Know Your Neighbor: Danielle Della Pella, Certified Tanning Artist, Briarcliff Manor
After spending years in corporate jobs, Danielle Della Pella needed to devise an alternate plan in a hurry.
Her marriage had fizzled and with three children under 13 years old, she realized that making long commutes to help support the reconfigured household wasn’t the best option for her family.
So last spring Della Pella launched her own company, Glowing, a luxury mobile spray tanning business. The Briarcliff Manor resident travels to clients throughout Westchester and to various spas for people looking for her service. She also now partners with Club Fit in her home community to provide health club patrons who want to look and feel their best by having a personal tanning session after working out.
“I think really the motivation behind it was getting a divorce, which in reality is a life-changing event because you have to reinvent yourself,” said Della Pella who became a certified tanning artist after taking webinar courses.
Reinvent herself she did, and Della Pella’s helping to reinvent many of her clients, at least from their outward appearance. The health risks have been well-known among the general population for those who sunbathe excessively, yet there is still a desire to have that look of just having been on vacation.
Della Pella uses an organic spray tan that is paraben-, sulfate- and gluten-free and 100 percent vegan. She can customize the tan for all skin types and shades and for patrons of any age, from high school students to seniors, to help them achieve that specialized bronze glow that people have been struggling to attain and maintain for generations. The formulas are scented with allergen-free hints of raspberry and almond extracts.
Della Pella, a New Jersey native, is able to quickly set up and disassemble her mobile station she uses wherever she goes when she sees customers, which is often to people’s homes. Her clients have been predominantly women, but either gender of any age can benefit.
When people like the way they look, they feel better and it boosts self-esteem, she said.
“We have the ability to take what is natural to make us look good and feel without being in the sunlight,” Della Pella said.
Each session lasts between 20 to 30 minutes, making it a similar commitment to getting one’s hair or nails done. The tan, or the bronze effect, stays intact for about five to seven days, she said.
Although the decision by Della Pella, who spent her career in corporate communications and public relations for various companies, was created out of necessity, she said she’s pleased that she found something she thoroughly enjoys. Della Pella said she had always was attracted to the fashion and beauty industries but didn’t have an opportunity to pursue those options.
However, when Della Pella left the corporate world she wanted to do something that was creative and fulfilling. At that stage in her life, with children seven, 11 and 13 years old it was unrealistic to return to school, she said.
Instead, she learned of the new healthy tanning options, which still has not completely replaced the old-fashioned tanning beds.
While Della Pella has been in business less than a year, she has had a steady stream of customers regardless of the season. Whether it’s people who want to look great heading into the holidays and cold weather months, heading outdoors in the warmer seasons or for a special occasion, there’s never a down season for tanning.
It’s also been inspirational for Della Pella to land on her feet after being forced to recover from seeing her home life break apart.
“Empowering my clients to look and feel their best and learning from my experiences by starting a business from scratch has truly inspired me,” said Della Pella. “Watching my own business grow simultaneously with my children growing up has been an amazing experience. My children have seen me take an idea I was passionate about and turn it into a thriving business. You can’t put a value on that life lesson.”
To learn more about Glowing, visit www.lookglowing.com. To book an appointment call 914-564-9717.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/