We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Blackwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Finding a balance between work and personal life was definitely a process. When we opened our studio here in Houston we worked 7 days a week from noon to midnight for the 1st 3 months. We really didn’t know what times would be the busiest and wanted to make sure we didn’t miss out on any business. Then we decided to close at 10pm, this went on for the 1st year. After that we started just taking Mondays off and eventually decided to close at 8pm. Just this past year we felt like only one day off was not enough. So now we have Mondays and Tuesday off. It took a bit but we finally figured out what works for us. Even on our time off, I still find myself placing orders, answering calls and messaging people back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Styling and curating ears is my favorite thing to do, adding different movements and textures with jewelry is so fun! We can even get creative with nose and lip setups! I’m most excited about our growing gold selection. It’s taken a lot of time and patience to get where we are today and we are still growing everyday. I have learned that just being yourself and being honest with your clients goes such a long way. People like authenticity and someone they can just relate to. I want people to know that we are here for you even if we didn’t piece you, we would love to help you with an existing piercing, piece of jewelry etc. We give a small home town feel and welcome all to come visit our world;)

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friend comes into town, we are going kayaking in woodlands, shopping at the thrift stores downtown. We will also be doing early morning Pilates at Happy hour Pilates in the heights. We will be getting boba and coffee! There’s also an antique mall in spring we will be visiting!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All of the wonderful people who have stepped into our studio and given us a chance deserve all the credit. You all are the reason we are still here. People telling there friends and family about us and them coming! My wonderful partner and fellow piercer Riley is the most encouraging and best person I could ask for, he does all the things to make sure I stay happy and that are studio stays clean and in compliance.

Website: https://www.bodyartpiercingstudio.com

Instagram: @bodyartpiercinghtx

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.