We were lucky to catch up with Francis Glynn recently and have shared our conversation below.
FRANCIS, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later
At 39, I decided to become self-employed and started a business renting a chair in a salon. It was the next stage in my career, and one that I haven’t regretted. Being able to give my clients the attention they deserve while becoming more relaxed and flexible in my work has been a win-win so far!
It’s definitely something I wish I had done sooner, but I still feel that 39 was the right time for me. It gave me those extra few years to work abroad in Amsterdam and Milan, gaining valuable insight into how salons operate in different environments.
Now, I can focus more on achieving a better work-life balance, spending quality time with my friends and family, and working in an amazing atmosphere.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a hairstylist based in Galway, Ireland, and I recently took the exciting step of becoming self-employed, launching my own small business. My journey into the hair industry began with a passion for fashion, colour, and creativity. With 23 years of experience under my belt, I bring a wealth of in-salon expertise and hold advanced colour qualifications from some of the most respected colour houses in the industry.
I specialise in a range of services, including hair styling, advanced cutting, and the latest colouring techniques, all tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.
At the heart of my work is a commitment to offering a personalised, one-to-one service in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I strive to create a space where my clients can unwind while I help them look and feel their absolute best.
I take immense pride in being there for my clients, meeting all of their hair care needs, and building lasting relationships. My incredibly loyal clientele is a testament to both the quality of my work and the strong rapport I’ve developed with them over the years.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
As a hairstylist, social media has become an invaluable tool for my business. It allows me to showcase my work not only to a local audience but also on a global scale. Additionally, it helped me stay connected with clients as I moved around Europe.
For anyone in the industry looking to grow their social media presence, my advice would be to post consistently and engage actively. Respond to comments on your own posts, and take the time to interact with others by liking and commenting on their content as well. Building genuine connections is key.
Creating and using a personalised branded hashtag is another great way to make your work more discoverable and guide potential clients directly to your page.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I started working in a salon on the day it was announced Ireland was going into a recession.
Things started out busy but quickly became difficult as clientele for the salon dropped away gradually.
Eventually after a number of months and multiple reductions in my working hours the salon closed down. I was tempted to leave the industry that I loved as things were looking bleak. In the end my patience paid off when I landed a management and hair stylist position in another salon, adding managerial experience to my resume.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franglynnhairartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franglynnhairartist/
Image Credits
Robson Henriques