We were lucky to catch up with Yvette Reeves recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yvette, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
My parents divorced when I was 6 years old so going from a two parent household which was all I knew and being thrown into a single family household of a workaholic, I got used to being alone but made good use of my time. Being brought up by parents who were overachievers, failure in anything was not an option, We had to be the best at whatever we did and always strived for greatness. I learned to acclimate to new environments, make friends, established social skills and figured out how to maneuver. I was the only African American in a predominantly affluent Jewish neighborhood so growing up in this environment it became easy and natural for me to be the only one in the room. All my peers were competitive and I proved I was just as smart as everyone else was. This drew people to me because I was knowledgeable in the subject matters they were discussing as well as the fact that I wasn’t a follower. I was very involved in neighborhood activities and social clubs. The great thing is that I was accepted and my being the only one in the room that looked like me was never an issue. I was welcomed with open arms because I added value and substance to any conversation or event. I draw on this to this day and have no fear of rejection. Before I go to an event I research it and arrive as me which is the only thing I can do and be. The way I present my self, the way I dress, how I wear my hair, etc. people want to know who is that as I am always confident. I come to events with the mindset that my time is valuable and what will I gain by attending such an event is thought out beforehand. I believe in diversity and being open to different perspectives can assist you in your critical thinking as well as opening up your mind to things outside of your norm or what you’re used to. Exposure to different environments has helped me tremendously as well as helping me think outside the box. It either confirms my current thought process or opens my mind to something new. But most important I don’t care what people think of me and trust and believe they will remember who I am.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the owner of Red Rouge Beauty and Wellness Day Spa, a boutique day spa that specializes in offering a one stop shop for all things self care – massages, facials, body scrubs, waxing, and body contouring. Our personalized luxury services has garnered several awards and consistent recognition since we opened in 2011. We are honored to be named the Best Day Spa of 2024 beating out a major casino and local destination day spa. We have outgrown our current space after three short years of being in business and are in the process of moving to a larger location.
I started this business after my corporate job began speaking about lay offs. Recently divorced after 21 years of marriage I had no Plan B or no one to fall back on without a second income. So I stepped out on faith as I heard all my life and spent my life savings to open up my day spa. I don’t like being in debt so the thought never came to mind to obtain business funding. I just knew I had a vision of what was lacking in the self care industry. How did I know what was lacking? I have been a self care advocate pretty much all my life and regularly got a massage almost weekly along with keeping my skin healthy. I look no where close to my youthful 61 and felt my self care tips could assist other women in achieving youthful results without invasive plastic surgery or Botox which I am proud to say I have not had. As such, I am in the process of launching Q60 an anti-aging serum I personally use. I truly believe you are only as old as you feel and am a walking billboard of youth.
I have a diverse staff by employing based on their experience, skill set and ability – not sexual orientation or race. Once my clients enter our self care oasis they become a regular patron. We are the epitome of luxury and personalized service as we don’t double book and are punctual in rendering your services. Having our clients leave totally relaxed and rejuvenated is our focus and goal for each visit.
Red Rouge Beauty and Wellness Day Spa volunteers our time to the local high school and offers internships for students who are majoring in the health care industry. We are also holding our inaugural annual event on May 25th to honor family members that care for the children of incarcerated parents so the children are not separated from their families and ensure they break the cycle of generational incarceration. Red Rouge assists the families with extracurricular activities such as pop warner and sports fees, STEM activities, college scholarships, tutoring fees – anything to assist in providing a positive and hopeful future.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that were most impactful for my journey are Integrity, Perseverance and becoming an expert in your field. Integrity because you have to be an authentic individual that people can instill trust in. In addition, provide the best service as promised or advertised. But don’t just be great, overdeliver and set your self apart from your competitors. You are unique, learn what your uniqueness is and perfect it. I chose Perseverance because it is inevitable that obstacles will arise. Remember it is only a minor set back but you can overcome it. Nothing is going to be perfect all the time. Take it in stride and try to have a contingency plan. Knowledge of your industry is key. I didn’t just open my business I obtained my esthetician license and medical assistant certification because I want to have the same knowledge my staff has so I’m not dependent on someone else to be successful. YOU are never too old to learn nor is it smart not to know how your business should be run.
For people that are early in their journey, learn everything about your industry before making decisions and find out who your target audience is – who needs your service or product and have a plan to implement. Get a mentor or someone that has experience in the industry you are considering to avoid potentially costly mistakes or waste of time so you don’t reinvent the wheel. Lastly, keep your ideas to yourself unless you have an NDA or confidentiality agreement.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents didn’t bail me out when I made mistakes. Instead I had to figure it out on my own. And I thank them for that because I wouldn’t be the person I am today. All of the qualities I have are a direct result of my parents making me figure it out on my own. This was their way of saying you can do all things you set your mind to – now prove it. I was so angry but I figured it out without anyone’s help. But more important the wisdom and relaying their life experiences with me so I could get a perspective on how to excel and giving me insight into what is possible. Being a woman in business as well as being a woman of color has not afforded me funding or other opportunities I see other businesses receive who do not look like me. What my parents taught me is that this is not an obstacle that will prevent you from reaching your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.redrougebeautywellness.com
- Instagram: redrougebeauty
- Facebook: redrougebeauty
- Youtube: redrougebeautyellness
- Yelp: redrougebeautywellness
Image Credits
Yvette Reeves
