Meet Sheryl Kirby of Ovo Salon and Builder’s Design Resource, Inc in Suwanee and Cumming

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheryl Kirby.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2007, I had my dream job. A designer for a large firm in Atlanta, catering to builders and their needs in the world of new construction. We had everything, car allowances, bonus, trips, gas card, laptops, health insurance, it’sand that all came crashing down in 2008. A 98 million dollar company just shut its doors. I continued to try to stay in the industry making a 1/4 of the income with NO perks. The next company shut down 90 days after I started. I tried 1 more time and decided it was going no where.

Mean while, my daughter had just graduated to be a hair stylist. She had a couple of salon experiences that were not really promising. I thought to myself, what if you ran a salon like a real business, giving the stylist an opportunity to be their own boss and and reap the benefits that come along with that. So with no salon experience, but experience in management I opened Ovo Salon…Our Very Own Salon.

On August 14th 2009, I signed a healthy lease and started construction. Sept. 22, 2009 we opened the doors. I had people standing at the door wanting to buy our product , Bumble and Bumble out of New York. I had 2 stylist at the time. By January I had 17 stylist and now we have 21 stylist and 3 guest services people.

A friend of mine gave me 100K to start it. I had it paid back in 2 years and it’s now been 7 1/2 years.

In 2011, one of my builder’s called me back for design work, then another, and another and so on. Builder’s Design Resource, Inc was started and thrives today. Builder’s Design Resource caters to smaller builders, under 100 homes per year. I offer model home services, design center set up, meet with home owner s to make there selections and spec house specifications.

The success of the salon as a whole is due in part to the dedicated, talented and entrepreneurial minds of the people that work there. Their success is my success.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the biggest struggles was finding stylist that fit into your culture. We were new and establishing a culture of our own. When stylist come from another salon what is acceptable there may not necessarily be here. As the dream team grew our foundation together attracted stylist similar to our culture, belief and work ethic.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ovo Salon and Builder’s Design Resource, Inc – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a detail oriented person. I take care of all the paperwork, taxes, insurance, licenses, leases, personnel. I am chief operating officer…I make sure everything is clean, running properly. I’m also a numbers person I like to watch the profit and loss and analyse what it means and set goals for improvement.

I am most proud of our staff, The talent pool is amazing, we pride ourselves on our professionalism and culture of caring, not only for each other but our clients.

I have served on a Board of Beauty…I quickly realized that I have a very different mind set than other salon owners. I pride myself on helping people be successful, that makes me successful. I have no desire to hold some one back from income potential or possibilities. I will not hold someone to a contract that they cannot get out of. Not everyone can conform to our style, and that’s ok. But the ones that do are strong individuals.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Plans for the future…keep doing what we’re doing. It seems to work. I have looked into expanding, as in another location, but it would run me too thin.

I would love to have a free standing building with enough square footage to have other business with in. A boutique, juice bar, jewlery

Pricing:

• Cuts range from $45 to 60
• Partial Highlights $85 Full Highlights $125, Single color $55 to 65, Custom balyage
• Formal hair

Contact Info:

• Address: Ovo Salon 3130 Mathis Airport Pkwy. suite 306
  Suwanee, Ga 30024
  The Village Shoppes at Windermere
• Website: ovosalon.com
• Phone: 770-888-3656
• Email: sherkirby@hotmail.com
• Instagram: Ovosalon
• Facebook: Ovo salon
• Other: Builder’s Design Resource, Inc