How I got to where I am now….
2004
My journey with skincare began during my teenage years when acne took a toll on my confidence. I was introduced to an esthetician by my mom and at that moment, I discovered my passion. I always knew I was an entrepreneur, dreaming of owning a dance studio, my encounter with skincare ignited a new path. In that moment, I realized my calling lay in establishing a day spa.
2008
I attended Palomar Institute of Cosmetology in San Marcos, CA, where I obtained my Esthetic license. As the youngest student in my class, my passion for skincare set me apart. While school provided a solid foundation in skincare techniques, it lacked insights into business management.
Shortly after graduation, I secured a front desk position at a day spa conveniently located just three blocks from the beach. My dedication and hard work led to a rapid promotion to Manager, during which I played a pivotal role in facilitating the spa's expansion, resulting in a tripling of its size.
2010
I transitioned to a role at a Salon & Spa, which had undergone a change in ownership. The new owner lacked experience in the spa and salon industry, prompting me to step in and assist in organizing and managing the business effectively.
During this period, I also played a crucial role in aiding a medical spa in streamlining its operations and facilitating its expansion into a larger premises.
Picture - Your typical 2010' 20 year old something.
2012
Feeling burnt out and in need of a change, I made the decision to leave sunny San Diego and relocate to Nashville, TN. During this transition, I took on various odd jobs, including bartending, serving, marketing, door-to-door flyer distribution, and serving as a personal assistant.
After a few years, I felt ready to re-enter the spa industry. However, I struggled to find a spa that aligned with my vision and aspirations. Initially planning to return to San Diego to open my own spa, however, I had an epiphany: Nashville was where I wanted to establish my spa venture
Picture - My first house in Nashville!
2014
I moved to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. I saved up money from my waitressing gig and spent two months on this island, focusing on my spa business plan. I hashed out everything from the name and logo to prices, protocols and services. When someone asked about failure, I just laughed. I was confident it wouldn't happen. Looking back, it taught me that confidence, planning, passion, and perseverance are the keys to success
Pictures - Me in my favorite place, the apartment I lived in and all the friends I made.
Winter 2014
Love Skin Nashville was born. I leased a room at the back of a midtown hair salon, transforming it into a cozy treatment space. With savings accumulated beforehand, I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to my clients, offering discounts and free services through platforms like Groupon. My sole aim was to provide each client with my undivided love, care, and attention throughout their session – and it paid off! Satisfied clients returned and spread the word about my services to their friends, fueling the growth of my business through word-of-mouth referrals.
Pictures - my logo on my mug, so proud of that mug! My friend Ellen helping me build my Esthetics bed, my friend and first client, Kelli and my friend Jacob helping me put up shelves!
Summer 2015
Love Skin Nashville expanded and moved into Berry Hill, TN, a cozy small town just south of downtown Nashville. After driving down Bransford Ave. daily for six months, I stumbled upon a 'For Lease' sign. I chatted with the owner and his wife, and boom – signed the lease to open shop in July 2015! Despite a bit of remodeling and adding a makeshift relaxation room, I was thrilled to become a 'real business owner'!
Pictures - Our reception area, my makeshift relaxation room, the spa and my first interview!
Summer 2015
I went to a local coffee shop and interviewed Massage Therapists and Estheticians for this new spa of mine! My first real employees! Fun fact - a couple of my first employees still work for me to this day! We opened our doors and continued to do what we do best, provide individualized care and attention to our clients…and guess what? We kept growing!
Picture - My first building with employees!
Spring 2017
My landlord approached me one day, asking if I wanted to buy the building we were in. I declined, explaining that we were so busy, we were already outgrowing the space! He then led me to his friend's property nearby, which was about to go on sale. It was a cluttered stitching store, and in that moment, I felt a sense of destiny. I knew this would be the future home of my spa. Although Love Skin Nashville seemed to emphasize skincare, I envisioned it as a full-service spa, catering to all needs and needed to rebrand.
Pictures - the spa building when I went to look at it the first time.
Summer 2017
The remodeling journey began when I bought a commercial building for my dream spa. Lacking funds to hire a general contractor, I managed the project myself, which turned out to be stressful (I do not recommend) as everything that could go wrong actually went wrong. In hindsight, I'd have hired a professional. Despite the challenges, we managed to get everything sorted, and we were finally ready to open!
Pictures - the remodel process. Almost gutted the entire place, just left most of the walls up.
The Spa Haus Saga
Winter 2017
Spa Haus Nashville was born. The name was inspired by my authentic German heritage as a nod to my dad's roots. Following months of remodeling, we proudly opened our doors on December 20th, 2017. With 7 treatment rooms, an office, and a bona fide relaxation space – all housed in a building I owned – it truly felt like a dream come true!
