In starting over, Cuba woman starts new business

By JOHN BARTIMOLE

Special to Olean Times Herald | October 25, 2025

(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of eight articles spotlighting the businesses making up the 2025 Laine Business Accelerator cohort.)

Molly Vaughan had to start all over.

Having moved to Cuba from Buffalo to accept a job as an occupational therapist at Olean General Hospital, she had to literally rebuild her life, finding new providers, such as physicians, dentists, supermarkets — and someone to provide for her beauty and waxing services.

“I just couldn’t find a place in the entire region that specialized in waxing,” she said. “Well, there was one, but she was not accepting new clients. I’ve always been somewhat of an entrepreneur — I had even started selling Avon products at 13 — and I decided I was going to start a little side hustle on the weekends and offer waxing services.”

Vaughan ended up going to training and getting licensed in the practice of waxing — and it resulted in much more than a side hustle. Started in 2022, 1907 Wax, 1907wax.glossgenius. com, located in Cuba, now boasts more than 400 regular clients and two employees and one area renter, in addition to herself.

“And we have the capacity to double or triple that client number,” she said. “1907 Wax is accepting new clients at this time.”

Already, 1907 Wax at 4 Genesee St. draws clients from all over Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming and McKean counties. And it boasts a website that has drawn more than 38,000 hits since its inception.

While waxing is the business’s focus — with the woman’s Brazilian being the most popular — 1907 Wax offers a wide variety of other beauty-related services, including entire body and facial waxing, as well as acrylic nails, facials and eyelash extensions, among other services. 1907 Wax even offers the “Manzilian,” a male version of the Brazilian for men.

“About 90% of our clientele are women, but about 10% are men,” she said.

Because waxing is such an intimate experience, Vaughan said merely having a license to provide these services isn’t enough to work at 1907 Wax.

“We need to make everyone feel confident, cared for, and comfortable when they come in here,” she said. “I look for employees with empathy, compassion and communication skills, because that’s what creates a good experience for our clients.”

1907 Wax’s motto is simple and memorable, “Rooted in purpose … inspired by you.” That statement reflects the philosophy Vaughan brings to her business and to her role in the Cuba community.

“I’m passionate about this region,” she said. “I fell in love with Cuba from the moment I got here. But when I saw the empty storefronts, I knew that there was potential there if we could fill those storefronts. Cuba can be a mini-Ellicottville … we just need the entrepreneurs to see the potential, too.”

Her experience with the Laine Business Accelerator has helped Vaughan with her business overall and with her role as an instructor in occupational therapy at St. Bonaventure University.

“While all of us in the cohort have different businesses, the basic premise is the same,” she said. “We all want to succeed. The content the LBA shares each week has been teaching me the steps I need to be successful with the business. And the lessons in management and entrepreneurship help me with teaching at SBU, too.”

Having met her husband as a result of her move — recently married in 2024 — perhaps the best lesson for Vaughan has been that starting over and taking a risk can be a very good thing indeed.