Today we’d like to introduce you to Breanne Miller.
Hi Breanne, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always had the dream to own a salon company someday. I didn’t think it would happen in this early season of my life. But the opportunity came, and I knew I had to take advantage! I started cosmetology school my senior year of high school. I fell in love with every aspect of the industry. That’s when I decided that I would also like to pursue a business management degree so that I could become an expert stylist and businesswoman. After graduating from Alta High School in 2009, and completing a couple hundred hours of my cosmetology requirements, I started my business management program at Southern Utah University. I attended fall and spring semesters at SUU 2009-2012 for Business Management; and summer semesters at Salt Lake Community College 2009-2013 for my Cosmetology and Master of Esthetics licenses. In December of 2012 Kellie Hales, the founder of Kellie & Company Salon and Day Spa, hired me as a stylist. In May of 2016, I purchased the business from Kellie. Kellie started the salon company in 1992. She ran a very successful and respected company. I am very grateful to her for offering such an amazing opportunity to me to pick up the reigns of such an incredible company. Most people have to start from the ground up when starting their companies. I was very lucky to have such an established platform to jump off into success. Today we are thriving and growing faster than what I could have ever imagined. I have started an Associate Program where recent cosmetology graduates partner with upper-level stylists. This program helps to fill in the gaps that cosmetology school doesn’t fully cover like advanced color formulation and placement, superior guest service practices, and successful business habits. The Associate Program has attracted some of the most talented and motivated people to our company! I have full confidence saying that our team is the most artistic, friendly, and knowledgeable beauty experts in the Salt Lake Valley! Also, today we have longer hours than ever before, which helps to accommodate a wider range of our demographic. An unexpected result from COVID restrictions was extending our hours to 9 pm. In May 2020 there was a 10-person capacity for salons. To try and give each of our team members a chance to work, and to accommodate as many people who wanted services done, I extended our hours to 9 am-9 pm so we could stagger shifts and stay within a 10-person capacity. These staggered shifts and later hours were very popular with our guests and staff members. We permanently adopted the new schedule, which helped significantly in helping to make last year a success rather than a loss. Despite all of the unique challenges that were presented to our salon company in 2020, and continues today, our team came together stronger than ever. We are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make our guest experience excellent. And I am willing and able to get creative, find a way, and provide the best salon company to be a part of!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am sure most industries and businesses have both rough and smooth patches. I do recognize that the rough road leads to growth and success. I am grateful that I can look back and appreciate the hard work that went into getting through hard times. That’s not to say that I have definitely felt super inadequate, and thought about just walking away. A challenge that I have had to overcome is being younger than a lot of my coworkers, and people that I hire. I am almost 31 years old now, so I am tending to be older than most new hires; but when I first became the owner in 2016, I was only 25. I had to have a pep talk with myself in my car before every time I met with a new candidate in an interview. And it was extremely intimidating to stand in front of my peers at the staff meeting where I announced that I had purchased the salon company, and was now their boss. I still get very anxious when I have coaching sessions with individuals, or when I have to address behaviors that are not in line with salon policies. Something that helped me overcome this challenge was recognizing that I was smart, capable, and had their best interests at heart. My soul purpose in owning a salon company is to provide a career to support yourself and your family, a place to be creative and perfect your craft, and to provide a place where you enjoy spending time with coworkers and guests. I think my coworkers recognize my intentions, and in turn, have respected me and salon policies. Another challenge that we are learning from is how to deal with people who do not show up for their appointments, or who cancel less than 24 hours before. To help combat this problem, we have recently made a policy that all first-time guests that are scheduling appointments that value $76 or more are required to leave a deposit before their appointment is accepted. This has helped guests to understand the value of the stylist’s time and has helped to cut our no-show count dramatically.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Kellie & Company specializes in creating classic, timeless, and beautiful hair through advanced haircutting, coloring, and styling techniques. As well as using quality and affordable hair care products. Not only are our stylists incredibly talented and intelligent, but they are so personable, friendly, and really care about our guests on a personal level. At Kellie & Company, we want to know all about you so that we can create the best look customized for you to help you look good and feel great, so that you can have a positive impact in your own sphere of influence. Because we care so much about our guests, we have had some really cool opportunities to be a part of the small and precious moments in someone’s life, as well as the momentous and life-changing moments in a person’s life! Just a few of the unique moments we have got to be a part of are helping a woman feel beautiful and confident right before or after she gives birth, job interviews, being a reward for accomplishing a goal, weddings, helping someone find a new look after medical treatments, welcoming someone who is new to the community, donating gift cards and hair products to help fundraise for families in need. I am most proud of my salon company when it comes to the personable staff and service that we have to offer. This salon company would not be the success it is today without the incredible team members that have contributed to our reputation. I always ask candidates during an interview why they chose to apply at Kellie & Company. And most times their response is that they love the welcoming and uplifting vibe from our team. I would like readers to know that we offer a wide range of services and prices to accommodate a wide range of guests who would like to enjoy our welcoming team and quality services. We offer different levels of stylists to be able to take care off all of our guests’ needs. Our upper-level stylists charge higher prices, have a higher demand on their time, have attended more education, often work with a partner, and have achieved personal and professional goals. Our entry-level stylists have also achieved personal and professional goals, and are continually learning the best practices of the industry, and offer a very intimate and personal experience with our guests.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned many lessons from going through the pandemic. But three I would like to mention are be kind, have faith over fear, and get creative and find a way!
The first lesson I have learned is that you just need to be kind to everyone. I come in contact with people who have very extreme opinions that cover the whole spectrum of how to handle COVID. I have heard it ALL! We can all have our standards and opinions. And it is important to respectfully stand up for our values. But we can always find a way to be kind to the people around us. Even though we do take care of a wide variety of people with differing opinions, the salon has become a safe place for me and my team because we treat everyone with kindness. There is a noticeable difference in our guest’s countenance from when they arrive to when they leave because they are treated with love and kindness at Kellie & Company.
A second lesson I have learned is to have faith over fear. In March 2020 the world was shutting down all around us. I could literally hear the sound of slamming doors in my head. Staff members were calling and texting me all day every day with concerns. Every day there were multiple new wildfires that I was in charge of putting out. At the time, I had 16 other families that depended on the salon to pay the bills. It was extremely overwhelming and plain terrifying. Luckily, I have an incredible support circle. my parents and other influential people in my life reminded me that when we don’t have control over the situation, we can still have control over our reactions. I chose to start focusing on all the things that I am grateful for. I messaged my team every day for a couple weeks about things I was grateful for and asked them to share as well. I learned very quickly that gratitude is the antidote to fear! When my focus became an attitude of gratitude the doors started to open all around me. Which leads me to my third lesson.
When I was in a space of gratitude, my mind became clear and I was able to creatively think through problems. In addition to trying to focus on gratitude, I tried to surround myself with positive messages and thoughts. One night as I was getting ready for bed I was listening to my parent’s boss, George Morris. His message of the day, GET CREATIVE AND FIND A WAY, hit me hard. I had a rush of ideas like how to start an online store to sell hair care items and gift cards, extending our hours, how to market to guests who can’t come to your business, how to slow our cash flow, and how to apply for financial help. All of these ideas, and more, were crucial in helping Kellie & Company stay in existence, provide for my family, and end up THRIVING through a pandemic.
Contact Info:
- Email: breannemiller1005@gmail.com
- Website: www.kellieandcompany.com
- Instagram: @kellie_company
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelliecompany
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-78Wg0XZ1RsSeTx3luD5A
Image Credits
Samantha Keck
