We were lucky to catch up with Alana Polanco recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alana , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Our mission is to provide a personable elevated pampering experience for men and women. Self care is such a critical aspect of total well being and our salon was founded to provide a peaceful oasis for not only the busy professional but for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle and dare to dream to see themselves better. Sometimes our better version is just a hairstyle, hair cut, or even facial away. We selected a central located building with multi amenities to further bolster our ability to be a one stop shop for our clients. At our very core is our dedication to our stylists. Not only are these individuals artists but they are first and foremost people. That being said, we value their well being and remain firmly committed to their empowerment and betterment as well. In a nutshell, our mission is simply to leave people better than they were. To add a little joy and peace by doing what we do best which is hair and skin care.
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 have loved the salon since my Aunt Hattie Mae used to press my hair and I had to sit on a booster to be tall enough for her to reach me. The salon has always been a happy place for me. It is a place where I feel at peace and the rest of the world fades away. In those moments, the single most important thing to me is patience and precision. I know that both me and the stylist are making an investment and the mirror pay off is what makes every minute worth it for me. My dream is to be a part of creating this happy place for others. I think that this is a true part of well being that people should take the time to experience. I applaud and respect stylists or better yet artists that can take a simple verbal request, and their hands and eyes work in unison to create such dynamic masterpieces that are reflected in the mirror to the client. I treasure, respect, and appreciate the role of a stylist and it is also part of my dream to create an environment that supports, encourages, and nourishes the well being of the stylists artistry.
The problems that our salon solves for our clients is “how to fit self care in”. Not only do we offer a wide array of servicies but we have an amazing team that offer flexible appointment times and days for schedule optimization for our clients. This leads me into what I am most proud of… I am most proud of each of the amazing ladies that are on the Concourse Dream Team. These ladies are an inspiration and a showcase of courage to work for THEIR DREAM. Their diligence and dedication for their craft is beyond admirable. Above all, I’d like people to know that Concourse Dream is more than a name…It’s an experience …. It is a salon where ideas are born, relationships are started and nurtured, learning happens, passion is reignited and head turning looks are crafted. Being a private boutique salon in midtown Atlanta should come with required responsibility. We take this responsibility to heart and take pride in showcasing our Diversity and catering to the unique desire of our Midtown Atlanta community. From facials to cuts to colors for anyone we are here.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to be vocal and to lead by example. It is much easier to coach when people see you model the expectation. Always always be mindful of the platform that you own as the leader. Another thing that I have to mention is to coach in private and to commend in public. Recognition is so very vital. Even the smallest thing is important especially the fact that you recognized it. And know that not addressing something is basically like approving it.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
There are sooo many I could name but I’ll keep it short for now… I love Les Brown and honestly he had a lot to do with me believing that I could step out and open the salon. He has a lot of motivational speeches, and the ones I listen to repeatedly are on “Greatness Radio”. Another recent one that I’m working to finish right now is by Pink Cole , “ I hope you fail”. Funny thing I heard the title and I knew what she was saying from my Les Brown speech listening. Keeping your mind strong is powerful and makes you unstoppable so keep reading and listening to the right messages.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.concoursedream.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/concoursedream