Lisa Lewis - Building Confidence and Community Through Glow and Go
Jul 17, 2024
Alimond Studio
Lisa Lewis turned a skin cancer scare into a thriving business that boosts confidence and brings joy to her clients. Hear how a personal crisis and a spontaneous trip to Boca inspired Lisa to create Glow and Go Organic Spray Tanning, an enterprise that now serves over 3000 clients. Lisa shares the emotional journey of how spray tanning became a beacon of self-esteem and mental well-being during the pandemic. Learn about her home-based salon renovations designed to offer a welcoming and uplifting space for everyone who walks through her doors.
In a heartening collaboration, Miss Loudoun County, Brianna Turner, joins us to discuss the creation of the "Miss Virginia" necklace, aimed at supporting the Miss Arlington Organization's Scholarship Foundation. The meaning behind the five charms and the dedication of all proceeds to education are just some of the highlights. Additionally, discover how Lisa's daughters inspired her to introduce permanent jewelry at her salon, leading to a successful venture at farmer's markets and special events. We wrap up with a poignant message on empathy and unity, emphasizing the importance of supporting each other through adversity. This episode is packed with personal stories, business insights, and community initiatives that will leave you inspired.
Lisa Lewis turned a skin cancer scare into a thriving business that boosts confidence and brings joy to her clients. Hear how a personal crisis and a spontaneous trip to Boca inspired Lisa to create Glow and Go Organic Spray Tanning, an enterprise that now serves over 3000 clients. Lisa shares the emotional journey of how spray tanning became a beacon of self-esteem and mental well-being during the pandemic. Learn about her home-based salon renovations designed to offer a welcoming and uplifting space for everyone who walks through her doors.
In a heartening collaboration, Miss Loudoun County, Brianna Turner, joins us to discuss the creation of the "Miss Virginia" necklace, aimed at supporting the Miss Arlington Organization's Scholarship Foundation. The meaning behind the five charms and the dedication of all proceeds to education are just some of the highlights. Additionally, discover how Lisa's daughters inspired her to introduce permanent jewelry at her salon, leading to a successful venture at farmer's markets and special events. We wrap up with a poignant message on empathy and unity, emphasizing the importance of supporting each other through adversity. This episode is packed with personal stories, business insights, and community initiatives that will leave you inspired.
Speaker 1:
My name is Lisa Lewis. I am the owner of Glow and Go Organic Spray Tanning. We also specialize in permanent jewelry and we are starting a new realm called Glow and Go Lifestyle. Everything originated from the spray tanning and it's just kind of crunching out. We are located in Loudoun County and we just the biggest thing is we just want to make people feel good. I love that.
Speaker 2:
Can you tell me a little bit about your story, about how you got into your industry? Or like what led you to it.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it's a funny story. So actually my best girlfriend and I started the company together, started over during COVID several years ago, and so, long story short, valentine's Day is my favorite holiday and my husband knows this and he always tries to make it special every year. And he was like we're going to go to Boca where his sister lives, and you're going to bring Becky. And so I was off to the tanning bed and Becky was like no, you're not going to the tanning bed. She had had a skin cancer scare from tanning beds. And she's like no, you're going with me and we're going to go get a spray tan. And I was just like what, what is this? I had no idea what it was, I'd never done it. What, what is this? I had no idea what it was, I'd never done it. I'm like a person is going to spray a tan on me. She's like, yeah, I was like, okay, this is when you really have to like trust your best friend you know, trust the process, trust your best friend.
Speaker 1:
I was like, okay, not in my comfort zone at all. So I went and got a spray tan and I was like, oh my gosh, magically, eight hours later I was tan and literally like jumping around the house because I just felt like so much better about myself. It was winter, you know, it's February there was snow on the ground and my whole like sense was just like lifted. So we went on our trip and while we were on the trip it was just a joke and our husbands are like you guys are you know you're really into skin care and taking care of yourselves. You should look into getting a spray gun and just spraying each other during the winter so you can feel better about yourselves, not dwell on the long, you know, dreary winters in.
Speaker 1:
Virginia. And so I did and I'm just being a teacher, I love researching and you know, just I can do that for hours. So I just researched, researched, researched for a couple of weeks and then found a gun and watched YouTube video after YouTube video and, long story short, we started spraying our friends and the biggest revelation that came out of that we did that for practice, ultimately, but the biggest revelation that came out of it was that people just left feeling better about themselves, like we would literally watch them coming in and just like, hi, come on, let's do this. And then literally skipping out of my house and with COVID, there was a lot of people depressed. It really started to weigh on you, especially, like I said, in the winters, and it lifted people's spirits. Our girlfriends were texting us and saying, lisa, do you not know how much better I feel this week Just having this glow it just brought out, you know, like such a better energy for me.
