of Prime Boudor
• Episode: I Just Had My Worst Financial Year as a Business Owner
• Release Date: May 16, 2025

1. Introduction of Leslie Mendoza and Prime Boudor

The episode opens with Dede welcoming Leslie Mendoza, the owner of Prime Boudor, a brow business based in Whittier with a station in Granada Hills, California. Leslie introduces herself and shares her passion for brow artistry, emphasizing her long-term commitment to the beauty industry.

2. Leslie's Journey into the Beauty Industry

Early Passion and Career Shift

Leslie reveals her longstanding love for eyebrow styling, a hobby she began as a teenager during recess. Despite her passion, she initially pursued a different career path by attending medical school to learn coding and billing. However, her true calling led her back to brow artistry.

Leslie Mendoza (01:09): "Everyone when you're younger, your parents tell you, you know, you're going to be a doctor and be a lawyer, whatever. So I never took it seriously."

Transition to Brow Artistry

Facing financial pressures after becoming a young mother and dealing with significant student loans, Leslie began offering brow services to supplement her income. She learned threading by watching a looped video at the Panorama Mall and honed her skills through practice and online tutorials.

Leslie Mendoza (02:17): "I did threading, and when YouTube came out, I found a threading video and learned the method myself."

3. Growth of the Business

Establishing Prime Boudor

After gaining experience in various salons, including a challenging stint at a barber shop in San Fernando, Leslie eventually opened her own salon in Granada Hills in 2014. By 2017, she expanded to Whittier, becoming a prominent figure in the beauty community and earning the nickname "brow guru."

Leslie Mendoza (04:57): "She's like, we're doing it, we're doing it."

Financial Success Pre-COVID

Before the pandemic, Leslie's business thrived with multiple locations, high client demand, and substantial revenue. She managed a large salon with numerous stations and private rooms, steadily growing her clientele.

Leslie Mendoza (10:21): "I was charging anywhere from 20 to 25, and then I was charging 25 for stain, like about that."

4. Impact of COVID-19 on Prime Boudor

Initial Boom and Subsequent Challenges

During the onset of COVID-19, Leslie experienced a temporary surge in business due to increased demand and financial support programs like stimulus checks and PPP loans. However, as restrictions eased, the business faced significant downturns.

Leslie Mendoza (14:39): "I was terrified of COVID. I didn't know what was going on."

Transition to Booth Rentals

Changes in labor laws required a shift from commission-based payments to hourly wages, leading Leslie to adopt a booth rental model. This transition was challenging, especially managing rent prices and maintaining staff morale.

Leslie Mendoza (19:08): "They could be commission or hourly, just depending on how new they were."

Employee Issues and Financial Struggles

Leslie encountered severe issues with employees stealing money and even suing her, which severely impacted her finances. By 2024, she faced her worst financial year, struggling to keep the business afloat amidst mounting debts and operational costs.

Leslie Mendoza (28:08): "2024, last year was the worst year I've ever had in my life. Income wise."

5. Lessons Learned and Business Adaptations

Focusing on Booth Rentals and Regular Clients

To reduce stress and manage finances better, Leslie fully transitioned to a booth rental model. She emphasized the importance of focusing on regular clients rather than chasing new trends or high-paying influencers, prioritizing authentic relationships and consistent customer service.

Leslie Mendoza (33:56): "A lot of people are holding on. During COVID, it was easier to get into the education game because everybody else is doing it."

Emphasizing Personal Growth and Customer Service

Leslie highlights the importance of internal growth, authenticity, and exceptional customer service in sustaining and growing a business. She discusses how her experiences humbled her and reshaped her approach to managing Prime Boudor.

Leslie Mendoza (66:10): "And your talent will grow as long as you're open to learn."

6. Advice for Upcoming Brow Artists

Key Attributes for Success

Leslie advises aspiring brow artists to prioritize drive, determination, and a willingness to learn over pure technical skill. She emphasizes the value of authentic interactions with clients and the importance of solving their problems effectively.

Leslie Mendoza (41:57): "It's kind of 90%. It's really, honestly 90% your drive, your determination, and, like, your hunger to learn."

Building Authentic Relationships

She underscores the significance of building strong, authentic relationships with clients, ensuring consistent quality and customer satisfaction to foster loyalty and retention.

Leslie Mendoza (43:46): "Another thing I tell my students is we're here to solve a problem. That's it."

7. Closing Thoughts and Inspirational Quotes

As the episode concludes, Leslie shares a motivational quote that encapsulates her philosophy on business and personal growth.

Quote: "Your business will only grow as much as you do internally."

She reiterates the importance of continuous personal development and exceptional customer service as foundational to business success.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Leslie Mendoza (01:09): "Everyone when you're younger, your parents tell you, you know, you're going to be a doctor and be a lawyer, whatever. So I never took it seriously."
• Leslie Mendoza (02:17): "I did threading, and when YouTube came out, I found a threading video and learned the method myself."
• Leslie Mendoza (28:08): "2024, last year was the worst year I've ever had in my life. Income wise."
• Leslie Mendoza (41:57): "It's kind of 90%. It's really, honestly 90% your drive, your determination, and, like, your hunger to learn."
• Leslie Mendoza (66:10): "And your talent will grow as long as you're open to learn."

Conclusion

In this candid episode of Beauty with a Twist, Leslie Mendoza shares her tumultuous journey as a brow artist and business owner, highlighting the highs of entrepreneurial success and the lows of financial crises exacerbated by unforeseen challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration for those in the beauty industry, emphasizing the critical balance between business acumen, personal growth, and the unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.