SmallBiz: Woman Follows Passion Into 'Waxcraft'

(This article originally appeared in Dublin and Castro Valley Patch. If you followed your passion into a San Leandro business and would like to share a bit about your experience, contact the editor for a "how-to-get-publicity" kit.) 

Black and purple rooms accented with chandeliers. Sparkly cob webs, 80's metal playing above, and vintage decor.

This is what you may experience when you visit Waxcraft Waxing in Castro Valley, a small business started by Cat Stranahan-Coakley.

A resident of Dublin for nearly 20 years, "Cat" started as a dental assistant until switching to a career as an aesthetician in 2000. That's when she fell in love with waxing. After interviewing with franchise-type places she realized that wasn't what she wanted.

"Visiting so many licensed waxing establishments and seeing their level of sterilization is what got me motivated to start my own business," Cat said. "That and being able to give women a safe, clean place where they can go (without kids and men) and pamper themselves."

Repeat business and word of mouth have built her clientele. From March 2010 she has gone from fewer than a dozen clients to over 2,062 customers. ABC 7's A-list took note this year as voters named Waxcraft "Best Bikini Wax." 

She is also busy giving back to her community. Just recently she found out that she will be sponsoring an underserved girl from Union City to attend a RealGirl camp empowerment workshop where young girls have the space to learn life skills and gain self confidence.

She has also donated her services to many raffles, and is sponsoring a Hayward girl's softball team this year.

Like her own shop, she also appreciates the mom and pops around her. "I try and buy as local as possible to support the busineses around me. If they do well, I do well" 

Waxcraft is a full-service waxing parlor. To book an appointment with the "waxperts" visit their website or call them at (510) 728-1308. 

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