Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Tracee Hester, Founder and Owner of the Trendy Nailz.
Hi Tracee, Great to have you with us today! Please tell us more about your journey.
I was inspired at the age of 7 by watching my mother do nails at the kitchen table in the ’80s, not realizing that her impression would develop me to later become The Nail Mogul. At the age of 16, while in high school, I opened my first business called “Tracee’s Young Adult Job Service,” a youth employment agency where I hired young adults to work in a retail store that was owned by the NBA player Jerry Stackhouse. Launching that business afforded me the opportunity to be featured in Fortune 500 magazines such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Teen People Magazine, and twice in Black Enterprise. My community action efforts awarded me a proclamation in 1998 and 2018 by the mayor for May 4th as Tracee Hester’s Day in Durham, North Carolina.
After I graduated from high school, I stayed steadfast on my entrepreneurship journey by opening several different ventures ranging from an all-in-one salon, graphic design, business plan writing, to an online boutique, from selling cars to working in the corporate world, to name a few. I was able to bridge my passion for art and people by obtaining my cosmetologist 1998 and manicurist instructor license in 2013.
In 2017, I jumped off the cliff, swiped everything off my credit cards, and founded Trendy Nailz Institute. 2 years later, I opened a second school location, purchased a nail salon I worked at when I was 24, launched a product line, magazine, and staffing agency. In 2019 I was honored by the North Carolina Education lottery for Black History Month.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
There were times that seemed bleak but, I learned to stay resilient, dedicated, determined, persistent, and most importantly, patient.
Please tell us about the future plans of the Trendy Nailz brand.
Currently, we are sharpening other people’s iron by creating more owners of the Trendy Nailz brand. We have three new locations opening up by September 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Garner, North Carolina, and Williamston, North Carolina, and our Atlanta location is projected to open in November this year by way of our Trendy Nailz graduates and affiliates.
Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about you?
You can visit our website. You can follow us on Instagram @TrendyNailz and Facebook @Trendynailzsalon.
You can also call us at 919-241-3193 ext 701
Thank you so much, Tracee, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!