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Conversations with the Inspiring Alexis Weisenburger

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Weisenburger.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Alexis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a licensed cosmetologist, licensed lash artist, educator, entrepreneur and the founder and owner of AW Lashes in Centennial, CO.

My story starts with a Groupon and a conversation with my mom. I was actually still in high school and was having a conversation with my mom – she had heard about lash extensions and said I should look into it. Soon after that conversation, I happened to see a Groupon for $800 for a course from “Extensions by Lindy” (now EBL Lashes). I loved it and found that I had a natural talent for applying extensions – and used lashing to then pay for cosmetology school following high school.

Being a lash artist has been an amazing career for me and it’s brought me so many opportunities. It allowed me to go to school, helped put my husband through his undergraduate schooling and is now paying for dental school. Through careful saving and budgeting it has also helped me to start my own business, a dream I’ve had for so many years, absolutely debt-free.

I’ve had the opportunity to help several major lash companies develop their education and training programs, train hundreds of other lash artists, present education sessions in New York at the IBS show and even be featured in Birdie Magazine.

A little over a year ago, with the help of my amazing husband, I was able to open AW Lashes in Parker. The response was AMAZING! We actually outgrew our initial location and re-located to Centennial and celebrated our grand opening in July of this year with an event to benefit the Rocky Mountain Scleroderma Foundation. We absolutely love the local community and we are so grateful for the support we have received – from other businesses and our clients.

My husband and I are here to stay in Colorado and I am so excited by what the future holds here!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been completely smooth. However, what has helped me was budgeting and saving money and also my support system.

Every time I got paid (including tips), I would use a 3-account system. Every penny was divided into 3 different accounts. One was a savings account that we didn’t touch. Another account was the money we needed to live on (rent, utilities, food, etc.) and the third account was for schooling (for my husband’s degree and any additional training I needed). In addition, we found someone we trusted to help us invest our savings so that it wasn’t just sitting, but instead growing.

I’ll admit we weren’t living a glamorous life. We weren’t going out every weekend, we didn’t eat out except for special occasions, I didn’t splurge on clothes and other things I would have liked to purchase. Instead, we focused on our needs and went without a lot of wants.

The reward was opening AW Lashes a little over a year ago DEBT FREE and the first month being able to turn a profit!!

Even now, I use the 3-account system so that I can grow AW Lashes and make it amazing (every Saturday, I clean the space myself!), pay the tuition for my husband’s dental school program and take care of all of our needs.

So, if I could give advice for other women with the dream to own their own business – I would have to say, surround yourself with people who love and support you and budget your money and save every penny you can!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into AW Lashes story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a lash artist specializing in mega volume lashes – which is the most technically difficult type of lash extensions to apply but creates the fullest lash line. Mega volume lashes refer to the number of synthetic lashes that are applied to the natural lash in what is called a fan. Mega volume can include as many as 12 synthetic lashes applied to a single natural lash. It’s a very difficult skill to create the fan, apply it correctly – to avoid damage to the natural lash and add dramatic beauty.

AW Lashes is really set apart from other lash studios because of the environment for the women that work with me and the quality and training of the artists. I have worked extremely hard to create a work environment that lifts and inspires. Happy employees create an environment where everyone wants to be and makes you want to do your best – that shows in our client’s lashes.

I also personally hire each and every lash artist working at AW to ensure quality. At the end of the day, it’s my name on the door, and so I want to ensure that every lash that is placed is done correctly and safely.

When you get your lashes done at AW Lashes you can be assured you are with the best of the best – and our clients are proof of that!

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
There are so many people, both men and women, in my life that have inspired and given me the strength to keep going, even with the road was hard.

There are so many women in the Lash industry that have started with basically nothing and built successful companies, Kim Jaynes (Borboleta Beauty) and Lindy Williams (EBL Lashes) – even with their success still find personal ways to reach out to individual lash artists and help and lift them and do what they can to help them succeed in the industry. Both have been a major inspiration and played a role in who I am today and have helped me find success.

Previous co-workers – women who even in a negative work environment helped to inspire me to create something better and listen and have supported me while on this journey of starting something of my own.

And even now, every day I draw strength and inspiration from the women who surround me – those I work with, family members and friends.

Pricing:

  • If you’ve been interested in trying out lash extensions and see if they work for you and your lifestyle – now is the time!! It’s almost holiday season – so it’s great to have your makeup on, even first thing in the morning! We are running a special, a full Classic Set of lashes is $25 off when you book with Candice. Appointments must be booked by October 31, 2019 and be completed by December 31, 2019 to take advantage of this pricing! Book your appointments now! The holiday season is almost here and appointments go quickly!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
(Personal Photo) Hillary Taylor, other pictures Nicole Marcelli

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