Behind every business is a story of how it got there and what it means to the entrepreneur who runs it. On this episode of Local Business, Jason talks to husband and wife team Christina and Garrett Lichtenberg about Bella Donna beauty salon and spa—how they got started, what it takes to keep the salon going and how they support themselves and their six children with the profits. Christina tells Jason about how she trained as a beautician and set up her own business. She shares her business philosophy, which is all about creating a welcoming atmosphere for clients and a supportive environment for her staff and contractors. You’ll hear about what it’s like to do business in a “lawless land” and why they don’t need to spend a single dollar on marketing. Christina and Garrett also get real about some of their hardest business lessons and what they want to achieve in the future.
Christina and Garrett are great examples of the talented and hardworking entrepreneurs in the tri-county area. If you love learning about local businesses and want to support the entrepreneurs in your community, make sure to subscribe to the Local Business podcast and recommend it to your friends and neighbors.
Timestamps
[0:42] Christina gives Jason the Bella Donna elevator pitch
[1:52] “How did you get started?”: Starting a business during COVID-19
[5:59] A different approach to competition and training staff
[7:33] Do you have employees or contractors?
[8:32] The origins of the Bella Donna name
[10:41] Community and relationships: How to market a business for free
[11:23] How do you run a business when you have 6 kids??!
[14:10] Why every business needs a Garrett
[17:03] “I feel most comfortable here”: The magic of a welcoming atmosphere
[18:40] Getting into the nitty gritty details of the Bella Donna business
[22:44] The typical Bella Donna customer profile and the services they request
[23:44] Doing business in the “lawless land”
[27:06] Doing the math on pricing up beauty services
[29:05] How long does it take to build a professional reputation?
[30:50] But… What is a Brazilian?? Jason learns some beauty secrets
[33:00] It’s time for the… Lightning Roooooooooouund!!
[34:38] What Christina wishes she knew before she started Bella Donna
[36:07] A masterclass in handling bad clients
[40:32] “Never have a business partner if you can avoid it”
[42:10] Why Canva is Christina’s favorite business tool
[43:20] Are robots the future of the beauty industry?
[45:21] Christina’s definition of success and her goal for Bella Donna
[47:20] Busting the biggest beauty industry myths
[48:18] How do beauty tattoos work?
[52:02] The most medical treatment at the salon
[54:08] What continuing education looks like for a beautician
[54:44] Kids and family: What motivates Christina
[56:55] Christina and Garrett’s words of wisdom
[59:35] How to find Bella Donna

Highlight Quote “Do it four feet at a time. Instead of not getting it done and seeing too big of a task that you won’t accomplish, don’t stop working on it. Don’t stop building on your dream, even if you can only do it four feet at a time” Garrett Lichtenberg, Local Business podcast, (41:52)

Links:
https://belladonnasa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/belladonna_company/?hl=en

https://txlocaltalent.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/check/add-phone?country_code=us
https://www.facebook.com/txlocaltalent
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1tzUASELeq89GBm1yeHIkw/featured
https://open.spotify.com/show/7N1EFqBxTHi7oHUAWEqCOE