Skin care expert, Chanelle Fleming, is skilled, determined, and has a heart to match her accolades. After this Q & A interview with BNS' Jasmine Kara, we were left with no doubts about why Chanelle's well-rounded and people-first strategy has led her clinic, OneSkn Inc, to become an award-winning medical spa in 2022. We learned from Chanelle that "OneSkn offers custom facials and treatments to help target any skin-related goals and concerns." In this Q & A interview, Chanelle explains how she succeeded in starting from scratch - at only 22 years of age - to become a Calgary consumer-favourite for delivering medical spa services:
...we believe that we can help you not only achieve healthy skin, but also put a smile on your face.
Q & A With Founder and Lead Medical Aesthetician at OneSkn Inc, Chanelle Fleming
How did you come up with the idea to start OneSkn Inc and what purpose did you intend to serve with the concept?
I always knew I wanted to help others, but wanted to do so while staying in line with my own values. Medical aesthetics offered a wide verity of opportunities to help heal clients inside and out. By owning my own clinic, I was able to staff a team that not only shared the same passion and vision, but also brought in new techniques to further enhance the quality of service within the business. Together at OneSkn, we don’t believe that achieving your skin goal should break your bank; we also don’t believe perfect skin exists. We believe aging is just a number and a gift; we believe you’re beautiful no matter what condition your skin is in, and we believe that we can help you not only achieve healthy skin, but also put a smile on your face.
Which milestones have marked meeting benchmarks towards the fulfillment of your personal goals/ the company's vision and goals?
My biggest milestone was expanding from a 90 square foot studio to our 1100 square foot clinic at the end of 2020 (during the pandemic). In the last year and first year of owning the full clinic, we have had nothing but support and incredible opportunities. Winning Top choice Medi Spa Calgary was the best way to finish our year. We were also nominated for a community votes award. Our goal for 2022 is to better our services, continue to give back to our community and help more people feel confident in their skin. My personal goal as the business owner is to inspire more young women to follow their dream and offer ways to help and support them. I started my business at 22 with no business background and not much money. I was told to not have high expectations and had many doubts about if I would make it past three years. Now I look at celebrating my fourth year in business with an incredible team of four, a beautiful, recognized storefront, and so many milestones behind me; I'm glad I never listened to any of those who doubted me.
Which steps have you taken for the company to achieve the level of consumer trust that has been nationally recognized?
One of the biggest reasons our clients trust us is that we have always put them first. We keep our pricing fair, offer payment plans and never make them feel as though we are in it for the money. We give back to the community through donating to local school fundraisers, donating to hospitals, giving back to our clients (we gave discounts and free gifts to our incredible healthcare clientele during the pandemic), supporting charities that align with our values and so much more. We stand firm behind our mission statement.
What part of your education or other experiences do you feel was the most helpful in preparing you for success?
I started in nursing before dropping out to go into medical aesthetics, and I know to most that sounds like a waste of time, but if it wasn't for all the amazing healthcare co-workers I met while working in the hospital as a nursing aid, I don't think my business would have been as successful in the first year. That education also gave me a different perspective in my field and I was able to advance my own skills, faster. All my personal volunteer work gave me a solid foundation to build my business values on and to keep me humble. As for running my business, I never knew I had a passion for entrepreneurship until I started OneSkn. I took everything I did know from past jobs and personal strengths and decided nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goals - not even a pandemic.
Which strategies have you found the most effective in growing your audience/ bringing awareness of your service to a larger consumer group?
Social media was, hands-down, the best way to grow my business, and I was fortunate enough to have a friend, Cassidy, who is an expert in all things social media and marketing.
I utilized all the tools available to grow my audience, grow my clientele and grow my business. I researched and taught myself how to use any and all apps that could benefit and better my content. @one__skn has grown so much and I love keeping things real on my page. Another strategy was building that relationship with clients so that they would recommend my business even if they, themselves, couldn't afford to always come in. Focusing on our loyal clients and making them feel valued is one of our top priorities.
I also built many friendships with other beauty business owners, and we support and refer one another all the time. For example, one of my closest industry friends owns a hair salon, HBR co., and we share MANY of the same clients, solely because we support each other's online content and always recommend each other's services.
Which partnerships, if any, have been the most constructive in bringing your goals closer to becoming a reality?
I've created a network of incredible individuals from many different backgrounds and fields, and each of those individuals has helped me grow at one point or another. I also worked at a collective studio, District Studios, which offered many opportunities to partner with or work together on promotions, ideas and more. Having that support system of likeminded individuals who bounced ideas off each other and encouraged each other around me, daily in 2020, played such a big role in my success over the last year.
How do you balance work, passions/hobbies, and relationships?
Not very well, to be honest (haha), but I'm blessed to have an incredible husband who fully supports me and my crazy ideas and lifestyle. Like so many, I'm still trying to find that perfect work-life balance, but it makes it easier when I have such a hardworking team at the clinic and amazing family and friends who support me, push me and rarely give me a hard time for working so much. They all do remind me to take time off and to remember what's important in life. I work to live, not live to work, even though some days it may feel the other way around. I also try to make time for my faith because to me, that's one of the biggest reasons I've come this far.
What are your future plans to build on your achievements and fulfill your vision for success, and what developments can your audience or clientele look forward to expecting next?
My plan is to grow my business, potentially open another location one day and offer a mentorship program to share everything I've learnt and inspire others. Our clients can expect upgrades in our treatment rooms and more fun content on our social media. I believe this will be a rich and fruitful year for so many. I can't wait to see those around me grow and share my own growth.
What advice would you like to give readers that hope to achieve success in your field?
Always be you.
It's easy to see others succeed and loose yourself while trying to follow in their footsteps.
It doesn't matter how many people out there are in the same career field and offering the same services as you, because at the end of the day, there is only ONE of you.
Work hard, ignore the haters, and never stop being you.
Is there anything else you would like to share with Winner Magazine readers?
No matter what season in life you may be in, don't give up on your goals and dreams.
I started my business young and with less than 3k to my name; now, through a pandemic, I grew a six-figure recognized business and don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Thank you to everyone around me for encouraging me and supporting me. I appreciate you all.
We thank Chanelle for sharing these insights and experiences with Winner Magazine's readers. If you are in the Calgary area, we would strongly recommend taking a visit to the OneSkn Inc. Medi Spa!