Exploring Life & Business with Jessie Yarborough of Parlour Seven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Yarborough .

Hi Jessie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a licensed Esthetician and owner of Parlour Seven, located in Warrensburg, MO. I’ve been working as a licensed Esthetician in Missouri since 2019. The idea of owning my own business had always been on my radar, however, I didn’t think it would happen as soon as it did. During covid, with all salons shut down, I had to re-evaluate my career plans and goals. I was left scrambling to find employment to get me through until salons re-opened (and at that time, no one knew when that was going to be).

As a prior child welfare worker, I applied to several jobs in that industry, hoping I could get back into something quickly to pay the bills. Unfortunately, at the time, nothing panned out. At the time I didn’t realize it, but looking back, it was a blessing in disguise and I realize that all of those doors were closed for a reason.

I remember having lunch with my mom one day at the bar/restaurant where I was previously employed when my old boss mentioned that he needed daytime help if I was interested. It was at that very moment that it clicked and I made up my mind as to what I was going to do. I was going to work at the bar full-time, open my business and slowly start building clientele on the side. And, that’s exactly what I did!

I knew deep down that building a client base would be relatively easy, as I’m from Warrensburg and the community desperately needed these services; people had to drive 30+ miles to the closest town to seek out the types of services that I offer — skincare, face and body waxing, etc. My small little business has experienced such significant growth over the past year, and I continue to be blown away daily by the number of new clients requesting services.

For the past year, I’ve worked behind the bar serving patrons while providing esthetic services on the side at my studio. I’m currently booking out two months and have just brought on my first team member! I feel very fortunate to have built this business not only amid a pandemic (and its lingering effects) but also without any business loans — Parlour Seven was built entirely from scratch.

My passion is offering accessible and affordable skincare services while educating and empowering my clients so that they are equipped with the tools they need to attain their skin health goals. I am a certified acne specialist specializing in corrective treatments for various skin concerns, including acne, aging, scarring, and pigmentation. My studio also offers face and body waxing, special occasion, and bridal makeup. I have met some of the most amazing and kind people that I would have otherwise never met had I not opened this business.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggles (and challenges) in this industry are: if you’re not working, you’re not making money. Luckily for me, I was able to work full-time at the bar/restaurant so that I could get by while I was griding and building my clientele at the studio. It was challenging building clientele and not knowing how much money I was going to be making week to week. Slowly, word of mouth started taking effect, and I continued bringing in new clients at a steady pace. I honestly couldn’t believe it when I discovered how booked out I was – but it’s such a wonderful problem to have!

Women business owners also face preconceived expectations and must continually find their own voice in a primarily male dominated business world. For me personally, I’ve made it to where I am through my hard work, dedication, and ability to remain persistent.

I’ve had to overcome negativity by putting in the hard work to build not only my business, but my reputation, proving to others what I know to be true. I know that I’m a hardworking (sometimes labeled a workaholic) and honorable individual, but as a business owner you must prove this to everyone else, too. As a female business owner, it’s a constant battle of striving to gain the respect of your community and those surrounding you. I’ve learned to own my accomplishments and continue to build my confidence even though I often compare myself to others and sometimes suffer from imposter syndrome. Failure is always a very real possibility no matter what you do – owning a business is no exception. I decided to take a risk at a not-so-ideal time and I’m willing to see it through to ensure that it works out the way I have planned for it to.

I often see women who don’t want to dream big or put their ideas and dreams into motion for fear of failing. My motto is that if you keep hearing the word “no”, you’re talking to the wrong people. Keep going until you find the right people to help you move forward on your journey. The right doors open as they’re meant to. I’ve only been on this journey for a little over a year, however, I’ve found my tribe of loyal supporters and I’m on track to continue seeing significant growth.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion is offering accessible and affordable skincare services while educating and empowering my clients so that they are equipped with the tools they need to attain their skin health goals. I am a certified acne specialist specializing in corrective treatments for various skin concerns, including acne, aging, scarring, and pigmentation. My studio also offers face and body waxing, special occasion, and bridal makeup. I strive to give my clients the best possible experience. For clients, it comes down to the experience they have with you.

To bring in new business, you must stay up to date, learn new things and continue your education. To set yourself apart from others that work in the same industry and even within proximity to you, you must do your research and keep evolving. You must pay close attention to what your clients like and dislike but also know what the community wants/needs/expects from you moving forward. Word of mouth plays a huge part in the equation as well. If you do good work and exceed the client’s expectations, you bet they’ll pass that information on to their friends and family. I am proud of myself for following through with my idea of starting a business. Many people doubted me, unsure if I could pull it off. Especially during Covid. I never had any real hesitation, though. I had a gut feeling that it was all going to work out.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Our city is very cohesive, very unified. In addition to the usual residents, Warrensburg is a college and military town (the base is 15 minutes outside of Warrensburg), making us a very diversified city. Warrensburg is clean and quaint, and the people are friendly. People are always willing to help out, and most errands are within a close distance. The downside of living in a smaller town so far outside Kansas City is that we have to travel to big-box stores such as Target and Costco and healthier grocery options like Sprouts and Trader Joe’s. We’re also at least 30-40 minutes from any good shopping. The airport is also a hike to get to, at about an hour and 20 minutes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.parlourseven.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/parlourseven
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/parlourseven