Written by: Chloe Smith
Due to busy schedules and tight budgets, many college students utilize services provided on campus. One business that has seen growth at Southern in recent years is nail services. Students can not only find more affordable options but also enjoy the ease of getting their nails done on campus.
Camille Martinez Ortiz, a recent Southern graduate and owner of CAMO Nails, shares her experience of running a nail business in the dorm for two years.
“I operated from the dorm room in Thatcher, and it really helped because a lot of clients are from around campus,” Ortiz said. “So it made it accessible for them and for me, as well.”
With an average of 20 clients a month, Ortiz said that doing nails was a great way to earn extra income while she attended Southern; it was also a hobby she enjoyed.
“Nail art is very therapeutic to me,” she said, “plus [I] made good money with it.”
When asked if interest in the nail business has grown at Southern, Martinez Ortiz said, “Definitely! I feel like after I started, a lot of other talented nail artists got inspired to start their own businesses.”
Joni Perry, sophomore psychology major, has been operating as a nail artist in her dorm for over a year. As a student herself, Perry looks to make her services more affordable compared to off-campus locations.
“I know that as a college student there are a lot of expenses to worry about,” Perry said, “so I want to provide that option of being cute on a budget with my cheaper pricing.”
When asked how her business, Jonixnails, started, Perry said that a friend offered to pay her to do her nails. This first customer was so pleased that word spread. It wasn’t until she operated a booth at 423 Night Market, however, that her business really began to grow.
“After I did 423 Night two semesters ago, I gained a lot more publicity…” Perry said.
Ortiz shared a similar experience.
“I definitely felt [support] at 423 nights when I had a CAMO Nails booth,” said Ortiz.
While continuing to grow in her work, Perry said she takes inspiration from other nail artists, including Martinez Ortiz. “CAMO Nails was a very talented nail artist on campus who has now graduated. … I look up to her and strive to become as talented as her.”
Daisy Morgan, a sophomore photography major and customer of Perry’s, finds that getting her nails done on campus is much more convenient.
“I choose to go on campus because I don’t have a car, and as a college student, I try to save as much money as possible,” she said. “Having the opportunity to have someone on campus do them for much cheaper than a nail salon is both convenient and affordable.”
Like other student entrepreneurs, Perry finds operating a nail business while in school can be challenging.
“Juggling not only school and my business, but also my work and social life, has been pretty difficult,” Perry said. “But my friends are always sharing my content on social media and encouraging me … making me feel better and giving me the confidence to keep pushing at it.”
Martinez Ortiz also saw a great amount of support at Southern for her work.
“I have seen so much support from so many girls who come up to me to acknowledge my work. I feel very grateful for all the support on my nail business up until I graduated.”
