- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

When Lenny Cabrera left the Dominican Republic for Canada in 2016, she knew two things: she was ready for a fresh start and she wanted to own her own business.

The Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic is known for its tropical climate and picturesque, white-sand beaches, and Lenny香蕉视频直播檚 new Canadian friends assumed she香蕉视频直播檇 spent a lot of time sipping margaritas on the beach.

Her reality had looked much different, though.

香蕉视频直播淚 hadn香蕉视频直播檛 been to the beach for 18 months before I arrived,香蕉视频直播� Lenny admits.

As a corporate lawyer in the Dominican Republic, the 33-year-old served as legal counsel for brands including Kentucky Fried Chicken, TGI Fridays and Mango clothing. She was deeply involved with their marketing, branding, staffing and legal policies, and loved watching the brands develop and grow.

香蕉视频直播淚 moved to British Columbia knowing that my endgame was to buy or develop a business,香蕉视频直播� she says.

She didn香蕉视频直播檛 know the exact nature of the business, but she was young, ambitious and driven.

Six years since stepping off the plane in Vancouver, Lenny is the proud co-owner of a swanky salon in a prime location in Kelowna. The Sweet Spot Beauty Bar opened nine months ago on Lakeshore Road across from Gyro Beach, with 2,300 square feet of pedicure bowls, nail stations, massage and facial treatment rooms, a lash and eyebrow station and a hair station. Clients can order pastries, muffins and snacks during their treatments, and as a fully licensed bar they can also enjoy cocktails, wine and beer.

The idea for The Sweet Spot began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lenny had met her business partner, Alicia Jameson, soon after arriving in Kelowna in 2017. At the time, Alicia was an aesthetician who dreamed of opening her own salon, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to embark on the business alone. One night, as the two women shared a bottle of wine, she mentioned her dream to Lenny, and suggested they give it a go.

Lenny loved the idea and the two immediately began brainstorming, planning, writing their business plan and securing financing to bring the idea to reality. Lenny recalled her spa experiences in the Dominican, where wine or cocktails during a pedicure was a standard treat and part of the pleasure of unwinding at the end of a busy work week. She wanted her clients at The Sweet Spot to enjoy the same libations.

香蕉视频直播淲e wanted a beauty bar that was a one-stop shop, a place where people could wind down with good quality service and a glass of wine for a girls香蕉视频直播� night out or a fun couples experience.香蕉视频直播�

Step inside the beauty bar and you香蕉视频直播檙e enveloped by shades of peach and pink. Plush cushions and comfy seating entice clients to the pedicure bowls, and a wall of pink flowers separates the nail bars from the treatment rooms and lash stations. The wide array of services on offer includes manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, nail art, eyebrow shaping, eyebrow tinting, eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting, body waxing, face waxing, facials and massages. The space is inviting, relaxing, luxurious and designed with sharp attention to every small detail.

Lenny and Alicia remain equal partners deeply committed to The Sweet Spot香蕉视频直播檚 success and optimistic about the future. While Lenny handles the finances, Alicia oversees training and service procedures. Each brings individual strengths that combine to make the business flourish.

香蕉视频直播淲edding season is coming and our bookings are ramping up with tourists to Kelowna, bachelorette parties and brides香蕉视频直播� days of pampering before their nuptials,香蕉视频直播� Lenny says. 香蕉视频直播淒uring the winter the local community showed their support and we worked hard at introducing our new business through social media.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a new business and it香蕉视频直播檚 not perfect,香蕉视频直播� she reflects. 香蕉视频直播淚f anyone asked me what it香蕉视频直播檚 like to be an entrepreneur, I香蕉视频直播檇 say, buckle up, because it comes with growing pains, a lot of work and many issues that are beyond our control. The business is still in its early stages and I don香蕉视频直播檛 think I香蕉视频直播檒l be able to relax until it becomes an icon in the Kelowna community. But I香蕉视频直播檝e never had any doubt that Alicia and I could pull this off. I香蕉视频直播檓 happy and proud of what we香蕉视频直播檝e achieved so far, and right now, the future is looking pretty bright!香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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