Mother and daughter team thriving with beauty and wellness business in Menomonee Falls
While growing up, Taylor Owens never thought she would open a business with her mother.
Her mother, Angie Schultz, did not make a career change to massage therapy until she was 40, about a decade ago.
After working in a factory, Schultz, of Germantown, learned how massage therapy can help alleviate migraines as well as many other health benefits.
Owens graduated from Menomonee Falls High School in 2014 and now lives in Milwaukee. She has been in the skincare and beauty business for just over five years.
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But she said that owning a business with her mother has been wonderful.
Schultz and Owens both worked at another salon previously. The two opened Top Shelf Wellness and Beauty in downtown Menomonee Falls, N89 W16790 Appleton Ave., in September. Its services are massages, body sculpting, facials, waxing, makeup, lash extensions and microblading.
"We never had interests in common until adults," said Owens. "(Owning a business together) turned out to be ideal."
Schultz is a licensed massage therapist, while her daughter is a licensed esthetician who does services such as facials, skincare and eyebrow treatment.
"We started the business because we both worked for someone else and thought we could do things how we wanted to and to provide our guests with top-shelf services and making sure they leave feeling better than when they came in," said Schultz.
"I love it. She (Owens) has more of the artistic side," said Schultz, indicating that Owens designed their space. "I have all my plants there. It is a nice relaxing space. It is a safe space for self-care."
"It is really great working with my daughter and doing things we love," she added.
Unique services
Both Schultz and Owens said they rely on professional development opportunities and strive to bring unique services to their business.
For instance, while many businesses do microblading — a procedure using several tiny needles to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin — Top Shelf has added nano brows to its offerings.
"Nano brows is a new brow technique that uses a tattoo machine to create a hair stroke pattern," Schultz explained. "Still semi-permanent, but allows for more artistry in the design. Microblading is only recommended for about 10% of skin types, while nano brows are for almost everyone."
Schultz said she is going to New Mexico in August to learn Sarga, a barefoot massage method.
Owens said she can do gua sha, a Chinese technique that uses stones, gems and metals for doing facials. For skincare, Owens also uses microcurrent technology — using low-level electrical currents to tone, lift and firm sagging facial muscles back to their original position — and red light therapy. Red light therapy uses red low-level wavelengths for skin issues such as wrinkles and scars.
The business owners also sell wellness products such as doTERRA products — essential oils and related products. "We have a local small business (Cedar Creek Candles) that sells candles in our space," said Schultz. They also sell crystals and bath salts.
"We love to educate guests on self-care and stress management. Massage does provide stress relief. We have also done a few classes with our essential oils for overall wellness," said Schultz.
Owens added that their clients are like family. "We believe that wellness is everything, and we want our clients to spend time on wellness outside of us," she said. "You can't be well until taking care of all parts of you."
For more information on Top Shelf Wellness and Beauty, visit topshelfwellnessandbeauty.com. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Menomonee Falls wellness and beauty business run by mom-daughter duo
