Dr. Catrise L. Austin
CEO VIP Smiles
Dubbed by the Network Journal as one of
the "25 Most Influential Black Women in Business"
in 1999, Dr. Catrise Austin is not just your neighborhood
dentist. In a field traditionally dominated by men, this young
African-American dentist is breaking all gender and racial
boundaries by establishing her own ground with wit and smart
business sense.
Dr. Austin is the architect of VIP Smiles
(www.vipsmiles.com), a new modern dental practice that boasts
an impressive loyal following, including some of Hollywood's
hottest stars, such as sexy songstress Toni Braxton, N'Sync
producer Paul Anthony, music diva Missy Elliot, R&B pop
artist Tweet, soul legend Isaac Hayes, MTV host and 7-UP spokesperson
Godfrey, and countless other personalities from the entertainment
and TV industries, as well as regular New Yorkers.
Her innovative operations and unique business
strategy truly set her apart from her counterparts. She is
receptive to new ventures and even helps promote her client's
work through her office. For instance, instead of giving out
traditional toothbrushes, Dr. Austin gives out a variety of
CD compilations produced by clients as giveaways to her patients,
who enjoy getting the popular freebies. She also gives out
movie passes, concert tickets, and passes to other NYC events.
The marketing savvy entrepreneur got her
start temping as a dental hygienist after dental school and
quickly went on to building a highly successful private practice
through shrewd networking and employing guerrilla-marketing
tactics in lieu of conventional methods. Instead of advertising
in the local paper, she once traded in her dental services
for a marketing list and frequented shows and comedy clubs
scouting for clients. She won Isaac Hayes as a client after
she saw him at P. Diddy's famed eatery, Justin's, where she
approached his table and introduced herself.
Dr. Austin never missed a good marketing
opportunity and her bold endeavors - her chutzpah as one reporter
termed it - have paid off handsomely. VIP Smiles' success
can be attributed to her smart business skills and commitment
to quality service. The office is equipped with the latest
advancements in technology and customer care, and installed
with a complete entertainment center that allows patients
to watch their favorite DVDs while during treatment. They
also have the option to listen to their favorite music or
enjoy the soothing benefits of aromatherapy.
A general care provider, VIP Smiles also
specializes in cosmetic dentistry and sports dentistry. Dr.
Austin offers her clients aesthetically pleasing alternatives
to traditional diagnoses using the latest technologies. Her
smile design program provides patients with a complete understanding
of the different ways to improving their smiles through various
option plans. She offers porcelain veneers as an alternative
to braces or bonding, porcelain or glass inlays- longer-lasting
tooth colored fillings as an alternative to silver filling,
and other popular beauty enhancements such as tooth recontouring
and teeth whitening. The one-hour teeth whitening system is
especially popular among clients, especially brides who are
looking for brightening solutions before their big day.
Marketing aside, Dr. Austin is serious about
oral hygiene and actively promotes preventive maintenance
techniques among her patients. "In today's image-conscious
society, a person's smile is very important," said Dr.
Austin, D.D.S. "A smile is one of the first things people
notice about you, and a beautiful smile can have a long-lasting
positive impact on your life - socially, economically and
psychologically."
As a certified sports team dentist, Dr.
Austin also provides specialized dental care to New York area
athletes. Her jobs include performing preseason exams, promotion
and fabrication of "properly-fitted" athletic mouth
guards for athletes to wear to protect their smile, and emergency
treatment of sports related dental injuries. To better serve
her sports and entertainment clients, Dr. Austin has a mobile
dentistry unit that provides on-site dental services.
With an insatiable enthusiasm for her job,
natural marketing talents and unmatched friendly service,
it is no wonder VIP Smiles has grown from just a handful of
clients to over 1000 loyal patrons in just four years. So,
if you are looking for a marketing opportunity or a good dentist,
give Dr. Austin a call.
About VIP Smiles
Founded by Dr. Catrise Austin, a general
and cosmetic dentist with specializations in sports dentistry
and mobile dentistry, VIP Smiles is located at 119 West 57th
Street and provides services to celebrities and ordinary folks
requiring advanced and friendly dental care. VIP Smiles' service
offerings include: Teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, custom
made porcelain and glass fillings, invisible braces and more.
Dr. Austin received her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the
University of Maryland and has a bachelor's degree in psychology
from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Catrise Austin, DDS
VIP Smiles
Tel: 212.262.6054
E-mail:
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