Today we’d like to introduce you to Meg Brown.
Hi Meg, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was 13 years old when I knew I wanted to own a salon. As a struggling, awkward, new teenager my very first hair appointment was the most grown up and most exciting thing I had ever done. My hair dresser was the owner of the first salon I visited. She was beautiful, had brand name clothes, nails and make up done to perfection, and was so welcoming and sincere. She made me feel seen, important, and beautiful (braces and acne and all!) That day she became my role model and I knew one day I would be just like her, a business owner, gorgeous and sophisticated, making other young girls and women feel good about themselves. It became my dream. I instantly pursued my goals by starting cosmetology school my senior year of high school. My husband became my biggest supporter for me to graduate and is to this day my biggest fan. He has supported every step of my beauty career through school, assisting, building my own clientele, hiring my first employees, and even the build out of my very own salon. I have now been in the industry for over 10 years and have owned my salon Ivory Salon + Suites for 4 years. I love being a small business owner while still working behind the chair doing what made me fall in love with this industry almost 20 years ago.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have had many bumps in the road to owning my own salon. Everything from design struggles, to budget hiccups, employee turn over, the personal / work balance of raising babies and growing a business.. nothing about it has been easy, not one thing. But with hard work and perseverance everything fell into place and I have not taken a single blessing for granted along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ivory Salon + Suites?
My salon, Ivory Salon + Suites was made to be different. As a working stylist 6 years into my career, I noticed the industry was so limited in salon business structures. There were several small franchise type salons for entry level stylists that were low-end, low paying; usually doing just haircuts, mens cuts or kids cuts. There were many booth rental salons for independent stylists that could afford the overhead and had their own established clientele. And there were several suite rental businesses which were also targeted towards established stylists who could afford the costs and wanted the sole responsibility for their business. I noticed a need for a salon that was high end, specializing in advanced techniques like coloring and hair extension services, that supported young building stylists, but also had a growth structure where more established stylists also had a place to be successful. I had found similar luxury commission salons in other areas of the US and world that seemed to have a similar vision to me, and thought it must be possible! So I set out to create a type of hair salon structure in Utah that didn’t quite exist.
Today I am proud to be the owner of a luxury commission salon that won Best of SLC top 3 after just 2 years of operating. I have 12 stylists working in my space, all at different stages of experience and expertise. I have pride in creating and maintaining a space that is different than any other salon in the state. We offer commission positions, luxury services, continued education, high pay, and a customized experience for every single guest. We have over 400 5 star reviews and are known for the “best hair wash in SLC”. It has been a real life dream creating something different and executing it to success, and then sharing it with other amazing stylists and artists. I am honored to get up and go to my amazing salon space every day to do what I love and know that I created something different and changed the local beauty industry for the better.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Advice for young stylists:
– Always trust your gut instinct when making career decisions
– Customer service and experience is EVERYTHING. What we do goes way beyond the hair.
– Hold your self accountable. The things you don’t do weigh just as much as the things you do. Don’t hold yourself back by avoiding responsibility and truth.
Advice for young salon / business owners
-Hold to your vision. Do not sway to people please. Do not make decisions out of fear.
– People first. You could have a bad idea and still end up with an amazing result if you have the right people in your corner. Build first by finding the right passionate believers.
– Fail as fast as you can. It is the quickest and most efficient way to learn. What makes you fail, makes you succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ivorysalonandsuites.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megbrownbalayage/
