Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Mojica.
Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As I remember growing up, I knew I wanted to help others. I grew up watching my mother struggle to raise 5 kids without my father’s help. Because of her determination and drive, she overcame many obstacles. The years of drug and physical abuse from my father would have caused anyone to quit, but not my mom; it drove her to be the best in her industry. We grew up in her medical rehabilitation clinic, folding towels, answering calls, checking patients in, and helping with my siblings. This early interaction in my mom’s business taught me at a young age the importance of perseverance and determination.
Many years later, with my daughter in my lap and my son in my belly, I knew my bachelor’s degree from USF wouldn’t be enough! I didn’t want to miss their childhood working a typical corporate job. I returned to school for a certification in early childhood education from Polk State College. My goal was to spray tan when I had off from teaching, during holidays and summer breaks.
I always loved how I felt after a spray tan. I was instantly slimmer, my clothes looked better, and I felt unstoppable. I knew I could be successful if I could make others feel how I did. I borrowed money from my sister and invested it into a machine and equipment. I then started learning the industry, researching solutions, and understanding products. A month into my spray tan career, I had already paid my sister back and realized, “dang, I’m good at this.” Having kids to raise alone, I also realized that spray tanning alone wouldn’t pay my bills. While looking for employment as a teacher, I was offered a position at Geico I couldn’t refuse. For seven years, I saved and continued growing my spray tanning business in my garage. I had a huge goal and plan; I would save enough money and open my brick-and-mortar location.
I knew this plan could not fail if I had goals in place and followed them. For years I worked all day at my desk job, then at night in my garage. Over the years, I managed to spray 20-30 clients a week in my little garage. This garage needed to be more pretty and reflect my quality of work.
Thankfully my clients trusted in me and believed in me. When the opportunity presented to open my first Brick & Morter location, I went all in. Within a month of opening my spray tan cottage in Jan 2020, my sales quadrupled, and I made plans to hire and expand further. Then COVID happened. I had to redevelop my business plans, shut down for 3 months and dig into my savings to be creative with keeping my doors open.
We stayed in our cute little she-shed turned spray tan cottage from Jan 2020-Jan 2022. In 2022 we opened the doors to Winter Haven’s first full-service Blow Out Beauty Bar. Our location is amazing. We can serve our growing clientele while being close to my children and not missing out on their childhood. Today we are serving, on average, 100 clients a week. We are still learning and growing.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not. It has been a rough, bumpy road with many obstacles. With growth comes uncomfortable choices. Every single time my business has grown, I go through a period of extreme anxiety. Boundaries are hard—boundaries with staff, clients, and my family and knowing when to stop working. When you know, people depend on you to pay their bills and feed their families. It gives you a huge sense of responsibility to succeed. Learning what to delegate and how has been tough also. Being a perfectionist with a touch of add makes delegating responsibilities difficult. Having a team of people I trust has helped me overcome these obstacles.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a Beauty Bar that is known for empowerment. Our tagline is, EveryBODY is a Bikini Body. We specialize in Custom Spray Tans, Cosmetic Teeth Whitening, Glam Services, Bridal Services, Lash Extensions, Body Contouring, Brows, PMU, Blow Outs, and Hair Botox. I am most proud of our work with our community and the women we work with. Our service providers have a special talent for making others feel amazing and at ease. We listen to your life’s details and tailor our services to you.
We have researched and developed our business model to be the best in our industry. Our attention to detail and acceptance of all bodies and people makes us stand apart. With each service, we offer complimentary beverages and often have treats. We do not charge for extras like dusting with setting powder after your tan or the disposable undergarments—our clients range in age from toddler to ninety-five.
With our many years in the industry, we have also developed a solution for aging skin or those on the go; with no additives or bronzer, this Spray Tan Solution is for professional use only and can be purchased on our site. We currently sell our solution all over the US! Paying homage to my sister Crystal, I named the solution “Crystal Clear.”
We are a kid-friendly establishment for well-behaved children. We have a shower on-site if you need to rinse in between services and also have an area for children with a TV and gate to keep them safe. Our special power is that we are a group of like-minded individuals with the same goal, making you feel your absolute best!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
On Instagram, I like my feed to be filled with positivity and like-minded individuals. I enjoy Barbara Corcoran from Shark Tank. She’s a go-getter and has such an inspirational personal story of growth. While I do follow many inspirational influencers, the best resource for me has been my family and two best friends. I consult with them before I do anything big. Years ago, my mom had me write down goals when battling my issues. Seeing these goals on paper and having an action plan has been instrumental in my growth. Beyond that, I enjoy saucy fictional books and inappropriate podcasts to help me relax! I always have a 1-year, 3-year, 5- and 10-year plan.
Pricing:
- Custom Spray Tan $50-70
- Blow out $45 -70
- Body Contouring $150
- Bridal Hair & Make-up $100-175
- Glam, Teeth Whitening and more $50-125
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tanimals.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybar_by_tanimals/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tanimalsetc/
Image Credits
Glitz and Glam Creative Creative with Hope
