She believed she could, so she did.
If there is one life motto Alexis Tovar has lived by in her 22 years on Earth, it’s this.
As a full-time student balancing an active real estate agent career, young Tovar can also add “successful business woman” to her accomplishments with the success of her spray tan boutique, Golden Goddess.
“I’ve always been an entrepreneur,” says Tovar. “I’ve always loved the idea of having my own business. Being in real estate, I’ve been able to see Gilroy grow and to see what’s going on in this town. I have been able to see how we’re expanding and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Tovar first began to test the waters with a mobile spray tan business by meeting customers at their homes.
“It kind of exploded overnight,” says Tovar. “It got very popular and it got to the point that I needed a space.”
Tovar rented a room, which her business outgrew in just months. Her client list was growing and guests to Golden Goddess were interested in holding parties at Tovar’s shop. The search was on for a larger space that could accommodate her rising business.
“Once I had seen the shop I am in now had opened up, I jumped on it,” she says. “I was able to open the shop within the first two months of opening my business.”
Tovar now has the space she needs for her business to flourish. Golden Goddess’s offerings are not limited to full-body or partial-body spray tans. Customers and guests are offered a variety of beauty services like all-body waxing, eyelash extensions and facials. The Golden Goddess boutique even includes clothing, accessories and unique knick-knacks rarely found in regular retail stores.
Tovar distinguishes herself from other tanning and beauty salons by her approach in cultivating deep personal connections with clients. Before every tan or treatment, guests are asked to fill out a questionnaire where they explain exactly what they want and if they have a specific event they are attending.
“We want to know what you’re doing and why you’re getting a tan or your eyelashes done,” says Tovar. “We want to know so we can make sure that we are giving you the exact custom tan that you need for the event that you’re going to. If you have a wedding, we want to know about your wedding.”
Golden Goddess’s aim is to bring fun into the event preparation process.
“We just do more of a custom experience and that’s what it’s about—the experience of it all—and I think that’s what makes us different.”
As with any launch of a new business, Golden Goddess’s rise wasn’t without it’s difficulties.
“Sometimes it’s trial and error,” Tovar admits. “This is my first time running a business to the extent of how big it has now gotten. Sometimes I make mistakes. I fall sometimes.”
Tovar has learned a great deal of lessons through her journey with Golden Goddess, with one of those lessons including accountability.
“I think it’s about picking yourself up and figuring out how you’re going to fix it for next time,” says Tovar. “Being a business owner is not easy at all. You have to really love what you do.”
Attending Sacramento State during the week and tending to Golden Goddess in person during the weekends, Tovar is filled with gratitude for the amount of support her family has given her.
“If there’s any problems when I’m not there, we’re trying to figure it out together,” she says. “I’ve been so blessed with such an amazing family; I’m not in it alone. My parents and my sister really help me and work it out with me. Every problem I’ve had I’ve been able to face it with them by my side.”
With plans to eventually open up franchises in Sacramento or San Jose, Tovar’s entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds.
“This is just the beginning for Golden Goddess,” says Tovar. “I have so much faith in this company. I know what I am capable of doing in this business and I know that it could grow into something that’s amazing. I won’t give up until we are there.”
Golden Goddess is located at 7451 ½ Monterey Rd.
