Today we’d like to introduce you to India Phillips.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
This originally started as just a FB post wondering if people would actually support a black-owned nail salon the way they do other salons. After constantly experiencing discrimination, disrespect, cheap products that led to my nails constantly breaking, language barriers that resulted in me simply not getting what I asked for, or wondering if they were talking about me, I was eager to switch the narrative. I wanted to walk into a space where none of that would happen and where people looked like me. I ran into the challenge of finding a black a nail tech who wasn’t working from home. Once I found someone I missed the fact that I could never go with my homegirls because it was just her. So I decided to curate a full service nail salon for us, by us, and in so many words buy back the block. There are a lot of nail techs of color that are super talented but they are hard to find because they either work from home or can’t find a shop to work in. This space offers the ability to employ nail techs of color and encourage nail techs to go to school to get licensed so that they can work in a shop.
ILY Nails actually came into fruition a lot sooner than I originally envisioned. The universe is funny in the sense that it will remove you from your comfort zone and get rid of distractions when it’s time for you to move forward in life. In May 2020, while being furloughed due to Covid-19, I was terminated from my full-time job for speaking out against the injustices of people of color on social media. So now with no job and nothing but time on my hands, I decided to move forward with the salon and invest my everything into it. And so far the fruits of my labor have been abundant. The salon has been open only a few weeks and the amount of support from the community has been amazing! Although I may be the “face” of the space as the owner, I in no way want or intend to be front and center because this would not be possible if my staff didn’t trust me enough to lead them. I am blessed to have them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a new business, a new business owner, and also not being a nail tech has posed various challenges. One of the biggest challenges was finding nail techs who trusted me and my vision enough to work in the salon, thankfully my staff has been amazing in going through this process with me, and I cannot thank them enough.
Aside from finding employees some of the other challenges were trying to get funding from a bank. Because I was no longer working, and the business was completely new and not generating any revenue, despite having great credit, I was not able to find anyone who could help with money. So, I started a Go Fund Me and received help from family and friends and raised roughly 5k! And although I did not receive the full amount for funding, the donations I received helped tremendously.
The third biggest hurdle was trying to start a business during Covid-19, while also trying to do construction during the holiday season. I obtained the space in November 2020 and struggled to find a contractor who was available and who could help bring my dream to life. After almost two months of going back and forth with contractors, by divine timing, I found someone who was able to deliver.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about ILY Nails & Beauty Bar?
ILY Nails & Beauty Bar is the first black-owned and operated full-service nail salon in the Austin area. We are just opening and are currently offering only nail services at this time, but will soon be offering pedicures, lashes, and brow services all by licensed techs of color! The main thing that sets ILY Nails apart from any other salon of course is that it is safe space curated for people of color. The language barrier is obsolete. The respect is given from the moment you walk through the door, and the vibe is inclusive to ILY Nails because of who we are and what we do. The thing I’m most proud of when it comes to branding is the name of the company. ILY Nails stands for “I Love Your Nails” and the name stemmed from me finding my nail tech and the most popular compliment from strangers being “I love your nails!” Now, the fact that I have created a space where people are leaving the salon saying the same thing and getting the same compliment lets me know we are doing something right! One thing that makes me most proud about the salon is being intentional in making sure that I supported those who are often least represented but often have some of the best work by employing black and brown staff, working with a black realtor, hiring black contractors to renovate the space, getting donations from local black artists to hang their work on the wall, and truly being intentional with making sure I pour back into the community by supporting small and local first.
What makes you happy?
Seeing people I know be great. Black excellence. Random acts of kindness. Spending time with my family and friends, traveling, dancing, modeling, and food makes me happy.
Pricing:
- Manicures start at $20
- Full set start at $55
- Pedicures start at $45
Contact Info:
- Email: ilynailsbeautybar@gmail.com
- Website: www.ilynailsbeautybar.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ilynailsbeautybar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilynailsbeautybar
Image Credits
413 Creatives Ronye Brown and Brandon Boone
