Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Echols.
Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Body Glam Elite exactly 1 year ago. I’ve always been a small-town girl living in a big city with big dreams to be great. I just didn’t know where to start. Three years ago I was a housewife supporting my husband with his dreams and career. I was putting so much energy into him but constantly losing myself in the process.
I became ill and stressed out not knowing where the headaches were coming from or my weight gain. I was sitting at home everyday not doing anything with myself. I was allowing my body, brain and mental capacity to shut down. I went to the doctor and was referred to a neurologist to do an MRI and when my results came back the detected Multiple sclerosis.
I must’ve lost my soul when the doctor gave me that information. However, I couldn’t let the MS beat me. Multiple sclerosis is a genetic illness but it can flare up due to stress and I knew I had to take my life back and do something with myself. So, the first thing I needed to do was go back to school and receive my GED or Diploma. I enrolled in an adult high school called New Beginnings Christian Academy and received my Diploma in 2017. That was one of my biggest accomplishments other than my marriage and kids. So, when I was completed with school… I was asking myself what’s next!?!?! I think it was time to start a business.
I was trying everything underneath the sun to set off my entrepreneurship. Every time I was getting opinions from other people it never worked out or my businesses would fail or sink before I can stay above water or afloat. It took me two years after graduating high school at the age of 33 years old to figure it out but it wasn’t easy.
So, one of the many things I learned within the process of starting businesses was sewing and running a style house. I had two style houses in 1 year that I owned. The first location was Los Angeles, California and the second location was here in Dallas, Texas. Neither location wasn’t profitable enough and finding someone to oversee it for me was harder. Again, I felt myself going back into a stressful sunken place.
At this point, it’s time for God and I to have a serious 1 on 1 talk. I went into my closet in July 2018, sat down on my floor and had my talk with God. I cried, yell, screamed, questioned and told him I was ready to give up again. I kept losing and was gaining nothing. But then after crying and coming to my senses, I told him I was sorry for any wrong I did and to please help me and guide me.
One week later, I applied for a credit card and was approved. I was so excited and in disbelief, because my credit was terrible so I knew it was God. I kept telling myself Mary you got to start over again with a new business and an adventure. So, I sat on the card for about two weeks not knowing if I should invest more in my Dallas style house. Such as buy sewing machines, fabric, advertising, etc.
So one day on Instagram I saw a post from a lady who I once was buying hair from as my vendor when I was on my selling bundles journey. Lol, another business I was trying to start that wasn’t for me. She was teaching a class on body contouring that cost $4800. I had just lost over $20,000 that same year 2018 with my previous business and only had my $5000 on my new credit card. This was all I had left that was mine other then my husband being the sole provider and breadwinner in our family.
I called around to different laser institutes to learn more about laws, regulations, classes, certifications and etc. I also remembered when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis that I was going on the warpath with myself and started trying to lose weight, getting my health on track and going to a body contouring facility. I remembered the atmosphere, how the employees were kind, how I lost some inches off my stomach and got my weight down. So at this point, I’m thinking ok this might work. I still had my Dallas style house and I needed to find a way to keep it going or I was going to lose it too. I needed traffic and overhead to it going.
So, I decided to go ahead and paid for the class and started out using one room in my style house for the body contouring. Things went good for the first month after training but my rent for the style house was to high and still not enough traffic for the clothing. While searching for a new location my husband found an old chiropractor office space that needed to be rented. It was the perfect space and start for the body contouring.
After moving to my new clinic in October 2018 things started manifesting so quickly. I was so amazed about the amount of traffic that was coming through and the income I was making. I was five months in and had a profitable business doing body contouring. I made enough money to continue to pay for more training and new treatment services such as Stretch Mark Camouflage. I was able to pay my credit card off and hire an actual staff.
As of today’s date, I’m truly happy with how everything played out in my life. It made me stronger and a true believer in what God can do for you. I’m a Boss, Business Owner, Beauty Babe and Believer in Greatness. This is my note to self and world.
“This is the Mary I’m proud of! My past doesn’t reflect my present or future! You decided to take your life back and begged God to help you change. A lot of people laughed at you, talked about you and even doubted you. Heck had you feeling they were right at one point. However, girl you overcame that same old story and went for it! One day the world would know your back story about them shackles and why you challenged yourself to beat the odds and be great!!! You might not be the smartest but you sure are one of the brightest!”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It wasn’t easy. My obstacles were me allowing other people’s opinions stop me. Being judge because I hadn’t graduated from school. I accepted being a housewife for so long that I forgot what it felt like to have something to call your own.
Please tell us more about your business.
My business is a body contouring spa. My services include Cavitation Lipo, Rf Skin Tightening, Weight loss, V- Steams and my main stream of income is stretch Mark Camouflage. I’m extremely proud of the camouflage because it’s set me apart from other Spas and Body Contouring facilities. When people see me they are hey your that girl that covers the stretch marks.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is not given but is earned.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1104 W. Pioneer Pkwy, #100
Arlington, TX 77013 - Website: Bodyglamelite.as.me
- Phone: 817-801-1233
Image Credit:
Nina Dior Photography
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