Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Crystal Haynick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Crystal, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

I remember running into our living room and sliding across the floor to tell my husband the good news! I was so proud of booking my first bride. She signed the contract 12 days after inquiring. I had the most inquiries I’ve ever had that week. We were out of town and I left my laptop at home. I remember telling my husband I wanted to enjoy our trip and unplug. What I didn’t know was that my booking system doesn’t allow for contracts to be created in the app, it has to be on a computer. I was SO upset. Thankfully my client was understanding. I sent her all the information and agreed to hold her wedding date without a signed contract which is not the industry standard. When I returned home I sent her an updated proposal. Within a few hours, she signed the contract and paid her retainer!

Crystal, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! I”m Crystal the owner and lead stylist of Olive Bridal Hair. I help brides say “I Do” to the hair of their dreams. I specialize in glam waves and soft, effortless, romantic styles. With 10 years of experience as a hair stylist, I can give my brides the hair they have always dreamed of. My brides love that I offer hair extension rentals. When a bride books with me they do not have to worry about frizzy hair, their styles not lasting, dull-looking hair, lack of communication, or creating contracts. When I’m not at work I love spending time with my family, going to the beach, and salsa dancing. I have always wanted to own my own business, to be honest, a part of me thought it wouldn’t happen. I’m still figuring out the work/life balance but I want to let other wives and moms know they can do it too.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Instagram. The funny thing is, I am actively posting in local FB groups and haven’t posted much on my Instagram but that’s where my brides have found me. On my contact form, I ask my brides where they heard about my business and it’s from Instagram. The clients I’m looking for are in their late 20s or early 30s and that’s the app they’re on.

Any advice for managing a team?

I managed a team of 10+ stylists. What made a difference was when I truly cared about them. Not everyone is motivated by the same thing. So I had to learn what made them tick. Some of the girls liked money, others liked to have a day off. I had a few stylists in school for another career. What they valued was being told they were doing a good job. We had monthly meetings but we called them pep rallies. We went line dancing, roller skating, and to dinners. I tried to let them be involved in deciding where we would go. At every pep rally, we would go over goals and expectations. I would also ask for their opinion and listen to what they had to say even if I didn’t think it was a good idea. Another thing that worked well was bi-weekly and monthly 1:1’s. We would go over their numbers, check in on them, and create a plan so they could reach their goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.olivebridalhair.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/olivebridalhair

Image Credits
Eileen C. Wenger Photography