Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Cook.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had dreams of owning my own business from an early age. I got married at the young age of 22 and became a Marine Corps wife, moving me away from the only life I had ever known in Georgia. We started our life together in Beaufort, South Carolina where I was a full-time hairstylist in the sweetest little coastal community. In 2019, we welcomed the most beautiful addition to our family and decided it would be best for me to stay home with her. When our daughter was 6 weeks old I started the groundwork on Harper & Honey, which would first begin as an online boutique. I would host live sales out of our guest bedroom and pack orders while she slept. 2020 came along and rocked my little family in more ways than imaginable, causing my daughter and I to move back to Georgia. I was unsure of what the future would hold for us, but I knew that God had placed the business dream on my heart for a reason, and I wasn’t going to back down from that. Months went by and I kept my head down focusing on what I knew I was called to create. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the building where my store is located. It was a beautiful mess and needed a lot of work, but it had so much potential. The for rent sign was burned into my mind, and I knew that I needed to bring this space to life. My friends and family spent months helping me cultivate what I envisioned. Late nights and early mornings, but so many laughs and memories. Finally, in December 2021, we opened the doors of my favorite little space to the community. With a boutique in the front and a salon in the back, it brought both of my passions together. I am a firm believer in clean hair products, so we specialize in nontoxic color and product for our clients. It doesn’t smell like a salon when you enter the space; it’s just clean. On the boutique side, we have a large women’s section, a great men’s collection and even some children’s clothes and accessories picked out by my daughter. She is a big part of the business and is often right by my side, greeting customers. Today, our family is happy and healthy, and we have overcome so much together. This business has brought so much joy and I’m so thankful for the team that is by my side. It’s a goal of mine that Harper & Honey will be around for years to come to be a happy and safe space for all who visit!
Alright, 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?
Absolutely not! But what fun would that be, I suppose? Opening a business has so many things you don’t think about involved. It’s so easy in the dreaming phase to think, “Oh, I’m about to make so much money with this idea,” and then you really get dialed into the breakdown, and there’s so much more involved than you think. I also had so much personal stuff going on, but the business was such a good “distraction” to keep me focused and driven. Looking back now, it’s really incredible to see all that I pushed through to bring this business to life and grow it to what it is. I am learning to recognize that hard work because I can be really tough on myself. Life can be hard sometimes, but we can really create some beautiful things out of those difficult seasons.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We are a boutique and salon in Ball Ground, Georgia. We specialize in beautiful hair color and cuts as well as adorable and affordable clothes and accessories. I’m passionate about nontoxic products, so we carry a color and product line from Australia that is nontoxic and so much cleaner than most color and product lines. It doesn’t smell “chemically” when you walk into the business, and I think that’s so important because no one wants to be shopping or relaxing in an environment that smells unnatural. My team takes pride in continuing education, so we are always staying up to date on blonding trends, new color formulations, and cutting and styling. We also do hand-tied extensions, which are incredibly popular right now.
On the boutique side, the style is “me.” I am constantly traveling and searching for trends that speak to my soul, and through that, I’m able to bring the inside of my heart and mind to life here. We don’t have a set style because I’m such a blend of my favorite people and places, and I think that makes us unique. I also feel like good quality men’s clothing is hard to find, so I make sure to spend a lot of time picking out pieces that are in style and comfortable for our guys. With our kids’ section, my daughter gets the final deciding say in what pieces we bring to the store. I love giving her the freedom to choose what she likes, and it gives her a sense of ownership in the business, too.
Family is so important to me, and we want to make sure that all clients and customers feel that way when they step inside Harper & Honey. We will always greet you with a warm smile and invite you to stay a while, and I think that is one thing that keeps customers coming back. We recognize faces and remember your stories because we know that hair appointments and boutique shopping is an investment. I am so proud to have a team alongside me that returns that investment back into our customers.
What matters most to you?
Fulfilling God’s plan for me and my family means the absolute most to me. I think everything else falls under that and through that. If I am aligned to God’s will and focused on being the best mom, partner, and leader that I can be, then I am going to thrive no matter where I am. I have seen so many things bloom in my life that have proven to me that I am not in control. Things I never thought would heal, being healed and even better than before. I’m rooted in my faith, and my business is built on those roots. I have no shame in praising God for all He’s done for me, and I am so grateful for my family and the business He’s entrusted me with.
Contact Info:
- Website: shopharperandhoney.
com - Instagram: @shopharperandhoney
- Facebook: @shopharperandhoney
Image Credits
Gold Buffalo Photography
