Even before the pandemic, interest in skincare was on the rise. Multiple years of holding up the equivalent of a digital mirror through Zoom calls, staring at ourselves incessantly, has led us to pay more attention to our appearance. The result – many are accessing professional skin care services for the first time and for others this has reinforced the importance of their skincare regimens. Glowbar is an operator of skincare studios that offer 30-minute facials for $55 per month for members; non-members can book appointments for $65. The startup now has six locations located throughout the tri-state area with another six new locations planned for 2023, both in the immediate area and East Coast. Glowbar’s team of 100+ estheticians are trained to provide Dermaplaning, Chemical peels, Extractions, LED, Microcurrent, or High Frequency treatments during customer visits. By focusing simply focusing on facials without injections, Botox, fillers, lasers, and other common upcharge items, Glowbar makes facials convenient, accessible, and cost-friendly as compared to a full day at a spa or a visit to the dermatologist, where facials have been traditionally centered around.
AlleyWatch caught up with Glowbar Founder & CEO Rachel Liverman to learn more about the business, the company’s strategic plans, recent round of funding, and much, much more…
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
Our investors are Peterson Partners, the Salt Lake City-based firm whose investments have included Allbirds, Bonobos, [Solidcore], and Madison Reed.
We raised a $10M Series A funding round.
Tell us about the product or service that Glowbar offers.
Glowbar offers 30-min, $65, clinical-grade facials that have made us a breakout New York success. We reinvented the facial experience, with our quick but effective approach to facials. Our experience includes an esthetician-led survey to better understand client’s needs and to determine a treatment plan which can include Dermaplaning, Chemical peels, Extractions, LED, Microcurrent, or High Frequency.
Monthly memberships are $55 – which include one treatment per month and 10% of retail products – with standalone appointments also available for $65.
What inspired the start of Glowbar?
As a third-generation esthetician–my grandmother founded the first fully-accredited esthetics institute in the US-I saw a white space in the skincare industry. There was a ripe opportunity to make skincare inclusive to everyone and as attainable as we expect other traditional health services to be, and our growth has been a testament to that.
Our company vision is rooted in effective results and customized experiences.
How is Glowbar different?
Glowbar is making skincare available to everyone by offering facials that can be applied to any lifestyle or budget. Glowbar’s expert, no-frills facials, helps consumers reach their skincare goals without the pain points of time or expense. It is an inclusive, affordable, time-sensitive facial that has lasting effects, allowing anyone to add a Glowbar facial into their routine.
Glowbar’s mission is to help people feel confident in their skin. Our facials are meant to make you feel good from the inside out because when you look good, you feel good.
What market does Glowbar target and how big is it?
The skin care, beauty, wellness, health, and consumer lifestyle markets; all of which are continuously growing markets. Right now, our focus is on New York and Connecticut, but we will be growing our footprint in 2023.
What’s your business model?
Glowbar offers a clinical-grade approach to facials that lives at the intersection of a dermatologist and a spa to help consumers reach their skincare goals without the pain points of time, expense, and lack of confidence.
How are you preparing for a potential economic slowdown?
Glowbar’s membership program is built to accommodate any budget. We’ve seen that even in times of financial decline, people continue to invest in what we call “wellcare,” a sector that provides the efficiency and expertise that we expect from health services, with the accessibility that fits into any lifestyle. Spending in this sector is currently on the rise, with 62% of Americans wanting to make it a priority.
What was the funding process like?
Our team found the funding process to be exciting and energizing. There is nothing we love more than talking about our growth and our vision for the future.
What are the biggest challenges that you faced while raising capital?
Raising capital is a lot like dating. Timing, values, vision, and energies have to align for a great partnership, so finding that perfect alignment can be time-consuming. I’m a huge believer that all money is green, so the emphasis for me was bringing on people we enjoyed working with, trusted, and shared the same philosophies and values for Glowbar’s growth. We believe we found just that in Peterson Partners.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
Our greatest asset is our people and in my opinion, the right investor was going to invest in just that. Without the right people, it’s impossible to have a good business–nevermind a great one. It also helps that we have a best-in-class business model that is primed for growth in today’s market and the broader future.
What are the milestones you plan to achieve in the next six months?
We are planning 3 new store openings in the next 6 months.
What advice can you offer companies in New York that do not have a fresh injection of capital in the bank?
Be thoughtful about what you invest in and always keep an eye on profitability. Invest in what truly matters to your customer – and if you don’t know what that is, find out and find out quick!
Be thoughtful about what you invest in and always keep an eye on profitability. Invest in what truly matters to your customer – and if you don’t know what that is, find out and find out quick!
Where do you see the company going now over the near term?
Glowbar expects rapid expansion over the near term, with plans to more than double our studio count by the end of 2023, both in the Tri-State area and in additional markets. We will be expanding our headcount across the organization, including senior leadership, and will continue investing in state-of-the-art training for our 100+ licensed estheticians.
What’s your favorite coffee shop or location in the city to hold a meeting?
Blackstone coffee in the West Village. We could all learn something from them about customer service and hospitality!
