During the Waxx-a-thon, we had a moment where all of the employees gathered in the salon, with some close friends, significant others, and assorted other people that we love. I just had to thank everyone for the past 5 years. It is not something that I do enough.

It is incredibly moving that there are people that surround us that really GET what we are doing. People that have loved Urban Waxx and wanted to see it succeed since day one. It has been a crazy journey for me over the past 5 years. I have said before, owning a business and being a parent have been the 2 most humbling experiences that I have ever had, and I did them both at the same time. Owning a business has taught me to listen (it is still teaching me…I always have to tell myself to zip it), to have empathy for my employees, and most importantly: to ask for help. And guess what? People really want to help! The people that I have met since I have been in Portland have been some of the most creative, generous, loving and authentic people that I have ever met. I don’t know if we would have flourished this quickly in any other city. Portlandia rules.

During my little toast I told everyone that although in the grand scheme of things, waxing may not seem like a life or death job. It might even seem silly to some people. However, we touch people every day with the interactions that we have, whether we know it or not. We have the power to change and empower with our words. And, if we let them, they will change and empower us.

The day of the Waxx-a-thon, Katie, one of our sweet front deskies, said to me that she felt like she was a part of something, a community. And, we are. A community of 35 employees (and growing) that has become with not only hair removal, but customer service. Obsessed with making our guests feel like, well, guests. Giving the people that walk through our doors a few moments of luxury, and kindness, and connection. And in the process, having some serious fun.

We raised over $6000 during the 24 hour Waxx-a-thon for 2 really great local charities. We hung out with clients, and friends, and neighbors. We drank a lot of champagne, ate a lot of tea sandwiches, played some way too much flip cup, and basically had a great time. Again, it reaffirmed how un-freaking-believably lucky I am to have so many amazing employees, clients, and friends in my life.

Urban Waxx is a community, and it’s one that I feel honored to be a part of.

Thank you all for the best 5 years of my life…so far.

xo