Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Hammer.
Hi Kali, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kali, and I am the owner of Kalifornia Glow, which is located in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio. I am a wife and a mom of 3 kiddos. When I graduated college at BGSU in 2007, I wanted to make a difference! I worked for non-profit organizations for just over 15 years, doing development and fundraising work. I loved impacting the communities where I worked, but I always felt something was missing. A few years ago, my son Hendrix and I were driving, and he said, “Mommy, when will you be one of the mommies that take us to school and pick us up every day?” That hit my momma’s heart very hard and motivated me. The next day, I typed up my business plan and signed up for spray tanning and teeth whitening training in Michigan and Cincinnati. I opened “Kalifornia Glow” in March of 2022 and have never looked back. Last year, I could leave my full-time career, and I opened up a downtown salon in Bowling Green, where I provide my services and booth rent to other beauty professionals. I have found my passion in helping women feel more confident in their skin. I have since expanded my services and now offer spray tanning, teeth whitening, ear piercing, luxury foot detoxes, kids spa parties, permanent jewelry, and my newest venture, paramedical tattooing! I love every service I provide because I get to interact with all age demographics and impact their lives. I am happy to report that I am now taking my kids to and from school daily and loving every minute!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a business owner is not for the weak! If it were easy, everyone would do it. Learning how to market to every generation has been a learning experience, but I am finding ways to do it daily. Even though you think your hours will be shorter, a business owner never stops working. I am learning how to put my phone down and turn on my do not disturb to give my kids quality time when I am home. With each challenge, I am blessed to have my supportive husband, Matt, by my side to help me work through them together.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
With my work at Kalifornia Glow, I am genuinely known for my spray tans. I know there is a bad stigma about spray tans, but if you ask my clients, they will tell you I offer the best. They always look their best and natural, never orange. My goal is always to make my clients feel comfortable during their service. A spray tan can be a very vulnerable situation for many, and I get so many reviews that clients are nervous, so I went above and beyond to make them feel comfortable. I offer the highest quality spray tan solutions on the market and provide extra VIP treatments so my clients leave my space feeling amazing. I also make it my mission to check in with my clients and ensure they are happy with their tan; customer service is essential to me. I feel like I have gained so many new friends since building my business, and I am truly blessed and thankful for that. In my 2 short years of business, I have seen well over 1,100 clients, which makes me so proud! I created a safe and comfortable space to bring in little kids for ear piercings. I have a princess ear piercing. The package is a huge hit, and parents love it! I am so excited to be the first in the area to offer Paramedical Tattooing and help change lives. I can work on surgical scars, self-harm scars, childhood scars, accidental scars, and stretch marks and improve their texture, color, and appearance. This will be a game-changer for many people here in NW Ohio!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
If you are starting your small business, find a mentor, connect with others in your line of work, and build that friendship. I now have 2 best friends (Michigan and Pennsylvania) who I talk to every day and have them to reach out to in times of need or vent about my day. One of those friends and I even started a business where we teach beauty professionals to add a new service item to their menu! It is much easier to vent to another small business owner who knows exactly what you are going through than venting to your husband! Remind yourself that building a business is hard. Celebrate the small wins and the big wins and everything in between. Work hard, find your passion, and keep pushing daily to succeed.
Pricing:
- Spray Tanning $45
- Teeth Whitening $99
- Permanent Jewelry $50 & up
- Ear Piercing $70
- Paramedical Tattooing-reach out for more information
Contact Info:
- Website: http://kaliforniaglow.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaliforniaglowbg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaliforniaglow/
