Some of the best finds are in small towns, just ask around. You don’t have to go to a big city to find good people that are offering great services. For skin care, you just need to make a short drive to Mount Olive to find folks that care about how your day has been, want you to feel special and treat you like family.
We spent a little time with Skinology’s owner, Carla Heron, to learn her journey to founding Skinology.
Treye Hanner: Tell our readers about your business. How did it begin and why did you decide to get into your field?
Carla Heron: My esthetic career began in March 2016. I graduated from esthetic school the same day I married Jay Heron. I attended Skintrenzixs Esthetic School in Vestavia, Alabama. I had been in the dental field for almost 25 years, and I had owned different businesses in Gardendale. I was at the point in my life that I decided it was time to do something I was passionate about. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and help them feel better about themselves from the inside out. This is basically my mission field. God always places things in your life just at the right time. I had known my esthetic teacher for a long time. I was at the time in my life I could make this change. I placed the phone call on Wednesday and started school on Monday. The rest is amazing history.
Treye Hanner: What has been important to your success since your opened Skinology?
Carla Heron: I would have to say customer service. Caring deeply about each and every client. I was telling someone just this week how you never know what all someone has to go through to make it to my chair. Whether it be saving money, rearranging ball schedules, or just finding time for yourself. I treat each person like it is their first visit. I care deeply about how your day has been and how your family is doing. It is all about relationships, not just a client relationship but like a family. The other estheticians and my son Michael are all about customer service as well. We are a family business. We love that each person is like a family member and not just a number.
Treye Hanner: Why did you choose Mount Olive as the place for your business?
Carla Heron: I was previously located in Gardendale. I was looking for a larger place to move myself and my son. I knew I wanted to add more estheticians and offer more services. We moved to our Mount Olive location in January 2021 with approximately 1800 square feet. In January 2022, Deborah James retired from Deborah’s Party Rental. This opened up an extra 1300 or more square feet and added 2 more estheticians. Brittney Hunt and Janice Todd are amazing Estheticians. We have over 50 years total experience between the three of us. We will be adding apprentices soon. Michael Vernon is my son, and he paints hair and is also a vital part of our business. It is truly a blessing to work with Michael, Brittney, and Janice. God knew the right people and when to place them. We all work amazing with each other. The beauty of our business is that each one of us brings something great to the table. This makes our business excel in our industry.
Treye Hanner: What changes have you seen in the community that have affected your business since it began?
Carla Heron: In Mount Olive we have a lot of businesses that are owned by women. I absolutely love that. We all work very well together. We have The Social, Vizable Changes, Cakes by Elise, Roo’s Place, Glow, Mt. Olive Storage, The Icehouse and more. It is awesome to network with other women promoting our businesses and helping each other grow.
Treye Hanner: Are there any changes you would like to see in the Gardendale and Mount Olive Communities that would help your business grow?
Carla Heron: I grew up in Gardendale. I just turned 57 this month. There have been so many changes over the years. I love seeing new growth and promoting other businesses. I also love the way Gardendale supports their own. I feel blessed knowing this is my amazing hometown. I think growth happens when people are planting seeds and watering other businesses as well as their own. I think we should offer more networking and city events for the Gardendale/ Mt. Olive area. Our cities are growing fast. We need to be ready.
Treye Hanner: What are your plans for Skinology for the future? Do you plan to broaden your services to customers or expand your location?
Carla Heron: I am so excited that we just expanded our current location. We are in the process of offering more services and opening apprenticeships. In the future we would love to open an Esthetic school and also offer training for permanent makeup and the tattooing of breast cancer clients. I couldn’t make all of this possible without the amazing team I have, Michael, Brittney, and Janice. I have an amazing husband, Jay Heron. He is always on a project we have for him. We have been married 6 years. We are a blended family of 5. We are expecting two grandchildren in the next few months. Who knows we may open another location. Stay tuned.
