We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Kist recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
Salon HALO began as a 7 chair Salon residing in 1300 square feet. We had a small makeup retail area, 2 shampoo bowls, and 4 retail towers of Eufora haircare. The year just turned 2020 and our Team of HALO Angels was quickly expanding beyond our space and means. As the Owner and Stylist who work tirelessly beside the Team, I realized that the possibilities of expansion could and will occur. But how? During our 6.5 years in business, we had very to little business debt, solid cash flow and a bustling book or clients.
Should be buy a property? Move out of the community that fully embraced us? Especially a community to which we were all personally and professionally involved in. Six months prior, we solidified lease negotiations and entered into an agreement of ‘first right of refusal’ with the property management company. Meaning, if any of the current retail tenants that boarder our business where to vacate we would have first option to lease the space.
No one wants a business to fail. Especially one that was part of the community. Unfortunately, with the perimeters of COVID, the yoga studio next door was unable to operate any longer. November of 2020, the opportunity presented itself and we took it. Salon HALO decided, that even amid a pandemic we would expand.
Yeah, we are crazy. That’s the entrepreneur’s mindset. See an opportunity and take it! Risk and all. And we did. The space was 1600 square feet. Bringing the total square feet to 2900. What to do with all that space? Bring what our community and clients voiced they wanted. A Spa addition: 4 more Styling chairs, 2 more shampoo bowls, expansion of retail, and of course an office for the Leadership Team. What could go wrong?
With a shoestring budget and recycling many materials from the demolition of the space; we are very waste conscious, applying countless hours of sweat equity and a fantastic construction team; we re-opened our doors on May 12, 2021 as Salon HALO & Spa. The possibilities became endless!
That very same week we opened, we endured a personal family crisis and the end to the pandemic was not in sight. One step forward and two steps back seemed to occur around every corner. Whether it was attracting new licensed hair stylists, guest service team members, and Spa members, ever changing COVID protocol, supply issues; the list goes on. It was tough.
Chin up. Move forward. I. Am. A. Leader. It’s time to lead! But how? Leaning into my distribution sales consultants, other Salon owners in our Eufora Salon Owner Network, and other owners and leader that are not industry related, we had to form a plan. We thought the track we where on was going to work. Then in April of 2022 we had another family crisis. Taking the wind and the focus once again away. What are we to do? Self-doubt, weak profit and loss statements, and stylist burn out was at an all-time high.
I, the owner was done. Done with the burnout, stress, broken financials. How did it arrive to this? I thought I was stronger and smarter. I need help- fast! It was time to patch the holes into a sinking ship. It was time to push through the fear and face all those holes in business.
September of 2022, I enrolled into Eufora’s Business Intelligence course (EBI). Four days of intense business salon strategies in sunny Carlsbad California was where the change began. Regaining insight on business and taking a different and realistic approach with the Salon industry in mind gave me great guidance. Completing EBI gave me the strength and courage to push forward. It makes sense. I am currently implementing what I have learned. Staying connected to those that give me business strength and implementing goals that I set for our business we are going for gold in 2023
Stay tuned for the rest of the story. @salonhalompls
Amanda, 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?
I began my career in 2000 at the Aveda Institute, Minneapolis. After working for the first year as an apprentice I transferred into a fast service salon. Not what I wanted. Soon after, I move to south Minneapolis and began my 12 years as a booth renter. It was tough. At this point I survived 9/11 economy, the recession economy, a divorce and 2 salon type changes. The experience I learned in each situation set the tone to begin a second journey of ownership. How to do it? In 2006, I enrolled back into college and obtained an associate’s degree in Business Management and Marketing. I had the info, the experience, and now I need the salon space.
In 2008 I was asked to attend a 3-day industry training session in Joliet Illinois. I was excited for the opportunity. It was Eufora Educator boot camp and I wasn’t prepared, but I jumped in with both feet. I walked away a Eufora Regional Educator (thanks to my public speaking and business training) and the true confidence to own my own. Eufora International is a salon product company and so much more. Eufora is beauty without compromise in every facet of being in the salon industry. Providing technical, hair color, and salon and stylist business education for industry leaders. I am proud to say I am still a Eufora Regional Educator and Salon HALO is a Eufora Exclusive Salon.
I found the space and a skeleton staff to begin. July of 2014 is when I became a salon owner. Salon HALO in downtown Robbinsdale MN was established. And I absolutely love the Team we have.
Salon HALO & Spa perform: hair salon services, lash extensions and brow services, hair extensions makeup applications, body waxing, and facials.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Keeping in touch with clients and the community is important. Taking care of our community and clients keeps business open. Utilizing the Eufora Exceptional Salon methods creates consistency with every client every time and is an integral part of the Salon HALO brand. The power of social media and attending community events keeps us relevant to the needs of our clients.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I could write a book on all the books that have positively impacted HALO’s business practices and continued entrepreneurship. One that I continue to use for new team members during the apprentice program is: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People -Stephen Covey. This book shed knowledge and light on how to be an interdependent person and creating a Team that knows how to communicate effectively and to see inside out.
Secondly, as an owner many conversations are had. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Radical Candor -Kim Scott, creates an environment where great ideas with in a group are allowed to emerge.
Lastly, The Alchemist -Paulo Coelho is a novel on my personal and business collections. This story brings real connection to self and life. Whether I struggle personally or professionally, finding one’s true importance breeds strength.
Of course, there are many more wonderful assets available to grow as a business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: salonhalompls.com
- Instagram: salonhalompls
- Facebook: SalonHALORobbinsdale
- Other: https://linktr.ee/salonhalompls