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

Hi Caren, every day, we know about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I am a Nail Technician in Los Angeles and when the pandemic hit in March 2020, all “non-essential” businesses were required to close their doors. This happened to the city of LA about 2 more times after that and my small business couldn’t survive and so I had to close up in August 2020. A lot of Nail Techs came up with “at home” salon ideas in selling Press-On Nails and DIY Pedicure Kits. I did both to help my business stay afloat but I didn’t make nearly as much so I had to come up with something more profitable. I am an avid pin collector so one day I was putting my pins on just before I went out to run some errands and it just hit me, ‘Why not make Nail Tech pins?” So I did my research in seeing what kinds of pins were already out there, if any, and began designing. In designing these enamel pins I started coming up with even more ideas on a whole Nail Tech Merch line that included stickers and apparel. I hadn’t really seen too many people do a Nail Tech merch line so I thought I’d start one.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I wanted to come up with an extended business idea that was hard to come by in my specific beauty field that wasn’t just nails. I randomly thought of Nail Tech merch and so I researched who out there was already selling stuff. I came across a lot of simple stickers and a few T-shirts Nail related but I felt like it was missing something. My love for enamel pins and my love for Nails merged together in my mind and my new online business was born. Once I came up with designs for my enamel pins I thought I’d extend into stickers and apparel. I am most proud of everything I designed on my website as I came up with all the ideas myself and hand drew each and everyone of them. My designs range from very specific tools used in the Nail world to Iced Coffee “Nailfie” stickers.

Professionally, I’ve gone through a lot of trials and errors just as any business first goes through but I embrace everything as it comes as it’s helped me learn what I like and don’t like or what works or doesn’t for my business.

My online business came out of a pandemic when my Nail Studio was at risk of a shut down. I’ve learned that it’s the unknown situations that happen to you really help challenge you to start thinking outside of the box.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take anyone who was visiting me to this really cool rooftop restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles called Perch. I’d take them to all the best donut spots like California Donuts, Big Mama’s and Colorado Donuts. If we wanted to check out the Boba scene, BOPOMOFO in San Gabriel is always a win! They have the best Mapo Tots and all their drinks are made from fresh ingredients.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to thank my boyfriend who really encouraged me to continue fighting for what I love to do and helped me imagine what my life would be like as an entrepreneur.

Website: www.chrensetternails.com

Instagram: @chrensetter

Image Credits
All photos are taken by @chrensetter.

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