History of the Business: Gorgeous Glow Mobile Airbrush Tans
At Shop Small Fort Worth are all about preserving our community’s character through local businesses. We care about their stories, their trials, and their successes. We are excited to get to know the business owners and creators on a more intimate level and understand exactly what inspired the formation of their businesses and how they want their business to impact the local community. Here, in our “History of the Business” Blog Series, we let them tell their stories, and maybe, by doing so encourage others to start one of their own!
This week we welcome our guest blogger Liz Nelson of Gorgeous Glow Mobile Airbrush Tans. This was her at the age of 5 when the thought of being a small business owner in the world of social tanning was just a twinkle in her little eyes. We'll let Liz take it from here…
Little dreamer at the young age of 5!
Although always being told I have a German-Italian background, an olive skin tone was not something I obtained via the good ole gene pool. Darker skin tones have always mesmerized me with their glowing beauty, so once I was introduced to the fabulousness of airbrush tanning I was instantly hooked! The quick process and #instatan (you like how I plugged one of my favorite hashtags in there?) became things I sought every couple of weeks so I could maintain a pretty tan color. My husband, the typically more logical one of the pair of us, suggested I invest in my own airbrush system and learn how to perform airbrush tans myself to save and then make money. Sure, why not? So I started my research, bought my first system and tan tent, and the journey began.
Husband Reggie and two beautiful daughters Teryn and Tyler Grace
I was in nursing school at the time so although the idea of a small business was not yet formed, I knew I would be adhering to medical recommendations with the products I chose to use because, as the registered nurse scope of practice states, professional nursing requires substantial specialized judgment and skill.
My patients are cuter than yours (pediatric nurse)!
It was not until two years later that I really started to get my gears turning in regards to a mobile airbrush tanning business. A friend ran a promotional company in Houston, at the time, and became very interested in helping me with my start up, so we began logo design and print marketing work. I learned a lot about small business logistics while also discovering my love for marketing and event planning via her experience and own business. This is when my business purpose formulated itself: providing safe tans in a social way!
On site tanning at luxury apartment complexes
As a woman and user of beauty products I realized the aesthetic market remained successful by providing convenient products and services, but I also recognized that this clientele had become more focused on healthy and animal/environmentally friendly options as well. May of 2014 the FDA increased the skin cancer risk associated with indoor tanning use so this was a major push for me in terms of creating a service that not only felt wanted by potential clientele but would also grow with love for it. Via medical research in dermatology and pharmacology and going through the spray tanning technician certification process with the National Spray Tanning Professionals Association, I equipped myself with the knowledge to test and finalize spray tanning solutions and provide nearly flawless airbrush tans (do not allow any technician to fool you, not every airbrush tan session is perfect!)
Star McHodgkins (Feathers), myself, Alyssa Petrus (Stacked Jewels), and Laura Cardno (City Surf Fitness)
Last year I really began promoting my tan party packages in the private home setting, small gyms, and even after hours at businesses. It has been so much fun watching Fort Worth’s social and small business world grow, and I have jumped right in! My aim is to ensure I remain on top of the healthiest and most fun trends with airbrush tanning, and provide the confidence it instills in people so they can thoroughly enjoy their busy work weeks in addition to social weekends off.
Hope to event with you soon!
Liz Nelson
Facebook | Instagram | 817.903.0160
Thank you so much to Liz for sharing your small business experience and goals with us and for making sure that your client's health is of the utmost importance to you. As a client myself I appreciate that, and seriously, her airbrush tans are amazing!!! And guess what?! She is teaming up with us to treat TWO lucky ladies to a free airbrush tan! Liz will bring her Gorgeous Glow
Mobile Airbrush Tanning booth to you! Who is ready to grab your bestie and get your tan on?!
To enter follow these steps:
Make sure you are following @shopsmallfortworth and @lizdiane85 on Instagram
Head to the Shop Small Fort Worth Instagram or Facebook Page, find the pic of Liz with her airbrush gun and tag 3 friends in the comments
For a BONUS entry, leave a comment on this blog post!
You may enter on BOTH Instagram and Facebook. Must live in the Fort Worth area. Giveaway runs until Sunday 7/29 at midnight. All entries will be combined and chosen at random. We will announce a winner within 48 hours after the giveaway has ended. Winner will be posted in the comments and tagged in the post of our SSFW social accounts. Good Luck!
Would you like your business to be featured in our “History of the Business” blog series?
Email us at marketing@shopsmallfortworth.com for more info.
