We recently connected with Calandra Hurd and have shared our conversation below.

Calandra, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
What I do differently from industry standards would be that I haven’t placed myself in a box. I’ve built a solid clientele in multiple cities and states to allow myself the option to travel and relocate to enjoy this one life we have been given.

Calandra, 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 entered my industry before I even realized. As a teenager I did hair for friends and family members. When I entered college I would do hair for my fellow classmates. I then realized it was my passion and went to school to pursue this career. After receiving my license I then began to relocate build clientele and travel the United States. My career has allowed me to work with TV personalities, behind the scenes of fashion events and be published in multiple magazines. I have had the honor of opening three salons and starting a hairline. I am currently an instructor for Paul Mitchell and starting a cranial prosthesis business for women with hair loss issues. As of late I have been extended an invitation to sign with a modeling agency. I have done pro bono modeling in my past but it makes me excited to start down this new path.

I just recently relocated from Las Vegas Nevada where I am an instructor for Paul Mitchell the school and a model for Defiant Firm. Within a year I plan to have a facility to accommodate hair loss clients dealing with their issues stemming from cancer, lupus, thyroid issues, male pattern baldness and allow them to receive units to enhance their confidence

How did you build your audience on social media?
My career was starting at the beginning of the rise of Facebook. I have always been the type of person that relocate every 3 to 4 years. I realized early on that clients always wanted to see your previous work so I started cataloging every client and every different style as a digital portfolio. I also would use different methods of marketing to target my audience. I would hand out business cards face-to-face, I would inbox potential clients in my area, and I would send friend request to potential clients so they would see my work if I post it. I soon learned that repetition, consistency And quality work would help me build a clientele every time. I would also start to target audience wherever I knew I was moving to. This method has worked for me successfully for 19 years.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Our reputations are built on honesty, consistency, dependability and staying current with any trends in the industry. I have had the honor of working alongside some of my industries top leaders. I have taken notes and try to keep the same integrity they had to build our industry. We are only as good as our actions so I treat people as I want to be treated, I run a reputable establishment, I offer an experience for my clients and keep my skill set parent to allow them to try multiple looks.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Coutourecuts
• Facebook: Calandra Hurd / coutourecuts
• Linkedin: Coutourecuts
• Twitter: Coutourecuts
• Youtube: Coutourecuts