SBW: Cera Wax Studio Enjoying Its Cordell Avenue Perch

Monica Gomez, co-owner of Cera Wax Studio in Bethesda, is nearing the one-year anniversary of her business

This is Small Business Weekly, a recurring feature in which we’ll spotlight a small, independently owned business in Bethesda or Chevy Chase. Got a business you think we should check out? Drop us a line at desk[at]bethesdanow[dot]com.

It takes 49 seconds for the elevator at 4866 Cordell Ave. to reach the third floor space of Cera Wax Studio.

But what could be the slowest elevator in Bethesda hasn’t slowed down business for sisters Monica and Anna Gomez, who will celebrate their first year in Woodmont Triangle next month.

“It has gone absolutely better than could be expected,” said Monica Gomez, who moved to the area from her hometown of San Diego seven years ago. “It’s not just Bethesda, it’s DC and Silver Spring. I wouldn’t change anything.”

The studio does skin removal, typically a refferal-based business that relies on word of mouth and that, so far, has an excellent reputation on social network site Yelp.

“From day one, almost the day we opened our doors, our clients have been absolutely amazing with supporting us through Yelp,” Gomez said. “When we look at our growth, the majority of our new clients come in through client referrals. People want to know, ‘Who did you see, what did you have done, how was your experience, are you OK, did you come out alive, do you want to go back again?

“Yelp is one of those things that I consider essential to a speciality business like ours,” Gomez said.

Gomez, a licensed aesthetician who has been in the business since she was 16, found the third-floor location last year and figured a Zengo Cycle on the ground floor would be a good co-tenant. The space has three treatment rooms, three waxers — including Gomez — and five total employees.

“As soon as I came in, I loved it,” Gomez said. “I knew it was what we were looking for, the location the character in old Bethesda, if you will.”

She anticipates hiring some more staff in time from summer, when bikini waxing for summer beach trips is in high demand.

“We envision growing into different locations and envision this being our flagship location,” Gomez said. “We’ve been very welcomed by the community and the support has been amazing.”

Previously featured in Small Business Weekly: Sports Extra | Gallery St. Elmo

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