We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jill Kaye a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jill, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
I was working a small salon on a cute street on Ft. Lauderdale beach. I Kept seeing this beautiful blonde girl who owned a dog grooming business across the street. I was so nervous to go up to her but, I took a chance! I walked right up to her while she was walking her dogs and said “hi I’m Jill and I would love to do your hair”! She said OK !!!!!! Can you do it tonight? I said yes and she came in that night.I was doing highlights on her and we were talking and definitely connecting. She said I am having a few girlfriends over tonight for dinner later this evening. Would you like to come over? IN conclusion I have been doing Melissa’s hair now for 14 years ,Melissa and I are best friends to this day, we help each other with referral’s all the time networking businesses.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As a young girl I always painted or drew or made things, art projects anything where I could create. I had gotten into the restaurant business around age 19,i was very happy, making great money and working with the public. One day my mother said to me at about age 24,what are you dong with the rest of your life as far as a career? I said you see it, I’m happy and making great money. She suggested I try beauty school. I though about it and gave it a try. I was awful!! hands down the worst one in my class. My teacher would always yell at me for talking to much. I really didn’t like it at all. I just wasn’t like the other girls in my class that had been cutting their dolls hair and family’s hair. I never picked up a pair of scissor’s in my life!!! Because my mother made me pay for half of my school, I didn’t quit. Needless to say shortly after those 3 long months I was loving the art of hair.
I believe what sets The Color Cove apart from the rest is that we are a boutique salon. I have worked very hard to create an intimate environment where everyone that works here knows all the customers everyone is friendly to everyone. I don’t believe “that’s my client” mentality. I believe as long as the client can get in when they would like and we all treat the client the same. It creates a unity, a team not division.
I a most proud of the environment I’ve created and my ability to bounce back know matter the circumstances. I have been blessed to work with many talented hairdressers as well as having people bring me the most amazing hairdressers to bring me to where I am today. I believe it takes a team to make a business to thrive; not a single person. We specialize in anything and everything that has to do with hair color (Balayage, highlights, corrective color, color balancing, root touch ups, glosses to enhance natural color), cuts, and hair extensions(tape -ins, K-tips, I-tips, sew ins). We have a very talented team that specializes in all of these services to achieve your desired goal. We give individual attention due to the environment we’ve created and our passion for the industry.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In mid March of 2020, the whole world had shut down due to covid. At this point I had no idea how to use a computer other than searching the internet and copying and pasting. When the PPP program was announced, I had no choice but to figure out how to fill out the application on my own in fear of contracting the virus by having someone come and help me. I had called my accountant and she informed me that she did not understand how to fill out the form and she would be unable to help me. At this point I had to learn from youtube how to fill out these questions without making a mistake; if a mistake was made they would not call you to correct it, and we would not receive the funds we needed to stay afloat. For six excruciating weeks, from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week I would watch youtube videos on how to answer the questions and then fill them out (remember, there was no room for error). When the six weeks ended, I just waited and prayed every single day that I would receive the funds I needed. Low and behold I received an email that I was approved; that was the proudest moment of my life! By being forced to endure this hardship, I learned new skills that would help me improve my business and my leadership skills.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective way to build clientele is to market yourself through networking ,referrals’ and word of mouth. If you believe it and can see it ,it will happen. Never give up, EVER!!!so many times i wanted to throw in the towel or I didn’t feel like going to an event, I always went .Little by little you lay down a brick and build a house !
Contact Info:
- Website: Thecolorcove.com
- Instagram: The Color Cove
- Facebook: The Color Cove
- Linkedin: JIll kaye
- Twitter: The Color Cove
- Youtube: The Color Cove
- Yelp: The Color Cove
- Other: Yelp-The Color Cove
Image Credits
Justin Broderick