Creating My Hair Salon
Welcome Back My Lovely People!
I’ve thought a lot about what makes a business successful, and further, what makes a salon successful.
Both start as an idea. It hits you one day and eventually grows into a real business concept.
The idea of owning a salon came to me when I was working in a kiosk. I thought about it for years before I decided to actually do it. And it sure didn’t happen overnight.
I spent YEARS working in lots of salons, small salons with a few chairs and HUGE salons with over 40 chairs.
With exposure in all of these different environments I’ve taken in what works and what doesn’t work. I’ve taken pieces from these concepts and used them in my own salon.
For instance, I know that it’s necessary to have a receptionist. A receptionist is a key component in creating ease and comfort for our guests. They keep our operations organized and our system running, again benefitting our guests. So in my opinion, a receptionist is always going to be worth it for my stylists and for my guests.
All of these experiences in salons have also trained my eyes and my decision making process. Every decision we make is in the best interest for each of our guests. Down to the last detail, such as what brush we choose to use for your blow out. Seriously, we individualize our services to such small details for each of our guests. And there’s a reason behind it – I had to learn this the hard way.
I was working at one of the top salons in the nation. And I got fired. You wouldn’t believe why.
I chose the wrong brush to use on the client I was working with.
I promise you, I have never, NEVER, made that mistake again. And that’s why all of these experiences have taught me something as a stylist. I’ve taken all of these learning experiences and incorporated them into my salon.
When I first started my salon, we only had one chair and it was only me. I was waiting by the door for people to come in.
Eventually, I found my chair filling up with new faces- and those faces are now close friends that I still cherish as clients to this day.
Now our salon has 5 chairs and we have a team of stylists and staff that work hard to help meet our guests’ needs. I’m so happy to see my vision come to life over the past few years, and I’m grateful for my staff and clients who have added to this vision.
But that’s the thing with ideas- they grow over time.
Although I love the progress that we’ve made, I still see a lot of opportunity for our salon to grow.
I want to break away from the traditional idea of a salon- where it needs to be quiet and restorative. If you have your baby on your lap and your dog at your feet, you’re still welcome here among friends.
You may already know that my salon is almost NEVER quiet. Sometimes we have Charlie on the ground doing construction projects, while Aritsi is cutting hair above.
But that’s the thing- I always want to be available for my people. I never want to shut my doors, throughout our growth.
Big picture- I see a salon open 24/7 for our friends, to pamper themselves whenever they need it. That’s where I see our salon going.
Join us on this wild ride! We’re so excited to have our friends here for the show. The show is free, we only charge for the hair.
Talk soon my lovely people! Don’t drink and drive- smoke and fly.
XX,
Shimi Angel
