Interview with owner of Elite Salon Suites

Mandatory Questions:

Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities. Elite Salon Suites is currently located in Plymouth Mn and will soon be expanding to Oak Grove MN. We rent luxurious suites to licensed professionals in the health and wellness community. We have a variety of entrepreneurs that provide cosmetology, esthetician, nail technology, lash technology, barbers, massage, make up artists, tattoo artists, acupuncture, hormone replacement therapy, registered nurses, and many other specialty services.

Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements). I have been in the industry for 30 years. I have cosmetology, ap esthetics, instructor, school manager, and salon manager licenses. I spent a great portion of my career in education, training students as well as instructors how to be successful in the beauty industry. I have always had my own practice to stay current in hair, skin, nails, and lasers. I have now blended all areas and assist people to obtain the proper license and get their business set up and growing. I truly enjoy being a mentor and helping others to be successful.

What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about? Honestly, I thought I would retire from Beauty School. I had the dream job with big titles and all the perks, but that meant working 24/7 and fixing all the messes and flying around the world. I knew I needed work/life balance and to not miss out on everything…to simply share the knowledge I have and enjoy life at the same time. It has been a wonderful decision and our business is successful and growing.

What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs? Believe in yourself, set your standards/goals high, keep learning/stay educated

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Work ethic, communication, and people skills

To what do you most attribute your success? Working hard and doing things no one else is willing to do, never giving up, and being open to new things

How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing? We do all the standard things but the most successful form is happy people giving a referral

Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture? We are fortunate to have an owner that has the financial means to make this building amazing for all.

What is the best way to achieve long-term success? Love what you do, making connections, don’t be afraid to fail and never give up

Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years? Completely filled, running smoothly, focusing on offering more classes, and having Fridays off.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most? I love Target. It’s always clean, has nice bathrooms, plenty of options, and positive environment

Recommended Questions:

How important have good employees been to your success? This is huge. Customer service is key to success and you need everyone on board to get all things accomplished!

How long do you stick with an idea before giving up? I like to think I give it my all and I’m willing to adjust and adapt to try to figure it out.

How do you define success? To be proud of what you are producing, happy, financially secure

How do you build a successful customer base? Take care of your people and appreciate them

What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur? Having more control of your schedule/time

What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else? benefits

What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture? Professional and positive. Networking and introducing others.

Optional Questions:

If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently? I would have started the same way working under someone gaining best practices but would have left a lot sooner from a big organization. I also wish I would have called in sick once and used all my pto.

How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life? I’m present physically and emotionally

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear? Unhappy guests/clients, give it your all and do everything in your power to make any and every situation better

How did you decide on the location for your business? It was already determined but is very centrally located and convenient from any direction

Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur? Determination, will, and heart

If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why? My Dad…he had excellent advice and words of wisdom

Who has been your greatest inspiration? My parents, they always believed in me and showed me what “right” looked like

What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?) 10 greatest gifts to give your children

What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made? Trying to please everyone (not possible) and

What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time? Decorating, shopping. I love nature, spending time at the lake in the sun

What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur? Working late or long hours, putting others needs first, paying for advanced education

If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask? I feel like these were great questions and I would also ask why they chose this path