We had the good fortune of connecting with Andi Hanson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Ever since I was young, I was a self starter. My mom always tells me stories about how I would spend hours setting up our living room as a department store, with all sorts of items from our house acting as the products in which you could shop. I would set up my checkout station and have my mom come shopping through our home and sell her own stuff back to her. My Grandma laughs when she tells the story of how I would go to my Grandparent’s house and do the exact same thing. They tell me I always was a little entrepreneur at heart. My Dad has always been an extremely hard worker and has had his own business since I can remember. I always admired what he built for himself and wanted to do the same.
My thought process behind starting my own business ultimately came when I was working for a franchise salon and started to notice how many harsh chemicals were in the products they were using on sensitive areas of the body everyday. I was also noticing how much waste there was at the end of each day. I wondered if it would be possible to use more natural products, more sustainable, and safer ingredients, while still providing the same quality of service. I suggested to the owners and managers that we start to be more mindful about the products we used and they didn’t take me seriously or listen to any of my suggestions. As you can imagine, it was pretty discouraging. I began doing research and testing products on myself to see if there could be better and safer options that were deemed to be legitimate for the needs of my clients. I found out I could offer the same, if not better, quality services with products that were safer, more natural, and had less harsh ingredients in them. That is when my plant-based, eco-conscious, and low waste business plan began.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

My business is everything that I love to do and practice. I named it Mindful Practice because of my desire to create more awareness and put more thought and intention behind the services we offer in the beauty industry. It encompasses the effort in which I live my life. I am able to provide nontoxic, eco-conscious, plant-based, cruelty-free, and low waste beauty services in an industry that is doing quite the opposite. My goal has been to go against the grain as much as possible when it comes to amplifying vanity and instead am working to glorify enhancing natural features with natural products and solutions. All while making it more affordable. This has been a game changer when it comes to lasting results and keeping my clients healthier. Services I offer in this format are; Organic Facials, Brow Laminations, Lash Lifting and Tinting, Brow Shaping, Face and Body Waxing, Classic Lash Extensions and Brow Tinting.
I also provide Holistic Nutrition Counseling and it brings together the health and wellness aspect of Mindful Practice. I offer free consultations to individuals who are interested in hearing more about what I can do for them as a Holistic Nutrition Counselor. I offer this service to humans, cats, and dogs. Proper nutrition for us, and our pets alike, has been a major issue in the US for a long time. The education on how to give your body the right nutrients, in a somewhat simple and convenient way, has not been easy or accessible. My main goal is trying to help my clients become more intuitive with food and lifestyle choices and find ways to do it that are accessible and affordable.
Getting to this point hasn’t been easy, and some days it’s still not easy. Maintaining a business that’s different or goes against what’s in popular culture has had its challenges and at times has me questioning everything. Living and working in a midwestern state where holistic living isn’t exactly “cool” yet, has its challenges when marketing and attracting clientele. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges by continuing to have faith in humanity to shift its views on what’s important, by continuing to lead by example and living more sustainably, and by following the words of Wayne Dyer, “what’s needed will come.” I want the world to know that running a business is not simple. I learn new things everyday and am always faced with new challenges and obstacles. But, that’s what keeps me going. The challenge is what attracts me. I live to push beyond what I thought I could accomplish and every time I feel a setback, or anxious, it fuels me and motivates me further. I’m still growing and plan to continue growing for the rest of my life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Duluth is full of magical places. My favorite places to eat in the area is Mama Roots Food Bus or the Juice Pharm. They have the same owners and serve absolutely incredible vegan food. I would also recommend Northern Waters Smokehaus, everything your heart desires when it comes to smoked fish, meats, and tofu. The sandwiches are to die for and the best part is it’s located in canal park where you can find the famous Lift Bridge that rises every 30 minutes for ships and sailboats to come through the harbor each day. Drinking spots that are delicious and hip are Vikre Distillery, Ursa Minor Brewery, and Sara’s Table (which also has incredible food). Coffee shops are endless here but my favorites are Dovetail Cafe, 190 Coffee & Tea, and the new Portage Coffee which is a mobile coffee truck. These are all super great small businesses, safe spaces for all people, and locally owned. For dessert, Love Creamery has the best homemade ice cream, for dairy and non-dairy lovers alike. Duluth is filled with incredible hikes along the Superior Hiking Trail and amazing shorelines of Lake Superior, nature is endless and you can’t go wrong with any adventure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I want to shoutout the women I had the pleasure of working with at Base Coat Nail Salon in Denver, Colorado. I started working at this non-toxic nail salon after leaving the franchise salon that was full of harsh chemicals. I fell in love with the concept of having a healthier and more natural workspace and environment for clients. The women who worked with me at Base Coat encouraged me to start my own practice where I could provide my skin, brow, and lash services in a more natural and healthy way. They allowed me to begin Mindful Practice inside of their nail salon as a pop up station. Mindful Practice was born inside of Base Cost Nail Salon with the support and help of specifically the owner Tran, and one of the nail tech’s and entrepreneurs (now salon owner) Caroline. Mindful Practice is now back in my home state, Minnesota and shares a collaborative space with Lovdahl Salon & Studio.
Which brings me to another shout out, Alyssa Lovdahl. She is my business partner and collaborator, together we share the space where Mindful Practice and Lovdahl Salon and Studio reside. Without her dreaming and ambitious nature, we would not be as successful as we are in this space.
My grandparents, parents, and siblings also deserve a major shout out as they have continuously, without batting an eye, supported my goals and dreams to have my own practice. They show up to my events, get services done, and always offer advice when I’m in need of help and support. I feel extremely fortunate to have the support of my family on any of my adventures.
My best friends, Cally, Mar, and Syd have all played a major role in my confidence as a business owner as well. They create space for countless hours of listening to me brainstorm, dream, vent, and manifest my goals and dreams and are oftentimes a part of the inspiration and meaning behind what I do. Their own drive and ambition inspires me and motivates me further to create an impactful and meaningful vision and livelihood.
And the final shoutout goes to my partner, who has from the start, encouraged me in my journey to be an entrepreneur, compliments my work ethic and praises my efforts and accomplishments. He tends to be my guinea pig at some point or another. It has been a defining experience to have a male partner who lifts me up in my career choices, and doesn’t feel threatened by my dreams or my successes.
I hope you come check out Mindful Practice sometime, even if it’s only a glance on my website mindfulpractice.co or on my Instagram @mindfulpractice_  or @mindfulnutritioncounselor. Thanks for reading (:

Website: mindfulpractice.co

Instagram: @mindfulpractice_ or @mindfulnutritioncounselor

Other: email: mindfulpractice0@gmail.com

Image Credits
Sydney Carlino

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