From the origin story of their businesses to the ways they allowed themselves to grow as entrepreneurs, our Female Founders series gives a view into the lives of successful women from a variety of industries. Join us for today’s feature, Kimberly McCombs, offering a behind the scenes look at some of what she has done to succeed so far, advice for those starting off, and plans for the future.
What’s your business and how did you get started?
I joined CNVS Nails in an unexpected way; I had applied to help a new brand with marketing, research, and sourcing manufacturing without even knowing what the product was yet. At my first meeting, my co-founder shared the idea behind CNVS — a solution to a problem we both experienced every time we tried to do our nails.
Between expensive salon visits that took over an hour and press-on nails that never seemed to fit or last, there was always a compromise. Drugstore nails were “one size fits some,” and if a size was missing, you were out of luck. We realized the real problem wasn’t the nails themselves — it was the lack of sizing.
That realization led us to create CNVS, a customizable nail veneer system designed to bring a salon-quality manicure home. With 30 sizes and a simple LED-cured application, customers can find their perfect fit once and reorder only the sizes they need. The goal has always been simple: a luxurious, long-lasting manicure without the time, cost, or guesswork.
What is one thing you’re really proud of that you’ve created or accomplished?
One thing I’m really proud of is stepping into business ownership in an industry I knew absolutely nothing about and figuring it out along the way. Before CNVS Nails, I had only run service-based businesses, and my background was in graphic design. That creative background helped me build a brand that visually stands out in a crowded beauty market, but the business side was something I had to learn in real time.
Through that process, I pushed myself far beyond what I thought I was capable of. It even led me to develop a new product and file for a patent on my own — something I never imagined I would do. Creating a patent-pending product without outside help has been one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments of my journey so far. CNVS opened the door for me to think bigger and innovate in ways I never expected.
What is the boldest thing you’ve ever done in business?
The boldest thing I’ve done with CNVS Nails was challenge the “one size fits some” model that the nail industry has relied on for years. I helped develop a custom sizing system with 30 sizes so customers could finally get a manicure that truly fits their nails.
Creating a completely different approach to sizing meant rethinking everything — from molds to packaging to the overall customer experience. It was a risk to build something the industry wasn’t doing, but that decision is exactly what makes CNVS Nails stand out today.
What’s one thing you’re currently excited about for the future of your business?
One thing I’m really excited about for the future of CNVS Nails is a patent-pending product we’re currently developing. It addresses something the nail industry hasn’t fully solved when it comes to protecting the skin during nail applications.
Creating something completely new in this space has been incredibly motivating. I truly believe this innovation has the potential to improve safety within the nail industry, and the idea that it could help shape how products are used in the future is something that genuinely excites me.
What’s your best business advice you would give to other women?
My best advice to other women in business is simple: keep going, even on the days you want to give up. I feel that pressure myself all the time. Building something from the ground up isn’t easy, and there will always be moments where you question whether you’re doing the right thing.
What keeps me moving forward is remembering that there’s a community out there who needs what you’re creating. Your job is to keep showing up, keep improving, and keep telling your story until the right people find you. There are plenty of nail girlies in the world — it’s just up to us to find them and show them how amazing CNVS Nails can be.
What’s your favorite thing about being a business owner?
My favorite part of being a business owner is nurturing a community of women who all want the same simple thing — to feel good about themselves. There’s something really special about creating a product that helps women feel polished, confident, and put together through something as simple as beautiful nails.
Knowing that CNVS Nails gives women a solution they’ve been longing for — a manicure that fits, lasts, and feels luxurious without the hassle — is incredibly rewarding. It’s more than just nails; it’s the uplifting feeling of seeing women enjoy something that was thoughtfully created for them.