Pictures - the spa after our paint job, me celebrating opening day (my mom took that photo and it still makes me so happy), a couple treatment rooms and our waiting relaxation room.
2018
Spa Haus Nashville hit the one-year mark! It got me thinking about when exactly we should celebrate – November 2014 when I started solo, July 2015 when I hired my first staff, or December 2017 when we rebranded and expanded? It's been a puzzle! But hey, amidst all this, I made a big move: hiring a full-time manager. Now, I'm focused on growing the business and taking some well-deserved self-care time.
Pictures - One year of Spa Haus! Sedona, my favorite place in the US and obviously, Spa Haus!
The sudden shutdown of my small business due to the pandemic was an incredibly surreal and life-altering experience. I found myself overwhelmed with meltdowns, losing my sanity, and shedding tears daily. My primary concern was my employees and their livelihoods. To adapt, I pivoted to selling our products online, offering local delivery and nationwide shipping while providing employees with a generous commission from sales.
When I learned about the PPP program, I applied and fortunately received it. Excitedly, I reached out to my loyal employees to offer them their jobs back, only to be met with heartbreak as one after another announced their departure. Hearing responses like "I quit," "I'm starting my own place," or "I'm changing careers" felt like a betrayal. Overnight, 70% of my staff left, leaving me devastated and feeling abandoned.
What made it even more painful was realizing that many of these employees were not just colleagues but turned into friends with whom I had shared growth and life experiences. Yet, they collectively blocked me on social media and refused to communicate with me. It was a dark period in my life that I'm still processing. Despite the pain, I acknowledge that this experience has made me stronger, and I believe the spa wouldn't be where it is today without this pivotal moment.
The COVID shutdown
Spring 2021
Breaking ground on our expansion was a rollercoaster of emotions – excitement and fear intertwined like never before. Despite the apprehension, we made the bold decision to keep the spa operational throughout the entire construction process. It seemed crazy, but remarkably, it worked! We hardly had to discount any clients, and everyone was incredibly understanding and supportive of our endeavor.
The expansion included a host of new features: a larger, more beautiful relaxation room, an outdoor patio, an office, and five additional treatment rooms. While the journey was fraught with stress and countless challenges, it also served as an invaluable learning experience.
Winter 2021
The expansion is complete!
Fall 2019
Business was booming, so I decided to move my office to a she-shed that I revamped. It was an exciting time! The demand was high, and we needed more space, so I turned the old garden shed – filled with random stuff – into a spacious office. It was a huge upgrade from my tiny windowless closet-sized office in the spa.
At first, the new office felt amazing. But dealing with Tennessee's unpredictable weather and being physically away from the spa posed challenges. I felt isolated and out of touch with the spa's vibe. I knew something had to change, but I wasn't sure what to do next.
Summer 2020
Despite being torn down, I emerged stronger. After navigating through the shock of the past few months, I regrouped and began the process of rehiring staff. Determined to adapt, we implemented contactless services and embraced the necessity of wearing masks at all times. It was a frightening and unsettling period.
However, amidst the uncertainty, I found an exceptional manager and saw an opportunity to elevate Spa Haus even further. Originally sparked by the need to bring the office back into the spa, the idea of expansion took root. Upon assessing the costs of a buildout, I decided to maximize the opportunity by adding as much space as possible. In the end, we expanded to 4200 square feet, effectively doubling our size.
Winter 2021
The expansion is complete!
I’m passionate about helping you grow and provide a happy, healthy work environment .
Meet Elyse
When I started my spa, Love Skin Nashville, in November 2014, I had no idea the life journey I was about to embark on. I started a solo Esthetician renting a room in the back of a hair salon. Over the years I have expanded my business 4 times, went through 3 remodels and have hired over 100 employees. I changed the name of my spa to Spa Haus Nashville in 2017 when I bought and remodeled our building. Spa Haus Nashville is now the home to 20+ incredible employees and a haven for locals and visitors alike to enjoy and relax.
While I have loved working on my business and wathcing it grow, I realized I am even more passionate about helping others succeed.
I have been through so much and majority of it, I went through alone. I am so grateful to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with others to help you grow and thrive.
I can help you.
Bring your ideas to life
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a spa or expand. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Build your confidence
It can be intimidating to run your own business. Learn to present yourself and your concepts with confidence.
Expand your potential
I want to help you meet your maximum potential, whether it’s helping you building brand loyalty or just understanding how to run a successful business.