Hello Lovely Readers,
Welcome back to another edition of WiNKED Wednesday! Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and share the real challenges and rewards of running a salon, especially when you're the sole owner and operator.
Nine years ago, I started my first business in a tiny room – just me, my tools, and a dream. Fast forward to today, and I'm proud to say we've blossomed into a beautiful salon with five private rooms. But let me tell you, with that growth comes a whole lot of new challenges, sacrifices, and rewards.
The Good, The Bad, and The Beautiful
The Good: Watching my vision expand from a single room to a full-fledged salon is incredibly fulfilling. There's nothing quite like seeing clients walk out with a smile, feeling more confident and beautiful than when they walked in. The relationships I've built with my clients and my team are priceless to me.
The Bad: Running a salon isn't all glam, it's tough. It's early mornings, sleepless nights, and a constant juggling act. The to-do list seems to have a life of its own – managing appointments, keeping inventory stocked, and making sure every corner of the salon is spotless. Add to that the responsibilities of building and empowering a dream team, marketing and advertising our services, managing social media (this is new to me!), and even launching our own retail lash products. The sacrifices are undeniable – missing personal moments and pouring my heart out every single day, even on the bad ones. It's a whirlwind, and while it's overwhelming at times and my laptop becomes an extension of my arm some days, it's all part of the incredible journey.
The Beautiful: Despite the challenges, there is so much beauty in this journey. It's in the transformation we provide our clients, watching their confidence soar with each service. It's in the creativity and artistry that goes into every lash extension or brow service. It's in the sense of accomplishment I feel when a new product launch goes well or a team member thrives. There's beauty in the small victories and the big milestones, and in knowing that we're making a difference in our client's lives every single day.
A Day in the Life
My day kicks off with a strong cup of coffee and a good workout at the gym to get my energy flowing. Once I'm fueled and ready, I dive into reviewing the day's appointments to ensure everything runs smoothly. My focus is on delivering top-notch service and experience to every single client. The rest of the day is a whirlwind of activity – managing social media, brainstorming marketing ideas, managing emails and our blog, maintaining our website, building relationships with vendors, handling finances, and also keeping an eye on new trends in the industry. Balancing client interactions with the diverse administrative side of things keeps me on my toes for sure, but it's all part of what makes this journey so exciting!
Keeping It Real
One of the most rewarding aspects of running WiNKED is the incredible community we've built. We acknowledge that achieving the perfect lashes or brows takes a lot of effort and commitment, both from our clients and our team. That's why we value the connections we build here, from sharing a laugh with a client to supporting a team member through a challenge. Recently, a client mentioned how she feels more like she's visiting a friend rather than a salon, and that's exactly the atmosphere I strive to create.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grow, my goal is to maintain that personal touch and exceptional service that our clients have come to love. The journey has required immense personal growth – learning to balance business demands with self-care, developing leadership skills, and constantly pushing myself to innovate and improve.
This experience has taught me resilience and adaptability. Every challenge has been an opportunity to learn and evolve, not just as a business owner, but as a person. And trust me, there's been a lot of opportunities! 😆 I'm grateful for every moment, every setback, and every success, as they have shaped the salon and myself into what we are today.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Your support means the world, and I hope this sheds some light on the realities of salon ownership. I can't wait to see what we'll achieve together.
Stay fabulous, Stay Winking!
Ashli 💜
aka CEO, Owner, Operator, Mastermind, Janitor on Tuesdays 😂
P.S. Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at WiNKED? Share your questions in the comments below and I might just answer them in a future post!
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