Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Grein
Hi Ruby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a passion for skin and beauty, but I did not know what that would look like within my life. I began my journey on a similar path as many by heading off to college. My intentions were to help people with their skin through healthy dieting by becoming a dietitian. Quickly, I realized I was years away from starting anything I felt remotely called to do. With the support of my family, I made the decision to depart from college and begin an esthetic program. I attended the Skin Institute, one of the only entirely esthetician based schools in STL. After completing the program I began work as a licensed esthetician within a medical spa in STL. It was not long before I realized my growing dreams of owning my own business were ready to be achieved. After a year into my current spa position, I decided to take the leap of faith and start The Red Gem.
My mother, a local Chiropractor, was gracious enough to rent me one of her treatment rooms to begin my journey. This is when The Red Gem was truly born. I started by treating friends and family members and anyone I could spread the word to. After some time, those friends & family members began to send their own friends to me, and the snow ball began to slowly build. Within this time frame I had become a full time waitress, seeing my clients before my shifts and on the weekends. I utilized my waitressing wages to invest into creating & building The Red Gem.
Within a year into waitressing, I had made the funds to completely furnish and establish my now, two treatment rooms, as well as purchase a website creator. Soon, I had the funds to invest in an advertising business that helped to push The Red Gem website higher into search findings. Once the Red Gem was popping up within the searches for services I provided throughout the STL area, the snow ball began to grow at a rapid pace. I began having several new clients every week, who then in turn told their friends & family of my services.
After two full years of waitressing and growing the business, I was ready to go full time. In May of 2024, I retired from waitressing and was officially solely a business owner & esthetician. This second leap of faith was my hardest one yet, but my best, most fruitful decision I’ve made so far. Thanks to my family, friends, and the grace of God, The Red Gem has been an ever growing and flourishing business.
I am truly blessed.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have truly been blessed through every step of my journey. The Red Gem has been a true example of hard work paying off.
Towards the end of taking my leap of faith to rely solely on my business as a livelihood, I was working consistent 12hr shifts juggling waitressing and growing the business. The business finally grew to a point to where I needed to focus solely on my dream. After 2+ years of working & waiting, it all paid off.
The time between those 2 years was filled with days or doubt and worry, but through it all I prayed. I prayed for The Red Gem to truly help those I encountered, and if it was His will, for the business to come to life.
Everyday I focused on the future, and the things I needed to do to keep my dream alive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Within The Red Gem I offer an array of services. My primary & most popular service is Sugaring. This is an all natural, gentle and effect form of prolonged hair removal. I am one of the only spas in STL to offer sugaring, and it is one of my favorite services! I also offer a vast selection of Facials that I tend to tailor to my clients individual needs. I am also trained in threading, which creates the most beautifully carved & shaped eyebrow, but can also remove stubborn facial hair! In addition I offer lash & brow tinting as well as lash lifting, to help define your natural beauty!
Within my time growing the business, I have also created The Red Gem Toner. This is my most prized creation so far! I set out with the intention of creating a product to truly combat acne. After months of product research, I concocted the Red Gem Toner. I immediately noticed positive changes within my skin after use, so I began having my friends with acne use the Toner as well. Before I knew it, I had a Toner that effectively was ridding my friends and family of acne, rosacea, and irritation of all sorts. Now, I am actively selling The Red Gem Toner to several clients, family, friends, etc and the users are continuing to grow.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories are partaking in float trips with my family. We have always been outdoors people, so growing up our version of vacations were in the form of camping trips. There is nothing more sweet & nostalgic than the memory of being on a crystal clear river in MO, sun soaking into your skin, gliding effortlessly and silently across the rivers surface, surrounded with family and friends. It truly was always such a fun, beautiful and wholesome time with my family.
Pricing:
- I have my prices listed on my website, and I am doing minor prices headed into 2025.
- I am going to leave this section blank due to my changes coming shortly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theredgemsalon.com
- Instagram: @theredgemsalon
- Facebook: TheRedGemSalon
