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

Hi Valerie, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I have always been happy as a business owner. I enjoy the freedom business owners experience. Being a business owner is equivalent to being a problem solver. It’s not for the faint at heart. Business owners don’t just wear many hats, they wear every hat. There is a good and not so good side to everything. The best part about being a business owner is being able to execute your vision. I’ve been in business for 33 years so I have grown and changed quite a bit over the years. I have to admit though that my vision has remained the same. I wanted to provide a beautiful, comfortable place, where the stylists are educated in their field, and women enjoy getting their hair done. A place that leaves you feeling and looking better than when you came in the door. This had always been my visions. My clients trust that I , as well as my team, are learning new techniques and staying educated. People in our town and existing area appreciate the beautiful salon environment I have created. I feel so blessed to be a part of a great community for so many years.

Valerie, 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?

If you have never been to my salon you may not know all the special things about it. Starting with the most amazing team of talented stylists and assistants. The women on my team care deeply about their craft. They stay up to date, they attend every class that is provided through out the year. Always learning so they can bring their absolute best to their clients.
Some clients equate my salon to the show “cheers”. Saying it is such a warm comfortable place to get their hair done. There is so much laughter happening on any given day.
Unique to my salon is a color area which has the chairs set around a large table. This enables people to converse and gather. I consider my salon a special kind of gathering place. Many friendships have been made around my table.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what helped me build my reputation is standing behind my work and the work of my team no matter what. I think being reliable and and trying to deliver the best client experience every single day matters. You need to realize people are counting on you. When someone makes an appointment at your salon they are counting on you, they are counting on your staff. There is a level of expectation. Try every single day to meet your client’s expectations.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started my business 33 years ago on a wing and a prayer. I had no funding what so ever. Of course things were very different back then. You could never do that today. My dad believed in me. It only takes one person to believe in you to push you forward. He helped me get started by loaning me his credit card for my equipment. He then built out my salon and installed all of my equipment. He had no idea of how scared of failure that I was. I hit the ground running and just never stopped. I learned a lot about finances and business savings along the way. When I moved to a bigger location some years later I again took a chance. Stepped out of my comfort zone and jumped right in. “If you build it they will come.” I often refer back to that movie quote. For me it has proven to be true. That and tons of hard work and ultra reliability. If you have a vision and you don’t give up, I believe you will find your success. One thing I learned is that everyone’s success looks different.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hairartistrybyvalerie.com
• Instagram: hair.artistry.by.valerie
• Facebook: HairArtistrybyValerie

Image Credits

Stephanie McDermott