Today we’d like to introduce you to Germica Ferguson.
Germica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always had the aspirations of becoming a nail technician. I would always sneak in my mom’s room to use her fingernail polish, barber pins, rat-tail combs or whatever I could get my hands on to practice. My mother eventually grew tired of her items coming up missing and agreed to purchase my very first nail kits at the age of ten. I was ecstatic and knew that I had to make my aspiration my reality.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Fast forward a couple of years. I attended Boiling Springs High School, where they offered students the chance to partake in classes at Swofford Career Center, which other ambitions such as cosmetology, welding, and culinary a head start in their field. During the duration of taking the classes at Swofford, I began accepting all friends and family as clients. I was only 16, and business was booming. Being in high school while trying to jump-start a business was hard as it came with many distractions but I knew where my focus needed to be. In April of 2011, it was my time to showcase what I learned. It was time for state boards. There I was on a school bus headed to Columbia, and all I could think was, “I can either sink or swim. “I chose to swim, passing my state board theory and practical. I was so overwhelmed and excited, knowing that all of the late nights and early mornings paid off. Now it was time to graduate high school and make not only myself proud but my parents as well.
Please tell us about your practice.
Out of eight years of being a licensed cosmetologist, I specialized as a nail technician. The eight years before finding my specialty humbled me, and made me grateful to be where I am today. In 2018, I grew tired of the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle and had to lock back in my goal. I decided to become a mobile technician as I worked from the shop part time. Working as a mobile technician and working from a shop became mentally, and physically draining on myself. Evenually, it caused alot of wear and tear on my vehicle which meant I had to reevaluate my situation. Later on, I decided to work from home but within 3 months my clientele increased rapidly and I was getting somewhere. My clientele was coming back. The key is to stay consistent, strong minded and dedicated. June 2018, I started working in a shop full-time, no other job required. I took a step out on faith and began walking in my purpose. My fears activated my faith.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
After working in a shop consistently for two years, I took my next big step investing in myself and sought out my shop. One of my former colleagues and I had the same desire to be on our own, and the purchase of our first building. In August of 2019, Dymeshia Shunea (crowned_nubian18) and I were state board-certified, and opened Uniquely Enhanced Studios. From August to now, we’ve grown beautifully as a team and as a black-owned business. We strive to set ourselves apart from others in our own unique way. Within the next year, we do plan to open another location and make Uniquely Enhanced Studios a franchise business.
Contact Info:
- Address: Uniquely Enhanced Studios
3003 South Church Street Ext.
Spartanburg SC, 29302 - Website: https://uniquednailzbymica.as.me/schedule.php
- Phone: 8649137742
- Email: micaferquson@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/uniquednailzbymica
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/GermicaFerguson
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