Going Solo and Building It Right: The Verve Acne & Skin Clinic Story

Sydney Shaw had been working in aesthetics for over seven years inside med spas, day spas, and high end clinics. She is master certified in HydraFacial®, SkinPen® Microneedling, ZO® Skin Health, Face Reality® Acne treatments, LightStim® LED therapy, and more. She knew the industry inside and out. She knew what her clients needed. And she knew that she could do it better on her own. So she took the leap and decided to go solo.

She launched Verve Acne & Skin Clinic in Portland, Michigan, a space she describes as sitting between a day spa and a med spa, where relaxation meets clinical results. Her philosophy is rooted in luxurious vibes, spirit, and the kind of care that patients can actually feel. Having battled skin issues herself, she built the clinic she wished she'd had.

The brand was already stunning and the vision was crystal clear.

A phone displays a fashion ad while a hand writes beside it on a gray surface.

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Fashion collage with black heels and a handbag on a shopping app page

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Woman in a white dress standing by display screens in a bright studio, showcasing a web layout.

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The Problem

Sydney came to us ready to go solo but completely new to the technical side of running a digital presence.

Her pain points were real and relatable:

No idea where to start
Wanted to sell products online but didn't have the bandwidth to set it up
Had a clear vision but no way to execute it

On top of that, she was navigating a unique retail challenge: ZO Skin Health, one of her featured product lines, doesn't allow direct online sales. She needed a solution that honored the brand partnership while still giving her customers a clear path to purchase.

Things that were important to her:

Attract clients and share visuals to draw them in
Easy booking
Share more about herself and showcase her work
eCommerce shop with password
Pre & post procedure instructions

We kicked off on June 2, 2025 and Verve launched on August 20, 2025.

Black flared pants and shiny heels on a white studio background, with a handbag chain visible.

Woman in a white dress holding a skincare bottle while another tattooed hand points to her shoulder

Woman in black suit standing beside a medical cart, holding a blue cable.

Skincare products on a speckled countertop, including cream jar, serum dropper, and tube.

Assorted makeup and skincare products arranged on a textured surface with a black pouch and packaging.

Woman applying eye makeup with a pencil, smiling in a close-up black-and-white portrait.

Person in black pants and heels reclining on a chair, holding a black-and-white magazine.

Woman in black suit and sunglasses holding a champagne bottle and glass, smiling on a white background

Woman smiling in a mirror, posing in a dark outfit beside a large oval mirror.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a vape beside woven beach bags on sunlit concrete

Blue jeans, a seated person, and four skincare tubes on a sunlit floor.

Smiling woman in black blazer holding a tray with white skincare products and jars

Photo Credit: Her Brand Photo

The Build

Sydney had incredible branding and photography from the start. We set out to create an elegant, editorial site that finally matched it.

Pages We Designed & Developed:

Home — We created a first impression that immediately communicates luxury, credibility, and makes shopping easy
About — On this page we highlighted Sydney's story, her before/afters, and her multiple credentials
Services — We focused on a clear, beautiful lay out, and made it easy for new clients to navigate
Shop — A fully built out e-commerce experience
Ingredient Checker — A custom tool we created that adds real value for her acne and skin health clients
Contact — We set up FAQs for SEO, hours, Google map, and a form to get in touch

The details that made the difference:

Sydney carries professional grade brands including ZO Skin Health, Colorescience, Anfisa Skin, Epicutis, Face Reality, and Hydrinity. Each brand comes with its own story, its own rules, and its own reason to trust it. We decided to build brand specific sections directly into her product pages so that when a client lands on a Colorescience product, they see a curated section explaining what Colorescience is and why Sydney carries it. It gives your product pages a little extra oomph and promotes even more trust with visitors.

We also help Sydney solve a real business constraint: ZO Skin Health doesn't allow direct online sales, so we built a workaround with a "Request This Product" button that routes clients to a Google Form order submission. Clean, professional, and compliant with brand guidelines!

Skincare product collection collage with phone mockup, creams, serum, and model in sunglasses on a white background

The Real Win

Since launching, Sydney has joined our monthly support retainer. We've been able to give the site consistent attention: regular updates, ongoing optimization, and the kind of maintenance that keeps a site performing and feeling current. Having that support in place means Sydney can stay focused on her clients and her craft not on figuring out why something broke.

Three laptop mockups stacked vertically, each showing a different fashion website design.

What Sydney Said

"Working with Dope Magic Co has truly been one of my best business decisions. Joelle is incredibly kind, patient, and professional. She has been a saving grace with monthly website updates as well as building out my entire e-commerce and website platform. I am very 'picky' and detail oriented and she always takes her time perfecting my vision."

Thank you Sydney, we love working with you! 🤍

The Takeaway

Sydney needed someone to build the infrastructure behind her vision. The shop, the systems, the workarounds for tricky brand restrictions, and the tools that serve her clients when she's not in the room. We're grateful to be part of her story.

If you can relate to Sydney's story, we'd love to work with you. Our job is to take the ideas in your head and turn them into digital resources that will help you grow for years to come.

Ready to build something that works with your life, not against it? Apply to work with us

Earnings Disclaimer: Dope Magic Co may report earnings and income statements from time to time. These statements are an estimate of what you could possibly earn and should not be considered a guarantee that you will get the same results. There is no guarantee that past earnings can be duplicated in the future. Dope Magic Co cannot guarantee your future results or success. The use of the information, products, and services of Dope Magic Co is based on your own actions and you agree that Dope Magic Co, its advertisers, affiliates, or sponsors are not liable for the success or failure of your business. Read more on our disclaimers.

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Joelle Riding • May 20, 2026