Frizz fighter | A conversation with Laurie Stevenson, owner of Starz Hair Studio in Brunswick
Photo/Mindy Favreau
Laurie Stevenson, owner of Starz Hair Studio in Brunswick
Founded: November 2007
Employees: Stevenson and 11 other stylists who rent booth space
Startup costs: $40,000
Projected revenue, year one: $125,000
Projected revenue, year two: $145,000
Contact: 721-0045
64 Main St., Brunswick 04011
www.starzhairstudio.com
Why did you decide to start this business?
The location that I’m in now is a hair salon that I worked at and their lease was up in October of 2007, so they decided to take the salon and move it to a different location. So this space became available and I decided to stay in the same spot and rename it Starz Hair Studio and start a new business, so that’s pretty much how that fell into place.
How did you find your stylists?
Four stayed with me when the other salon moved and a few came from local hair salons who wanted to try something different. I’ve done no advertising for the girls that are here — they all heard it from word-of-mouth that a salon was opening back up on Main Street, so it filled up pretty quick. I have people that want to work for me but I don’t have space for them. I’m blessed because that doesn’t happen every day, because it’s booth rental and you don’t find that in hair salons as much. They just pay rent to me every week but they make 100% of their profit and they make their own hours.
What services does Starz offer?
All hair services: cuts, color, relaxers, perms, up-dos, anything pertaining to the hair. We also have an organic color line for hair. We do facial waxing, manicure and pedicures, lash tinting, ear piercing.
How did you finance this business?
Through a local bank, Norway Savings Bank. I went and got a personal loan and a business loan to finance the startup cost.
How do you market the salon?
Yellow Pages is one of the biggest sources of marketing, and the Internet — I have a website. [And] just being on Main Street — location, location, location. We pay [higher rent] for it, but being right on Main Street draws a lot of traffic. So that’s my big marketing and word-of-mouth. If you get a good haircut or a good color, that speaks for itself.
How has the recession affected your business?
We’ve noticed clients are stretching out their appointments a bit longer, but it hasn’t affected us as much as other businesses, because hair does grow and this time of year with winter and the recession, people want to do something for themselves and usually hair is the first thing you focus on.
What has been the biggest challenge in running this business?
Just trying to juggle all the balls in the air and putting out little fires here and there. I’ve got 12 girls here and we all have different personalities, so it’s just a matter of respecting each other. The hardest part is keeping everything moving, making sure everyone’s happy and things are running smoothly. I also only had 12 days to get the place up and running after the other business moved. I’m redecorating it again and I’m repainting and having an electrician come in and do the lighting — it’s a work in progress. During a recession, you don’t see many businesses improving, but I’ve done well enough to be able to do that, which is good.
Have you run your own business before?
This is the fourth business that I’ve opened. I had two high-end retail and consignment shops I ran in Bangor and in Ellsworth for about five years. Then I moved down to the Portland area, so I sold both of those and opened one up on Munjoy Hill. After 9/11, retail crashed pretty hard and I got tired of doing that, so I went to school to be a cosmetologist and then I came to Brunswick to work at a salon before I opened my own.
I’ve learned when you own your own business you better like what you’re doing because you’re busy with it a lot. People don’t see what goes on after you’ve left work, but you’ve got paperwork and bookkeeping, so that part I’ve learned to juggle a bit better. A lot of business is about how you treat people. It’s important to make your clients happy and have good energy in your shop. I’ve always had clients come in and say they’ve had a good experience. I’ve enjoyed all of the businesses I’ve had, they’ve been successful and I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to sell them for profit.
Interview by Mercedes Grandin
New Ventures profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestions and contact information to editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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