Speaker 1:
And then our friends that have skin cancer or skin cancer scares. They were coming, people with the discoloration of skin. Just it helped to mask that and I'm getting goosebumps because it was just such an amazing. It was just so much more about just this look of having a tan. It was just something that just brought out this whole inner confidence and self-worth. And so then, becky and I reevaluate and we're like, okay, maybe we should like rethink this. And this isn't just for you and I, you know, and her being in human resources and me being a teacher, we're both just very. I mean, we're just givers, we love to, we love to please, we're pleasers. You know, it's just in our and just seeing what we could do, coming together, being a dynamic duo.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, for something that sounds, I guess, in a sense materialistic or vain spray tanning, you know. But it's so much more than that. It can be uplifting too right, it's very uplifting.
Speaker 2:
And, like you said, like for people who have maybe skin cancer concerns or scares, that's perfect, and to me it's just not wanting to miss out part of the experience right, yeah, yeah, oh, and even just I was even thinking this is people, you know, there weren't gyms open and things like that.
Speaker 1:
People were, you know, not feeling that energy to go out and work out anymore, even in their home. But then, when they would come and it tones you, it makes you look toner, it shows what tone you have, it actually enhanced people's workouts. So, just like there's just so many things I could go on A good domino effect, yes, a good domino effect. I could go on forever. But so, long story short, go Go. Started three years ago and now we have a clientele over 3000. Wow, congratulations. Yeah, and what started as one spray tan has evolved into thousands. So, trying to make everybody feel better, one spray tan at a time.
Speaker 2:
I truly love that and I love that you get to spread that joy with everybody, one glow at a time. And now I wanted to know about your renovation that you had that happened this year, right For your, your business.
Speaker 1:
For the salon. Yeah, the salon, thank you. That's the word.
Speaker 2:
Talk to me a little bit about that and what kind of vibes you wanted to have in your salon.
Speaker 1:
Oh, that's exciting. So we yeah, we originally just started with, you know, a spray tan tent. We actually run the salon out of my home and it has a whole dedicated floor room, a lobby area, restroom, and then we even have a little area of when we have small parties that people can kind of take over with a mini kitchen and music and all that. But then we did a renovation and that I wanted to make it more upscale and cutting edge, where people weren't going and standing in a spray tent, which can also be kind of claustrophobic and small, especially for the like bodybuilder guys that we're doing and stuff, and they're like barely able to like, and also, just, you know, elevated, and when you walk in you immediately just feel this sense of calm and comfort. And so we did that.
Speaker 1:
And my husband is amazing. He, I was looking at booths that were like high grade and contract and everything very lucrative, and my husband just he should have been an engineer. He just looked at that and he was like no, no, no, I'm going to make you that. And so just, we have a really high end booth now. We are using high end products. We launched our own products. Talk to me about that, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:
So this is, this is our coconut cream lotion and and it's like ultra-hydrating. This little bottle would like last you all summer, because a little goes a long way. It smells amazing. I chose the coconut cream because it makes me constantly feel like I'm at the beach. Oh yes, and so not only feeling good, now I feel like I smell. You know I can smell like the ocean and tropics. I smell, you know I can smell like the ocean and tropics. And we also came out with a exfoliating mitt and a sunless tanning mousse and mitt to go with that. So super exciting. And we're kind of looking into other things that we want to branch out. We're looking into an exfoliating scrub, Okay, and some other things just to kind of bring out more of the skin care. Yeah, and the maintenance you guys can do at home in between sessions with us yeah, it's for that upkeep, right.
Speaker 2:
Making sure your glows at the best.
Speaker 1:
that can be right, yeah, so that has been exciting, so that was an exciting thing this year.
Speaker 2:
I love that. And now you said something about a bodybuilder. Tell me about your clientele, tell me what kinds of all people you have coming in, and all that good stuff.
Speaker 1:
Oh my gosh, yeah, I had no idea. So our clientele ranges from five-year-olds to the oldest I have done is an 88-year-old. They are every walk of life, from dancers to pageants, to models going to photo shoots, mamas to be your suburban mom, everything, bodybuilders, I mean. Yeah, it just goes on and on, men, women, whatever, you know all walks of life.
Speaker 2:
Now can you show me your little certificate that you have and talk to?
Speaker 1:
us about that. So one of the things that we're really proud of is we have partnered up with the Miss Arlington organization yeah, show it and we are a proud sponsor of them and we take care of the pageant girls that are in Northern Virginia. We'll take care of any pageant girl in Virginia, basically, but obviously the Northern Virginia ones are around and we've grown some close connections with the various ladies that are in the Miss Virginia and the Miss Virginia team. So that's been really exciting and that has led to some other different things in that not just spray tanning, but we have been able to offer them experiences with their public speaking by coming and visiting us at our farmers markets and just being able to communicate and converse with a diverse collection of population and giving them that confidence. And then one of Miss Loudoun County she just amazing.
