Check out our interview with Latina Business Owner, Celebrity Esthetician, Published Author, and Skin Care Expert Deisy Suarez.
Deisy’s DESUAR Spa in Downtown Los Angeles has expanded to a second location during the pandemic and throughout her career has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Forbes, Zoe Report, and more.
Suarez was quick to pivot her business strategy to turn the pandemic into a positive for not only her but her business. When the news of spa closures first hit, Suarez began promoting her e-commerce shop for at-home self-care and began hosting Zoom classes for her loyal clients to try their favorite spa treatments at home. Shortly after, Suarez took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing a book. Suarez is now a published author and released her first book “Marriage Material” earlier this year.
Suarez quickly began offering outdoor, rooftop treatments, in Downtown Los Angeles above her spa, DESUAR Spa. Suarez saw the need for an outdoor space and decided to act. DESUAR Spa has now opened its second location in Los Feliz, Los Angeles where she and her team are able to provide safe, outdoor treatments for her guests.
Follow Deisy @deisysuarez
Hi Deisy, please tell us a little about you?
I am a Dominican born entrepreneur, esthetician, expert in self-care and spa management, known as the “spa connoisseur”. I am the owner and founder of DESUAR Spa, twice voted best spa in downtown Los Angeles, and author of “Marriage Material: How I Found My Husband”. I originally entered the beauty and wellness industry more than 16 years ago as a makeup artist in NYC, my passion for providing skin care advice and treatments began years earlier, as a child who made scrubs and mud masks in the kitchen sink which I used on myself and friends, family and neighbors in the Dominican Republic, and Brooklyn, NY where I grew up. A wife, and mother of sons aged 2½ years, and 11-months, I am also a public speaker, philanthropist, author, content creator, and influencer. I also hold a BA in Marketing Communications from UTESA, and recently graduated from the University of California Irvine, Continuing Education Division, with a major in Spa and Hospitality Management.
Success is important to me but philanthropy also has an important place in my life. As a mother, I care deeply about giving back. I’ve volunteered at the Living Water Children’s Centre in Tanzania, Africa, where I helped teach English to the children, and applied my touch therapy to healing the orphan children.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Motivated, Driven, Achiever
Who is your biggest supporter?
My husband Keith Giles
Best advice ever given?
Never stop learning
When did you start in the business?
1998
What book should every entrepreneur read?
Think and Grow Rich
What is the key to your success?
Discipline and patience
Tell us about “DESUAR Spa?”
DESUAR is a private day spa incorporating a philosophy that is fundamental to human experience, the quest for a balanced lifestyle. Balancing mind and body create a new state of mental and physical health, beauty and self-esteem. DESUAR Spa offers healing as well as relaxing high-end treatments. Our slogan is “Where communicating with your body, means listening with our hands”. At DESUAR Spa, we treat you like royalty.
DESUAR Spa was voted best spa 2 years in row. DESUAR Spa provides services that relieve everyday tension and stress from overwork, or skin stress as a result of harsh environments and pollution. From skincare to CBD massage – DESUAR is dedicated to providing the authentic services that leave you soothed, relieved, revived and your skin glowing for days.
Where and how did you got the idea to create this?
In NYC I always dreamed of owning my own spa, similar to Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door
Do you have any competition in the market? If so, what makes you different from them?
Anyone that provides healing and wellness services is our competition. DESUAR Spa is such versatile spa, it’s not a one concept spa. It’s a place you can go and spend an hour or day getting numerous high-end treatments without the guilt of breaking the bank. We believe that we differentiate ourselves from our competitors by making it our mission to dedicate ourselves to consistent service to our community with integrity and concern for that community.
What is next for DESUAR Spa?
Launching our own skincare products and expanding into new local markets.
How did you and your team are managing the company and clients during the COVID-19 situation?
We are rapidly adapting and constantly changing our services, and procedures. Continue to safely care for our clients. We are patient and staying strong during these days. We pivoted our business to provide services on a downtown rooftop and have expanded to open a brand-new concept of an open-air spa in the Los Feliz neighborhood.
Now tell us about your book “Marriage Material?”
The book, Marriage Material: How I Found my Husband, is the story of how two very different souls found themselves and fell in love. Chronicled through the pages is the long, often tortured journey of my husband and I and how we overcame adversity to forge a new life together. One question that it definitely answers is that, indeed, opposites do attract!
What are the expectations for Deisy Suarez in 2021?
Surviving COVID-19, and fully operating without any fear of another shut down and fear for my clients & staff getting infected. Publishing my second book, and launching my first skin care product
What is fun and rewarding about what you do? And what’s not?
Being able to heal and help others. Knowing that through my touch therapy & clinically proven skincare services, I am able to alleviate and help many people feel and look better inside and out. It’s rewarding to be able to provide jobs for many people that can provide for themselves and their families.
Not rewarding when I have to deny a customer a most needed wellness appointment, due to our fully committed schedule or limited space.
Which project is still on your bucket list?
A spa in NYC, on 5th Ave, and my products to be sold at Neiman Marcus
3 things you can’t leave your house without?
My asthma pump, cell phone and my pepper spray
What music do you like?
Salsa music
How’s a typical day in your life?
Checking emails, engaging in my social media accounts, answering business phone calls, attending meetings, taking spa appointments, checking on spa inventory and will certainly stop by either one of my spas to see what is happening there.
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Stay home in bed watching animal planet & cuddling with my kids Henry & Lucas and husband Keith.
What is your favorite healthy food?
Steamed Asparagus with Baked Salmon.
And your favorite cheat food?
Cheez Its- I love anything cheese
Something people don’t know about you?
I work so much and I’m always rushing to leave my house, that I can sometimes go two weeks without washing my hair
What would be the dream holiday, and who would you go with?
Beach side in the Dominican Republic with my Husband and 2 kids
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Nelson Mandela for his resilience.
Do you support any charities?
Yes, Heifer International, Living Water Children’s Center in Tanzania, Innocence Project, and several dog rescue organizations
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Accomplished and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs on how to become successful.
How would you describe your fashion style?
Cross over of Fancy and Trendy
What do you think of Social Media?
A free and very powerful tool.
Where we can follow you?
Quote: “Nobody can create your dreams!”
Song: Yo no se manana – By Luis Enrique
Movie: Gladiator
Travel Destination: Bora Bora
Sports Team: Yankees
