We’ve had the good fortune of connecting with Caleb McGrew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caleb, what matters most to you?
People first. This is our core principle at SKN. I have nothing, my company has nothing, without people. My team is supported to have a healthy work/life balance and it’s my goal to ensure they enjoy working in an environment where they are valued and motivated. We strive to exceed the expectations of every guest, client, or patient who enters our home. When the needs of the human beings who collectively create our professional atmosphere are top priority, everything else falls into place. People first. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of SKN, A medspa based in Miami’s emerging Little River District. We perform clinical, results oriented treatments in an unexpectedly hip environment. This isn’t your stark white, typical Miami medspa. I designed and built an open concept facility with semi private and private spaces available for the comfort of all our guests. When it comes to cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments, I believe in undetectable enhancements. I want my clients to be complimented on their beautiful brows, not on their perfect microblading. When in doubt, err on the side of natural. Less is more! I am most excited about the evolution of my brand. We’ve gone through a few versions while growing up and learning who we are as a company. I began as “Skin by Caleb McGrew”, then decided to become “Junior & Hatter Spa” when I opened inside Wynwood’s Junior & Hatter Salon. J&H gave me a platform to grow my business and my brand inside their incredible shop and I’ll always be grateful to Mario & Andrea for the platform and the opportunity. When we opened in Little River in 2019, we brought the brand back to our roots as “SKN” and now, as we’ve established ourselves here with a firmly planted foundation in Miami , I have big plans for one last evolution that I can’t wait to watch unfold and share with you soon. Stay tuned! 

I started my career as a MAC makeup artist a million years ago and eventually found my way into a formal esthetics education. I worked at Spa e on Lincoln road in South Beach for 6 years and really honed my craft while becoming passionate about skincare and a well seasoned facialist. When I decided to go on my own and moved off the beach it was essentially starting at square one. I began in a tiny room in the back of a hair salon, moved to a bigger hair salon (J&H) a year later, and really blossomed there. They built a treatment room for me and eventually we added a second one. I learned microneedling and lots of other exciting skincare procedures that boosted my business, but the real explosion came when I invested in training for microblading. My success in microblading really launched my company to the next level and I continued to invest in growth and development of the brand and our offerings. I believe the secret to my success is perseverance and risk taking. I’m always up for trying new things and I keep my finger on the pulse of exciting developments in the industry. The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is if I show up and do what I love every day, take a risk when it feels right, remain teachable and invest in education, things move in the right direction. The journey of a small business owner is never a straight line from bottom to top. There are always ups and downs. You’ve just gotta pivot and bounce back when something knocks you down! I’m passionate about what I do. I love my work and I take pride in every aspect of it, from the design of my space to the quality of the service. From the moment you visit our social media channels or walk in the front door, I want you to feel like the only person in the room. People first. 

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
My best friend visits often so this is easy! Of course, pre-corona it was a very different experience but we would definitely go paddleboarding at Oleta and/or Sunset Harbor for a day or two. No friend visit is complete without a visit to the spa and pool at the standard. You just can’t beat that level of chill and relaxation. I can’t wait until they are done with the remodel and reopen for business! We would also watch some outdoor movies on my super fun projector situation in the tropical oasis of my back yard. I enjoy cooking so we’d definitely ave some meals at home, but we eat A LOT so we’d be grazing through all of my favorite restaurants: Yoko Takarada’s Shokudo in the design district, Michelle Bernstein’s La Trova on Calle Ocho, Blue Collar, Ghee, Kyu….gahhhh I love food. I’m sure there would be a few visits to or UberEats deliveries from Night Owl cookies, The Salty Donut, MdoughW, Misha’s cupcakes, and OMG Brigadeiros! 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Angela Williams of Ella Esthetics in Washington D.C. Angela and I learned microblading together in 2016 and have been bouncing ideas off each other, cheerleading and supporting each other’s businesses ever since. She is a busy artist and entrepreneur who manages to gracefully wear the hats of wife, mother of 4, and professional bad ass while making it all look effortless. She inspires me every day with her dedication. She’s also the kindest person I’ve ever known.

Website: www.sknmiami.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sknmiami?igshid=1tblah0mh7hi1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65072595
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SKNmiami/

Image Credits
Stephen Abitona

Nominate someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.