Meet SF’s Most Stunning Startup: La Lacquerie Mobile Nail Salon
Getting your nails done is supposed to be a luxury, an indulgence, a time of peace and pampering. Unfortunately, for too many people it can be nearly as stressful as making a doctor’s appointment. It’s tough to relax when you’re staring down the clock, hoping your shellac mani will be done with enough time for you to squeeze in a protein bar before you have to be back to work. Even in an era when you no longer have to wait for nails to dry, making time for a nail appointment that’s as indulgent as it’s supposed to be is impossible.
That’s exactly what Susan Aflak was dealing with as an investment banker in L.A. She simply didn’t have time to keep up with her nail regimen since she was working long hours. In fact, she didn’t even have time for a proper lunch, but luckily the food cart scene made things easy for her since she could just run outside to the street and pick up a locally sourced, delicious and nutritious meal. That’s how the idea for a “nail truck” came to be and how La Lacquerie Mobile Nail Salon was born.
It takes one to know one
Aflak’s mobile salon targets the type of women she used to be, including the stressed and overworked professionals who want to be pampered but don’t have an extra second to spare. Using an Airstream 1960s trailer, Aflak takes to the San Francisco streets and cites employees of YouTube, Gap, Google, and Facebook as some of her regulars. In fact, a number of these top corporations offer pampering services from Aflak as part of their perks package for employees.
She’s been at the wheel (literally) since quitting her job in finance in 2012 when she went to cosmetology school for a nail license. After a few months of studying the business from the bottom up, she jumped right into the entrepreneurial pool and is currently growing her staff. Currently, she still offers manis and pedis herself, but plans to soon move into a managerial position only.
Putting experience into practice
When Aflak got her MBA in finance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, she never dreamed she’d one day be a successful mobile nail business owner. However, when she was the Airstream for sale on Craigslist, she knew she was on the right path. Working mobile five days each week (and filling up on water and gas daily), she notes that setup takes up to two hours every time she moves. Unlike food trucks, she can’t just park and get to work right away; she has to put her marketing skills to work and build partnerships with businesses.
Pedestrian traffic isn’t her niche, although she certainly wouldn’t turn this traffic away if there was an opening. Instead, Aflak partners with corporations to secure her services for a full day. Appointments can be made online, or employees can simply walk into the trailer and see if there’s availability on the spot. Her first big client was Google, and Aflak says that she’s secured a recession-proof career. Even when times are tough, mini pampering sessions are indulged in by women, and Aflak has no doubt that her pink mobile studio will continue to thrive.
