Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Sampson.
Hi Alisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I discovered my love for nails at a pretty early age when I met a fundamental mentor that let me into her world of beauty and nail artistry while I was dating her son in high school. She was an instructor at the local Cosmetology School, Mountainland Applied Technology, where I would later receive my MTECH Program Certificate in Cosmetology. During my time with her she not only indulged my artistic talents and cultivated my love of this profession, but she modeled how to be a strong, independent woman that made time for her kid’s activities and tailored her craft around a beautiful family life. It’s something I carried with me years down the road when I would find myself a recently divorced single mother that was trying to scrape my way back to independence and balance the challenging emotional needs and time constraints of being a sole parent/provider. I didn’t have the option or luxury anymore of failure and it would spark my phoenix moment in taking control of my life and chasing my passion by going back to school at thirty to become an Esthetician.
My life up to this point has been a pretty spectacular ride of unique moments like opening up Sparkle Shine Nails in 2007, being hired by Etsy to give manicures at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival which subsequently showcased my work on the attending celebrities and was featured in Stylewatch Magazine, and of course the beautiful events of the birth of my children. I started my journey in this business with my Utah State Board of Cosmetology license and learned pretty quickly afterwards that while my love for nails was definitive and I enjoyed my work in facials and waxing, my interest in haircutting/coloring was waning. I felt stuck and suffocated in cutting the same styles over and over again, the dead itchy hair got everywhere and drove me crazy and I finally made the decision to chase my passion and go back to school to become an Esthetician, thus starting the spa part of Sparkle Shine Spa in 2016.
Along with being an entrepreneur came the strong desire to teach and mentor the way that I had been cultivated at a young age and I’m proud to say I’ve mentored 10 interns within the last six years. My main goal in encouraging these internships is to give young women/men a chance to really dive into the details of the work to show them the realities of the profession and give them insight into their future should they choose to obtain certifications later on. Instead of learning the hard way like I did after paying for Cosmetology school and finding out some aspects of it didn’t bring joy to my life, I want these young adults to try as many services as they can before they commit their hard-earned money to a trade school or certification course. By mentoring them in this setting, I’m able to give them a variety of tasks to experience all aspects of being an entrepreneur. From being responsible for the daily tasks at the spa such as scheduling, cleaning, stocking, ordering, as well as managing and coordinating with other contracted artists and learning the marketing side of owning a business. I let them decide what services they would like to dive into and I teach them exclusively while using manikins to learn the latest techniques. In the near future, I’m hoping to expand my internship program to a virtual atmosphere where I can still offer one on one teaching of the techniques I use and my students can take these classes from the comfort of their homes and at a pace that fits their lives. Igniting their passion is my mission statement and I can’t wait to share it with you in the future when Sparkle Shine Spa is the foundational basis for many future artists.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
You know, I’ve had my fair share of struggles just like any business owner and it’s an understatement to say that small businesses are the backbone of America all while carrying the weight of the world on our backs. What makes our situations so unique is we deal with the best of both worlds in business and in our personal lives because as a small business owner in a small community, you can’t help but make it personal. The people that work for us become family and our clients and fellow business owners become such an ingrained part of our lives that it’s this beautiful messy masterpiece. I can’t tell you how many times my connections with the client at the other end of my lash, my brush, my instrument, becomes the fuel to the fire that lifts me from the ashes and gives me the courage to take a leap of faith or show up day after day. These people have become my friends and it seems that fate brings us together when we need it the most. I’ve laughed with and cried with my clients in the brightest of joyfulness and the darkest of times. I’ve learned that the struggles and obstacles I’ve been through can be a healing ointment and conduit to others’ experiences in those same areas and vice versa. I’ve failed more times than I can count. I’ve fallen so many times and usually in the most ungraceful way. But I’ve learned in this life that if I’m vulnerable and accountable in all aspects of my life with a mixture of light-hearted self-deprecating humor then it will ignite connections, opportunities and experiences that are beyond anything I could have ever wished for myself or my business.
We’ve been impressed with Sparkle Shine Spa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Delivering the best services in the Uinta Basin since 2007. With over 15 years of experience and 7 of those years teaching, Sparkle Shine Spa is one of the bright spots in our community. My passion for learning new techniques and sharing knowledge with others is one of my best features and a unique opportunity for those wanting to break into the beauty service industry.
I’m known for being a kick-a** lash artist, a creative nail designer and known for my high-quality products that help deliver longer wear times between services and a high-quality, natural product line of GlyMed products. I strive to make the most of my clients’ time by offering multiple services at once whether that be a pedicure/manicure while I’m lashing, powder fill brows/henna brows or any other service my clients are interested in. I know as a hard-working single mom that your time is limited and precious and I do my best to offer the pampering you deserve in that limited time you can schedule for yourself.
The services I offer are:
Lash Services-Lift, Extensions, Tint
Nail Services-Mani & Pedis
Brown Bar-Henna Brow
Waxing (Head to Toe)
Facials/Skin Analysis
Fibroblasting
Plasmablasting
Permanent Make-up/Corrective
Powder Fill-Nano Brows
Stretch Mark Camouflage
3D Areola Rejuvenation
Back Treatments
Skin Treatments
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Business Savage Show-Podcast with Cassandra Britton
The Mel Robbins Podcast
This is Ashlynn-Be the Buffalo Face the Storm-Podcast with Ashley Allen
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sparkle-shine-spa.webflow.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkle_shine_spa_salon?igshid=NDRkN2NkYzU=
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@alisasampson?_t=8VSg6ES2zmg&_r=1
Image Credits
Rae Whiting Photography
Pixel Goose Drone & Design
