Pink Pedi
North Texas SBDC Network
Dallas Metropolitan SBDC
Pink Ped is a stylish nail salon located in West Dallas at Sylvan Thirty in 2017. The salon makes a luxurious line of bath and skincare products and are a toxin-free salon in West Dallas. The salon caters to clientele in West Dallas and the surrounding Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Owners Lucy Dang and Brandon Lyon became entrepreneurs to control the creative side of their endeavors. The partnership operating in the service industry, is an all-natural nail salon offering clean beauty spa products made fresh weekly for sale and service.
Designer Lucy Dang came to the SBDC in 2015 for assistance with her design business. She is a creative designer of casual and comfortable evening gowns with her collection online throughout the United States. In 2016, Lucy Dang and husband/partner Brandon Lyon came to the Dallas Metropolitan SBDC to focus on the development of another business.
The SBDC assisted Lucy and Brandon with the development of a business plan, assistance with financing and market analysis. SBDC business advisor Judith Collins assisted with the development of the marketing plan for the business. Lucy and Brandon injected equity in the business and opened the business in 2017.
Lucy and Brandon were able to open their business with two part time staff members and themselves. In January 2019, Pink Pedi increased their employees with the addition of 12 additional employees in January 2019.
In late March 2020, in the height of the COVID pandemic the virus and social distancing caused the chairs at Pink Pedi were empty and 15 nail technicians were without work. Owners Lucy and Brandon brainstormed how they could keep bringing in money to cover payroll. Lucy and Brandon effectively pivoted their business with making face masks and hand sanitizer.
“There was a need. And in times of crisis you gotta step up,” she said. “So I’m like, ‘I’m gonna take the panic out of pandemic and turn it into something positive.’” For every mask purchased, they donate one to hospitals and clinics. They pivoted their operations during the shutdown to help pay for staff and provide PPE to local hospitals.
They started making hand sanitizer with ingredients and packaging they already had on hand. Production is limited. The masks they make are not medical grade, but healthcare workers can use them to cover their disposable masks to make them last longer. They sell the masks online and it has been profitable enough to help their employees keep the lights on.
Pink Pedi received the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to help sustain their business operations. As the restrictions and shutdown have ceased, Pink Pedi were able to get back to operations on May 22, 2020. They are back to serving customers operations with providing manicures and pedicures. They have COVID restrictions outlined on their website https://www.pinkpedi.com/ under Pediquette for you and me.
Pink Pedi has embraced social media platforms for ease of use for their customers. Clients can book appointments through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/, as well as their website. They have an Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pinkpedisalon/ filled with photos of their body butters, bath bombs, care kits, as well as other inspirational photos denoting relaxation and pampering.
Lucy and Brandon hope to duplicate the success of their first Pink Pedi by expanding this concept into a franchise with multiple locations with the continued help of the SBDC. They stated, “The SBDC is like your businesses Best Friend. Judith Collins has been a guardian angel that has guided Pink Pedi towards success in helping us with proper planning and procedures year after year.”