Meet Carmen
Carmen owns a spa business in Jackson Heights, NY. For the past five years, Carmen has used Grameen America loan capital to buy the latest beauty products and new spa equipment to meet her clients’ needs. As a long-time member, her on-time loan repayments and growing business has led to her most recent loan of $10,000.
Carmen studied business and beauty in school and soon realized there was an interest and need for natural health and beauty services in her community. Carmen began her career at a large storefront that provided beauty and nail services. While she was there, Carmen was referred to Grameen America by an employee who was a member of the program. It was the low interest and business support that appealed to Carmen the most. When Carmen’s husband passed away, Carmen was unable to maintain her business at the same scale and used her first Grameen America loans to move to a smaller location and pay rent.
“Beauty has always been a passion for me. In this industry, I have to keep up with the new machines. Clients often ask for certain machines and I have to make sure I have those machines up-to-date. The services I provide mostly stay the same—facials and post-op surgery recovery services are the most popular—but it’s really the techniques, technology, and machines that are changing. There’s a new machine that smooths cellulite and a lot of clients are asking for it specifically. Now I’ll have to get that machine.”
Carmen’s daughter is also an esthetician who joined Grameen America after her mother’s recommendation. Her daughter works in the spa with Carmen and focuses on eyebrows, eyelashes, facials, and laser treatments.