Speaker 1:
I can't say enough about Brianna Turner. She wanted to do something more to give back and so she and I partnered up and collaborated and created a necklace. It's a Miss Virginia necklace and she picked out five different charms that have symbolism to her and to Virginia and she has a little write-up about each one and all of the proceeds go back to the Miss Arlington Organization, um Scholarship Foundation because, being an app, being a teacher, I'm obviously an avid of continuing your education and being a lifelong learner and SG and it's been amazing. The necklace has just taken off and I've sold over 40 necklaces that have all gone back and will continue to do so. And just to see, here is just a little picture of Brianna with her signature and just a little bit about. She calls it the Queen's Collection and it just gives you a little bit of background behind that and the necklace. You can see on our website and along with the write-up of everything, and you can see Miss Brianna Turner herself talking about the necklace and everything.
Speaker 2:
So on your website they can like see all of that and purchase all that good stuff. Yeah, actually on our Instagram, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Well, actually, website, website or Instagram, um, they can see all that for purchase and everything that they want to do.
Speaker 2:
Perfect, and I know you also have permanent jewelry at your salon, correct? Yes, I know.
Speaker 1:
We're kind of an so um, so the permanent jewelry kind of stemmed. We have three daughters and they are 16, 21, and 23, and they're very up on the up and they came to both my husband and I and they're like you guys should do this permanent jewelry thing.
Speaker 2:
Your husband's always coming up with these ideas. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Well, yeah, so no, the girls came up with it, okay. And I was like, hmm, so I looked into it. I was watching TikTok, all this stuff, and I'm like, wow, this is like, and I love jewelry, our girls love jewelry and I was like this is exciting, this is fun. I was like this is so up my husband's alley and this would give my husband and I something to do as well. As much as I love doing the spray tanning with my girlfriend, I wanted to be able to bring my husband into it. So it's one of those things where you, um, instead of ask for permission, you beg for forgiveness. So I did some research without him knowing, and suddenly had a high grade and um jewelry welding machine delivered to our home and I started messing with it when, you know, not saying a word to him.
Speaker 2:
What was that that you just got?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah. And you know, I'm like having it spark and I'm really acting like I have no idea what it is, what to do with it. I'm acting helpless. And he's like what is this? This was to get his buy-in Right and I was like, oh, I bought this welding machine or something. I just don't know what to do. And you know, the girls want this permanent jewelry and, long story short, he's mastered it.
Speaker 2:
Perfect yeah.
Speaker 1:
So now we spend our weekends at farmer's markets doing the permanent jewelry and welding. This shorter one is just a necklace and it's just basically. You know we get a lot of questions about permanent jewelry. Basically, it's just claspless, it's just a necklace and it's just basically. You know we get a lot of questions about permanent jewelry. Basically, it's just claspless, it's customized, it's fit to wherever you want and you can add charms and necklaces I mean charms and connectors Okay, and you can have it in bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and it's just fun. I love that.
Speaker 2:
I have a question about that, yeah, so it's permanent jewelry and so you can wear it everywhere, so I guess that's okay, like in the water and everything is good.
Speaker 1:
Oh, great questions. Yeah, so we only use 14-karat gold-filled, which is meant to last for years. It's predominantly gold with an alloy in the middle to keep it strong and it doesn't have the heavy price point of solid gold and it's not needed for everyday wear over years. And then we also offer 925 sterling silver. This necklace I've had on since last June Whoa, I've not cleaned it once. I'm bad with that and it has not come off. It hasn't tarnished. That is amazing, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I know I'm going to keep this one on forever just to see, like Until it goes right yeah, and we ought to be an advocate of, like, how long it will last. I love that finally went yeah, so it's been exciting and so we've been doing the permanent jewelry at farmer's markets and some small parties, wedding events, pre-wedding events so people can book you for that. Yes, they can book us for any of those things and, yeah, my plate is filling. Sounds like a lot of fun stuff.
Speaker 2:
It's just fun stuff, it's just fun stuff.
Speaker 1:
It's fun being with people and out with these other businesses at the farmer's markets and having that extra time with my husband.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, no, Tell me about your marketing Like, are you putting yourself out there, putting like what your services are? I know you like to look at TikTok. Are you inspired by any of that and like getting your business out there?
Speaker 1:
Oh my gosh great question, wow, so, um, not going to lie. Being in front of a camera is not really my favorite. I don't like hearing my voice and I just don't think I'm charismatic and um, like all these Tik Tokers and influencers, um, but see, I even say um too much. Yeah, so, um, but see, I did it again, you're proving the point Stop it.
