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

Hi Cara, what do you attribute your success to?
The typical answer to this is always hard work. However, it is more than that. What has also created success in my entrepreneurial journey is education in your craft, perseverance, patience, attention to detail, diligence, quality customer service, and focus on your goals.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I love all things beauty and fashion! I think the key to success is waking up and doing what you love every day! When you enjoy what you do, you can’t get enough of it. I truly enjoy getting to know my clients and empowering them. It is fun for me to share my beauty knowledge and fashion finds with my clients in my chair and my community online. However, It hasn’t always been an easy road to get to where I am today. When covid hit all salons were closed for several months, therefore I had no stream of income. During that time I was also going through many personal changes and it was by far one of the hardest times in my life. It made me debate whether this was the right path for me at all. But, I chose to stick with it and I took a leap of faith to open my own salon when life got back to normal. During the shut down I worked hard to utilize all of my free time to come up with my business plan and get everything set up. I’m so grateful that I did, because it has been so worth it! I am blessed to have the opportunity to wake up and do what brings me joy, all while getting to know amazing people and helping them find self-confidence. It’s hard work being a 1 woman owner of 2 small businesses but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite season here is spring/summer because there are TON of great events. If I had to create a weekend with a friend I would start the day by taking them to the farmers market downtown where we find some fabulous items from local small business owners. This would be followed by brunch at Tupelo Honey. I would suggest doing a little shopping afterward at a few of my favorite boutiques and stores like Harringtons, Vestique, Custard, Muse, Cottage Grove, Anthropologie, and Madewell. We would then hop on some bikes and hit the Swamp Rabbit Trail to get some fresh air and eventually wind up at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe for a snack or some groceries. We would then check out the Spa at Urban Nirvana on McBee for a facial or a massage before our dinner reservations at Scoundrel for a well-curated French-inspired meal. After a fabulous dinner, we would end the night across the street at Neat Bourbon Bar for a nightcap with some fabulous cocktails in a cozy environment. What a day!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Along my journey, I have had many mentors and aids to my success. The biggest ones are my family and friends! They have aways given me encouragement and told me that I can achieve any goals that I set for myself. As for my other aids, I started with Paul Mitchell, Aveda, and Davines training and education which was priceless to my professional beauty career. One major hair mentor has been Sarah Page (a professional hairstylist and extension specialist) as well as Jen Atkin (the owner and founder of Ouai and Mane companies). Their skill level and drive for success are truly amazing. Continuing education classes with Babe and Bellami hair extension companies have been essential for my growth. Lastly, when it comes to blogging/content creation the Amazon Affiliate Program has been a necessity. I have also learned so much from some other professionals over the last few years. The Art of Influence class from @angelagiakas has been priceless! I love the content and work from @neutrallyashlan and @hollandpaterno. They are both such inspirations in the field of beauty and fashion.

Website: https://caraeverett.com/

Instagram: @caraeverettblog @caraeveretthair

Facebook: Caraeverettblog & C. Everett Studio

Youtube: Cara Everett Blog

Other: TikTok: Cara Everett Blog

Image Credits
Me!

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