We recently connected with Alicia Powers and have shared our conversation below.

Alicia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Back in 2019 after working in 2 toxic environments for well over a decade I decided to take a risk and pursue salon ownership. I left the familiar behind, I embraced the uncertainty. I faced challenges head-on, and discovered a world of new opportunities for growth. This journey has been far from easy, the experience of showing up everyday has made every step worthwhile. I took a leap of faith and it turned out to be the ever chapter of my life so far.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a small-town girl with big dreams, on a quest in this life to never stop learning and growing. I have been a licensed hair stylist since 2008. I was the girl in high school who never stopped talking but was so genuinely interested in others’ lives where connection and community are two of my core values.

The first salon I ever worked at happened to be where I did my high school internship. A friends mom owned it and gave me the opportunity to work there paid, which most interns weren’t. I was able to learn the front desk and flow of a salon. From there I fell in love with the industry.

I ventured out and went to hair school and worked at that salon for almost a decade. In that time, I almost quit twice and went on a different career path. Started college for nursing then business and slowly dropped out to realize I was running from what I really dreamed of and wanted all along.

I wanted to lead a team in a different way than I ever was. I wanted to create a space, a workplace where the leadership started at the top. No one wants to be a toxic work environment. As stylists we need to be supported, appreciated, and given every opportunity to thrive and grow. To be apart a team, a family, something so much bigger than just yourself, we need to be loved and encouraged every step of the way.

This was where the idea of four one three salon came about in 2017. My husband who is small busses owner himself of a landscaping and architect firm and a property management. business. He pushed me to chase after it. To create a plan, make it a reality and to just do it. He always told me there’s no risk there’s no reward. if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

In April 2019 four one three salon was born. We opened coincidentally on 4/13/19. A date that was not chosen by me but by the state board. I knew in that moment I was about to walk into the best chapters of my life.

The number one thing we hear from our guests is how we are like a family, how we work together and how much we educate and truly support one another. We provide the best guest experience all while creating the most beautiful hair. Our salon is based around continuing education and always being up on the most modern trends. We pride ourselves on providing a guest experience treating you just like family.

I think what sets our salon apart is the leadership, the structure, the team and how well we work together and support one another. You can feel it the minute you walk through our doors. We are all in it together for one common purpose with a foundation for growth and no glass ceiling.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Our salon was opened for 8 months and then covid happened. I just invested my life savings in my salon scared for my life I have no other choice but to pivot and keep moving forward. I decided to try to add value to all of our clients from home and create gloss bags to go, color bags to go, a space where they felt valued and taken care of even if they weren’t ablate be In the salon getting services done. In 10 weeks of being closed I was ablate pivot to a point that selling those bags made enough to cover our rent until we reopened.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media has single handedly built our business. showing up consistently, posting our work every day as our business card and so clients can see our work. Its free if you can learn to utilize it that way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fouronethreesalon.com
• Instagram: fouronethree_salon and Alicia_p0wers

Image Credits
Jocelyn vassos from Dear Edith an lily Alix Kirchner