Today we’d like to introduce you to Noelle Larson.
Noelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I managed a law firm in Buckhead up until the time I bought the salon. My title was Firm Administrator and my duties included everything from HR to marketing. I drove a total of 3 hours every day and loved my job but needed a change. I had business, leadership, and marketing experience and knew that I wanted to somehow apply those skills in a way that made women feel good/better about themselves.
I had always wanted to own my own business and started looking for businesses that were for sale that offered potential. I liked the location and clientele base of the salon and knew that there was room for improvement and further development.
I quit my “good paying job” and jumped into the ‘pool of risk’ by buying into a company that I did not fully understand the day to day workings of. It was hard. There were a lot of changes needed and a lot of growth needed in order to sustain and flourish. I came from a very black and white environment in terms of what is acceptable and expected, to an environment that is full of necessary flexibility. These are artists and being paired with a corporate person, wasn’t easy for either of us. We all had a lot to learn from each other.
I made some very scary decisions within the first six months. We all worked hard and with some additional team members, we have fine-tuned and drastically improved our image, reputation, and brand. We have more than doubled our clientele in four years and have an exceptional team in place that all share a common commitment to exceeding customer expectations.
We are not a discount salon, nor do we want to be. We are a high-end luxury salon that offers only the best in service and product line. Our environment is also not typical. We are located in an old cottage built in 1940 that has been turned into the salon so it is very welcoming and comfortable.
I am very proud of where we are and look forward to what the future holds for my salon family!
Has it been a smooth road?
The previous owner stayed on after the purchase and worked as a contract person. This didn’t work well as changes started to occur. The finances were also not anywhere close to what I was told they would be so the urgency to grow fast added some additional pressure to an already stressful situation. There were many unfortunate circumstances that were a part of this situation that I would rather not elaborate on but will admit that I am so very glad I am past this stage.
Once the previous owner was out of the picture, the environment changed, the team grew closer, and the overall “team spirit” kicked in and we decided to kick butt! lol
Some of the struggles included; letting people go that were not fully committed or did not share the same business approach I did, changing some of the product lines, hiring new people but finding the right people that fit into the “culture” that we all wanted and needed to maintain the reputation we have worked hard to obtain, and finally, the ability to transition from the corporate person to someone that can and wants to be more flexible while instilling the need for certain expectations.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the William David Salon & Spa story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a salon and do everything about hair. We carry only high-end products that deliver like no other. We are known to have a very talented staff that is professional and committed to making each experience a rewarding and relaxing one. I am most proud of our reputation and we have that because of the people that work for me. I may do the marketing/awareness piece and I may pay the bills, but they are the company and THEY set us apart from the competition. To admit nothing else, this is what I am proud of most.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The beauty industry is pretty self-explanatory so I would rather answer the question, where would I like it to go.
I would like for the media to stop giving girls and women an unrealistic view of what they should look like and rather, focus on being beautiful inside first. I would like for women to learn how to make themselves a priority and feel good about it. I would like for the beauty industry to stop judging and rather embrace the differences so that the industry can then help us accentuate what makes each person unique and beautiful.
Pricing:
- Upscale salon – Haircuts start at $55
Contact Info:
- Address: William David Salon & Spa
10970 B State Bridge Rd
Alpharetta, GA 30022 - Website: www.williamdavidsalon.com
- Phone: 678-762-1414
- Email: info@williamdavidsalon.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/williamdavidsalon
