Today we’d like to introduce you to Zolimar Mercado.
Hi Zolimar, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Two years ago, I made the decision to move to the state of Texas, searching for a better lifestyle for my children and myself. I was very afraid, but confident that I could achieve my goal of having a full-service salon, just like I had back home in Puerto Rico. When I arrived, the beginnings were difficult because I only had my sister and knew no one else. She helped me find clients by telling her friends and acquaintances from church, which is how I started getting clients.
At the time, I had a warehouse job and did nails from home in my free time. One day I printed some flyers and took them to places women frequented, like supermarkets and boutiques. My fear was not speaking English, but while my clients were getting their nails done, I tried my best to explain the steps to them. It was beautiful to see how they understood and supported me. The community began to support me; they would share my photos and tag me in their social media posts.
When I reached 10 recurring clients (in only four months!) I took the initiative to rent a salon suite. The landlords there were very kind to me; they rented a space to me and gave me the opportunity to start growing. I prepared a place with a western style. I would work my job during the day and see my clients in the evening. I was only able to do that for two weeks because by then my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I put everything in God’s hands and quit my full-time job. Wow, I remember it like it was yesterday! Since that day, my schedule has never been empty.
Thanks to God, the whole community supported me. I saw how clients came in sad and disappointed with nails they had paid for that didn’t even last two weeks. In comparison, my nail sets lasted up to six weeks. I could also please them by doing nail art, creative designs, and putting extra care into their nails. I think they loved me more because they were tired of the typical single-color nail.
Since I started, I set out to grow. Even though the voices of the world could yell at me that it was impossible to do it here where I knew no one, where I only had my sister, and even without speaking English well, that motivated me to work harder. After being in that rented spot for a year and a half, I had grown from a base of 10 clients to 430 clients in my client list. That is where God opened the way for me to grow. I thought I wasn’t ready; I was a little scared, but my faith was unbreakable, and I came to understand that it wasn’t just about expanding to a bigger place but a purpose of God in my life.
I rented a space where I visualized myself alone in a more comfortable area, giving the clients more room. That was my plan; God’s plan was to have people working with me and to be able to educate them with my knowledge. I am passionate about nail care education in the beauty industry; I like helping other manicurists grow in what they love to do. The beauty industry, especially the nail services, looks easy, but it is not. Only practice and the courage to want to do it are what shape you to do it better every day.
In the transition of preparing the new salon, I had to go home and work out of a space in my living room. I was afraid that clients wouldn’t come because it was at my house. I was afraid of not generating the same income working from home. I had to remove one of my most distinguishing services, pedicures, during the high season of summer. All women want to have their toenails and feet looking pretty in that season. Well, I can’t tell you that it went badly; my clients followed me, and I kept working just the same, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Working from my house gave me the comfort of spending more time with my children in the summer and doing household chores at the same time—that was the best part, but it was a transitional period. Every night I would go to my new location and sit down to imagine it, asking God to help me with ideas and even to help me choose the colors. I had supernatural experiences where I knew God was speaking to me. I wrote everything down, and every day was one step closer to reaching the goal of God’s purpose in my business. I put all my effort into getting this new location ready. In three months, it was ready to open! Everyone was very excited to see how it had turned out.
I didn’t just prepare a space for myself. I planned to hire someone else to do nails and pedicures and to rent two cosmetology chairs, with the idea of offering women a complete Beauty Salon experience. Today, just two months after opening, I have two nail technicians whom I have been educating and mentoring, a cosmetologist, and a barber. What a blessing God has given me. It was a purpose, not a dream.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No path in life is easy, and sometimes, if a path is too easy, it’s better not to take it.
I think the part that took the most effort for me was accepting that I would have to complete the setup on my most recent location alone. I had to put every piece of art on the wall with my own strength, crying when I didn’t know how to do something and having to learn because I had no one else there to help me.
The most difficult part was the moments when I had to approach people and put my ideas into their hands so they could help me with certain things I couldn’t do myself. It also took me more time to complete tasks; for example, an assembly job that I knew someone skilled could finish faster would take me longer. But that only gave me more encouragement, because I knew I was breaking patterns of fear. I understood that it was God’s plan to shape me in the desert of solitude so that I could learn to trust only in Him.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is a beauty salon that offers a variety of services including nail services (such as manicures and acrylics), pedicures, waxing, and hair services for both women and men. I am known for providing high-quality manicure and pedicure services.
What sets me apart is the passion with which I work and the charisma that transforms a simple nail appointment into an experience. When clients come here, they can relax, talk with their provider, and find a variety of services all in one location. My specialty is, and always has been, acrylic nails and pedicures—that is my true passion. I have studied cosmetology, lashes, and attended several aesthetic seminars, but my passion remains nails and pedicures.
The reflection of my brand has always been God. My clients know that I serve God and that everything I do comes from Him; without Him, I would be nothing. No success in life is built alone.
Aside from running my salon, I have also been an educator in the nail technician field, and throughout my career, I have created my own nail product brand. Now, I not only have a beauty salon, but also a retail space that offers nail products for sale, giving professionals the opportunity to buy unique and essential products for their salons.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am deeply committed to giving back to the beauty industry and the community that supported my journey, and I welcome opportunities for professional connection. I offer private, customized education, coaching, and mentoring for nail technicians and beauty professionals looking to grow their skills and business acumen. I am also open to working with individuals and brands on a collaborative basis, including hosting or speaking at seminars and workshops, engaging in cross-promotion of services and brands, and generally networking with other beauty industry providers to share insights and foster mutual growth. To explore work, education, or partnership opportunities, please reach out to me directly; otherwise, the best way to support the continued growth of Glow Nails is by booking an appointment and experiencing our high-quality services firsthand at https://glownails.glossgenius.com/booking-flow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://glownails.glossgenius.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glownailsandbeauty_1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glow.nail.912905
Image Credits
Credits to I AM Rosa Photos / Rosa Figueroa and Grounded Business Solutions / Lyanne Olivieri
