Nail Tech Spotlight! Special Edition, with Bill Olin!

Hi everyone and welcome back to Nail Tech Spotlight! Today I have an exciting special edition, where instead of interviewing a nail tech, I have flipped it over, and we have a spouse! Oh my goodness how exciting! I know I am very excited because we hear about nail techs all day and night, but let’s bring in someone new huh? This shall be absolutely fascinating! So everyone, lets give a warm welcome to the amazing Bill Olin, husband to the highly favored Darcy Olin!

Good Morning! Thanks for joining me today, how are you?
Good morning Calvin, I am doing well.

What are your plans for today? I hope this is a good time. By the way, since you aren’t a nail technician, where do you happen to work?

I am off work today, I work as an over the road truck driver for a small company, called Walmart. I am drinking a cup of coffee and I am seeing Darcy off for a trip up to the ESI Toronto show.

ESI Toronto, I have always wanted to go there, oh Im so jealous. I hope she has a fun trip. So what is life like being a husband to a nail technician?

Being married to a nail tech has been very interesting. It is a very competitive market, so being successful has meant a lot of long hours and creating solutions to problems on your own. I don’t know how many times Darcy has asked, “no one makes exactly what I need so can you just build this?” Or ”this space would be great, can you remodel it?”
What is amazing about nail techs is how hard working they are and just how passionate they all are. I work in trucking and see people at work and at factories that are just at their jobs for a paycheck and actually hate their jobs. It is so refreshing to see the enthusiasm in the industry.

You know, I know exactly what you mean, but that is a perspective I feel as though a few people see. As a truck driver myself, so many people are satisfied with just existing and never wanting to climb a ladder or having a name, being a number is good enough. I love how wonderful and supportive you are. When you first heard that your wife, Darcy, was pursuing a career in the nail industry what were your thoughts?

My first thought was how much is this going to cost because we were broke with two young children to take care of. I thought it would be much easier to just go find a job that she didn’t hate.

Oh my, excuse my laughter, but that is some pure honesty right there! She had a dream and you had a concern, eh, I think that is pretty normal. Do you ever find there to be challenges when it comes to someone working in nails, such as long hours, exhaustion of rude clients, and such?

The challenges of being a business owner are never ending and a nail salon is no different. I think my wife is as much a therapist as much as she is a nail tech. It is challenging for me because I work long hours and away from home for 5 days at a time. When I get home, I am wanting time with my wife, but she often has obligations that have to be met or sometimes she can just be tired and drained. I understand, but it can be very challenging to make sure we have some free time together.

I understand, I can’t speak for everyone but I feel as though I or nail techs can get so consumed within our work, and like you said being a therapist, can definitely take its toll. Having a healthy work life balance is very important, I’m glad that you all have found a healthy way to still keep things amazing and going strong. So may I ask, how have you contributed to your wife’s passions?

I have been mentally and financially supportive. I have worked hard as a truck driver and provided a stable income and benefits for our family. Having one of us with a regular income has been the key that has allowed my wife to pursue her dream as a nail technician. I have always encouraged her to move forward and try to expand her career. I encouraged her a few years back to move across the country and take a new job. She told me then that it might not work out. I asked her if she wanted to live a life always wondering what would have happened, if we had taken that opportunity. So we packed our bags and moved 3,000 miles away from our family. Well that didn’t go as we had hoped, but we did learn a lot and don’t have to wonder what if.

You know that ideal of just support alone can do momentous things for someone and achieving their dream. You are an absolutely awesome husband. Moving cross country is huge! Do you look at nails differently now that you have been exposed to nails so much?

I didn’t have a clue about nails 20+ years ago. Now when I see someones nails I am always judging the nails in my mind. Who am I to judge someones nails? I am a truck driver. I like to tell ladies how nice their nails look and see them smile.

Oh we all do it, I judge people everyday. Some people just need a little lotion in their lives ya know, I’m kidding. Do you have a favorite nail style or product you like to see, such as marble, glitter, flowers?

I like the nails with clear tips that look like glass and holiday themed nails.

The holiday nails! Thats a good one, nothing better than a big ol 3D turkey on a ring finger that just says holiday spirit! Christmas trees are nice too! But you can never go wrong with a set of nice clear tips. Is there a messy nail product that you could do without?

Well there is the dry glitter. Glitter is fine until you bring it home with you, you can’t get rid of it and its everywhere.

Glitter makes the world go round! Oh how I love glitter, sometimes I just gotta go down in my salon stir it and get my fix. Do you think they make rehab for nail techs? Eh, don’t answer that. So do you ever travel on trips that she takes?

Oh Yeah! Thats the best part about it. I have been on four trips. I have heard Darcy talk about all the professionals in the nail industry, I just didn’t realize exactly how closely connected everyone was. Its sort of like my wife has a second family.

Did you have a favorite of the four?

I would have to say that the nail cruises are the best. We did one with John Hauk and the second one with Jessica Briarmoon. They were both amazing. It is a lot of work to put it all together but if you are going to do education, what could be better than doing it on a cruise?

Absolutely, now I haven’t done a cruise, but I have done a camp. So I know what you mean when you say it’s a fun time! Now, being a nail tech can mentally be tough, how do you keep her motivated when times get tough?

My wife doesn’t really need motivation, but what she does need is someone to talk to when she runs into problems. I may not be the smartest, but my superpower is my common sense and sometimes that can be very helpful.

Oh I bet you saved her from the most trying times and you’d didn’t even know it. After speaking with you before I can tell you have the best head on your shoulders, and is the best support system anyone can ask for. I would know, you’ve helped me! I must say it has been a real pleasure getting to know you more and I’m sure the viewers can agree. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to chat with me. And also, thank you for letting me interview you!

You are very welcome Calvin, those were some great questions and it was a lot of fun answering.

You sir are very welcome! And thank you all for joining me today, be sure to stay tuned as I have more interviews lined up, and more educational posts to come as well. As always thank you so much for being a part of Southernly Sweet Nails, I am very fortunate for all of you all. Until next time, I will see you later sweets!