Speaker 1:
I know, I know I'm ruining it, so that is something. Um, now that the school year has ended and I've had this time over the summer, that is something that I have been working on. Um, the Instagram is like an amazing avenue just to meet so many other business owners. An amazing avenue just to meet so many other business owners, collaborate, get ideas, feed off each other, build one another. It's an amazing arena. I almost treat it like a party, like all of social media is an event and you just go and put yourself out there and introduce yourself and get to know these other people through their reels and their posts and what they're doing, and I literally just message them and say, hey, I love this that you're doing. This is amazing. Just kind of build them up. I guess it's the teacher in me coming out, yeah, yeah, and I formed so many connections. I mean not to, I mean I'm just excited about this. But in February we had 600 followers on Instagram, okay, and now we have almost 10,000.
Speaker 2:
Oh my gosh, whoa Girl, that's a big jump yeah, so that's been exciting. You're doing something right.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2:
I don't know what I'm doing. I mean connecting with people every day. I think it's the outlook you have. I think I want to go back to that point that you just said that you look at it as like a party right. Most people or business owners will either pay someone else to do it or they'll look at it as like, oh, and there's nothing wrong with that right, because everybody has different strengths and weaknesses and things that they like. But oftentimes they don't look at it as a party. They are like, oh, I have to post, or like I don't want to do this. So I think that is a testament to how you're looking at it and why it's worked. And that jump in followers is going up, because when people see that passion, they're drawn to you and they're like holy crap, like that's amazing. I'm going to follow her and keep up because I want that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and I think just being genuine, just exactly, just like you are at an event and I guess I love entertaining and hosting, so I have to reel back on what my strengths are and what my forte and comfort level is, and so that's just kind of the yeah, exactly the take I've taken on it and I'm excited and yeah, with that, we've already had three collabs with local businesses and skincare and just, you know, Virginia Institute and just all these other companies, and we have another big giveaway coming in August and I'm super excited. It's between eight we are up to eight to ten different vendors. Wow.
Speaker 1:
From everything from fitness to skin care, facials, spray tanning, of course, and just all these other self-care things. But it's just amazing to bring these women together, these businesses together, community here, this community together, everything, men, everything, and being able to offer these goods to our community. I love that.
Speaker 2:
No, I love what you're doing and I love that you're bringing other people together as a collaboration and uplift each other. That is beautiful. Keep it up. I truly love that you're doing that, as far as I had like a really good question.
Speaker 1:
No, you've asked so many good questions and I was like boom, boom, boom and you've hit on everything, so I guess, well, yeah, no, I would just say you know where we're going from here.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, please tell me, like any upcoming things or anything you want people to know about. Like any upcoming? Events or new products or new services. Tell us about that, so like any upcoming events or new products or new services.
Speaker 1:
Tell us about that. So I guess one of the new things that I had mentioned previously was glow and go lifestyle, and that's. I guess I just have a lot. I'm a jack of all trades, I'm a master of none, right? I just I love a lot of things. I love home and decor, and when people come for a spray tan, they're often like they come in and they're like wow, will you come decorate my house? Or where'd you get that?
Speaker 2:
Or how did you?
Speaker 1:
think to put that together and so I have started a just launched this week a glow and go lifestyle storefront through Amazon and starting to build boards of my home and the different rooms in my home and how you can emulate it and buy the products through Amazon, and I'm excited about that. And then I'm working with them on their influencer program with the videos and their reviews. So look at you go. Yeah, it's just exciting. And again, it's just there's no end.
Speaker 2:
You're amazing dude You're like oh, I don't know how to be charismatic Like girl you are and like the fact that you can set all of this up and like, show people and share like your amazing ideas. I think that's great.
Speaker 1:
Oh yeah, but let's not be fooled. I'm holding. I say to everybody, I say I look like I have it all together, but I'm holding it all together with one bobby pin. Well you're doing amazing.
Speaker 2:
I love it. It's holding quite well.
Speaker 1:
Oh, thank you, but just want to be real and authentic. Yeah, no, no, no, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:
But good for you, like I'm glad that you're and a lot of business owners. I know it sounds easy, but a lot of business owners really kind of struggle in that department.
Speaker 1:
Oh no, I'm struggling, but yeah, and going back to being a lifelong learner I love to learn and I'm not comfortable. I'm not in my comfort zone, but if I remember that I love to learn and so just keeping that going. So just a good lesson for all of us too and still You're right.
Speaker 2:
Now I'm going to wrap things up a little bit. Can you leave our audience members with a message, anything that's either in your heart or that's been on your mind, maybe a mantra that you live by, that you would like to leave us with?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean, just nobody knows what everyone is going through, nobody knows what's going on behind, and we're all going through something Everyone is and just knowing that and looking out for one another and just supporting one another because we're all in this together and just supporting one another because we're all in this together, and so just kind of uplifting one another and empowering one another, however that may be.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that's a beautiful message. I have to agree with that.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for being on the show. Oh, thank you for having me. This has been really exciting. You've been great to chat with. Thank you, thank you.
