Reflections of 2010

It has been exactly a year and a half since I embarked on the journey of salon ownership. In July, 2009 I began booth renting at Cheveux Hair Salon. Having just wrapped up my first full year as a business owner I am taking time to reflect on all I’ve learned thus far.
I decided to go into business for myself, mostly out of guilt. I began my cosmetology career as a hair stylist at Artistic Hair. The owner was amazing and really put a lot of effort into helping me grow quickly as a stylist. I soon realized, however, that I could not give back the effort that was required of a newbie. With Josh being a youth pastor, I myself actively involved in several ministries in the church, plus a home to run and 3 young children to attend to, I was not the most reliable employee. I worked hard when I was there, but I couldn’t change my lifestyle to support the hours required of me. So, I left and sought out opportunities to work for myself. It was 100% God’s leading that took me to Cheveux. I absolutely love it here! All I have to do is pay my rent every week, and the rest is totally up to me. I don’t have to work on a set schedule, I can choose whatever products I want to use, I choose what extended education classes to go to, and I have direct access to my clients which enables me to provide the best customer service possible.
Booth renting does not come without its challenges however. While I am in complete control of my business, it is also my sole responsibility to grow my business. This means finding my own means of advertising in addition to the salon’s website. It means keeping accurate records of my income, expenses, and retail sales. The cost of doing business is very great. I think one of the most difficult things for me this year, and something that I am committed to finding balance in throughout my career, is keeping costs down for my clients without sacrificing the quality of service. This is no easy feat, let me tell you! It cost me over $500 this year in credit card fees alone! It would be an unwise business move to stop accepting credit cards all together, but I did have to ask my current clients to use cash or check if at all possible. This was one attempt to save a little in expenses so I can keep my prices low for my clients. My focus in 2010 was advertising and business set up. I spent all year trying out online programs, setting up my blog and fan page, and looking for alternate ways to advertise. One of my goals for 2011 is to watch my expenses carefully and cut wherever possible.
Another thing that was important to me when I started out on my own was to expand my skills with continued education. I’ve attended classes as well as purchased DVD training on cut, color, and styling. I have also learned a lot from the stylists that I work with. What I’ve discovered is that most classes focus on one or two techniques that most people would never wear. It frustrated me at first, because I really wanted to learn everything I could so that I could be the best! What I am learning is that it is not the technique that makes a good stylist. It is creating a balance of what will fit the clients overall personality and physical features with what the client actually wants. I could give a perfect cut, but if it’s on the wrong person they will likely not return. I still seek out any opportunity I can for further education, but my real learning comes from my client’s feedback on how I’m doing on their hair.
After all is said and done, the benefits of owning my own business far outweigh the challenges. I’d still love to build my own salon one day, but for now booth renting is working out just fine for me! A lot of people told me it couldn’t be done this early in a career, but if you have the motivation, the skill, and the determination you can do anything. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
All in all, it has been a very good year for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know many new clients this year. That will always be my favorite benefit of the cosmetology business. This will likely be my last blog for 2010, so I will see you all next year!