I’ve been in the industry for 7 years now!! WOW I FEEL OLD… Can you believe it’s already been 7 years?! I’ve owned this business for just a little less than that now, and the lessons I’ve learned are countless! For 7 years, here are 7 things I learned from this industry and as a business owner!
How to hire employees
The hiring process can be sooo difficult because you want everyone you hire to be a rockstar! It can also be a struggle deciding WHEN to hire and WHO to hire, because if you’re anything like me, you feel like work is always done best when you do it yourself! Opening up your business to new employees and trusting them to take on tasks that affect day to day operations so much can be nerve wracking, but if you hire the right people, this is something you will never have to worry about.
How to open up a salon suite
WHAT an experience that was!!! Having my own salon space was the best move I ever made and I am so glad that I jumped through every hoop imaginable to make it happen! There is SO much that goes into the expansion process and I spent countless hours working after my workday to make this happen, but it was so worth it!
How to balance work and days off
Sheewwww I’m still not a pro at this – definitely a work in progress. Work-life balance will literally dictate how you live and how you run your business, so I try really hard to make this a priority. I schedule days off ahead of time and sometimes have to readjust, but I am learning how to take care of myself so that I can better take care of you, my lovely clients, as well!
How to build a website
Now don’t get me wrong, I am NOT a web developer and I have NO IDEA how to use code LOL, but I did build my website without the help of professionals! There are so many tiny details that go into website development and editing… It has been revamped and refreshed several times now, and I’m so proud of how it looks. I get most of my wedding inquiries from there, so I take it that means you like it too!
How I found my niche within the industry
As we all know, there are many facets of doing hair, and soooo many areas that you can specialize in. The best thing I ever did for myself was find my niche so that I can focus on the services that I love doing the most! For me, that’s brunettes, extensions, and of course bridal!!
How hard it is to be on your own boss
I absolutely love being a business owner, but it can be trying at the end of the day. It’s not easy to not have a direct manager who gives me feedback, lets me know how I did today, or gives me a performance report at the end of the year. In the end it’s always worth it and I wouldn’t give my job up for anything!
Even fun work is still work
I definitely have fun at my job! I love chatting with clients, meeting new people and being a part of amazing, gorgeous weddings! I’m really glad that I was able to find a way to make my profession something that I’m absolutely in love with. However it is still work, it is still taxing at times, and I still need breaks, just like anyone in any other career!
Overall, these past 7 years have been filled with amazing clients, experiences, and ups and downs of all kinds! I’m so thankful to you for allowing me to have the career of my absolute dreams and I can’t wait to see what the future brings for Katlyn’s Itty Bitty Salon!
xoxo,
Katlyn
