Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Hurst.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My career in hairdressing began in 1988 in Charleston, SC. Fresh out of High School with my technical degree and State Cosmetology License, I set my sights for the city’s best known hair salon and landed a job at London Hair. There I started as an assistant and learned the craft of not only doing hair in the salon, but also how to perform on stage in front of veteran hairdressers as an educator. The high-energy atmosphere of this salon fueled my desire for learning all I could about the industry. While continuing to work in the salon and manage a full clientele, my work as a professional educator led me to Atlanta to become a regional platform artist for Sebastian International. I made the move here in 1994 and worked as a full-time stylist at Cortex in Midtown while continuing to develop my skills as an educator for Sebastian. All of my training for Sebastian took place in Los Angeles and I traveled there several times a year while also preforming at professional hair shows around the southeast region and working full time in the salon! During these years, I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit all types of salons and meet other hairdressers from all over the country. Using all that I had learned from my experiences, I finally settled down and decided to open my own salon, Studio Z, Inc. in 1997. I chose Downtown Lawrenceville because I love the charm of the historic area and I wanted to capture this unique vibe for my new business. Studio Z, Inc. was small but mighty! With just 3 full time stylists, we grew our reputation by partnering with a small Gwinnett broadcasting company and simply word of mouth.
After about 10 years of operating this traditional, commissioned based salon, I learned of the Salon Suites concept and knew it was the next step for my business! Salon Suites is a collection of independent salons in one space – fully functional, single operator salons- leased to individual hairdressers. Each owner leases their space and runs their own business their own way. I provide the furnished Studio and manage all aspects of running the building. Studio Z Salon Suites opened in 2008 and has grown to be a vital part of the revitalization of Downtown Lawrenceville. As the Salon Suites concept is catching on in this area, our point of difference is that we are locally owned and operated. As the owner, I am a working hairdresser onsite with a vested interest in all of the salon owners that have their business here. We are especially proud to have been voted “Best of Gwinnett” in 2015 and 2016. Currently, I am operating in my Suite 3 days a week while managing the Suites full time. The opportunity to own my own business with the flexibility to have time for my family has been the driving force for me in the past decade. It is my pleasure to provide that same opportunity for all the salon owners currently at the Studio and I look forward to continuing for many years to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a completely self-taught business owner, the biggest challenge for me has been learning the financial aspects of day to day bookkeeping. As the Studio has grown, this task has grown to include aspects of property management. Developing systems for record keeping and financial forecasting continue to be a challenge. With each new stage of growth comes a new set of responsibilities- financial and otherwise. Recently, I am learning how to capitalize on marketing via social media in order to keep my business visible online. This has given my daily tasks a new dimension.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The honor of being voted “Best of Gwinnett” for the past two years has been the pinnacle of owning this business. To think that so many of our customers took the time to go online and vote for us tells me the services we provide mean something very special to them. It is such a pleasure to walk into the building every day and know that my dream has become my reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiozsalons.com
- Phone: 770-962-6788
- Email: cheryl@studiozsalons.com
- Instagram: @StudioZSalonSuites
- Facebook: Studio Z Salon Suites
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