Hung (Kevin) La

Jasmine Beauty School • University Square • San Diego, CA

“Expect the unexpected.” That’s what Hung La (Kevin) wishes he knew at the beginning of his small business journey.

When Kevin and his wife noticed that San Diego Asian-owned beauty schools were shutting down in 2017 for a variety of reasons, he identified a unique niche in the market. Vietnamese immigrants were forced to drive to Orange County to attend beauty schools there. Many were just arriving in San Diego and didn’t have the money or transportation to make the trek all the way to the OC to learn this lucrative trade.

This pronounced void prompted Kevin to spend two years of his life obtaining permits, conducting research and gaining approvals to open Jasmine Beauty School — an affordable and quality cosmetology school serving an underserved community.

Obtaining capital, going through the extensive application process and building out the space were just a few of the challenges that dotted his journey. As unexpected obstacles arose throughout the process, he tackled them one by one.

He also had help. NewMark Merrill was a big supporter of his concept from the start. Responsive and communicative, the NMC team was instrumental in helping to prepare the building and parking lot and led the way on reaching out to the community.

Kevin has since learned that the “unexpected” will always be popping up, but has taken great pride in putting his passion to work. He experiences true joy from watching students complete classes, pass state exams and obtain meaningful employment. He is proud that, in partnership with NewMark Merrill, they have made a positive impact on this humble community.

NewMark Merrill’s commitment to the community is similar to ours. We offer haircuts to the houseless, veterans and lower-income individuals. Their ongoing outreach efforts, paired with ours, are a win-win for everyone.