Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jules Schaefer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jules, 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

I grew up in a time when it was believed success could only be achieved with a college degree. This was repeated often during my high school years, at that time it may have been accurate. I delayed my dreams of a career in the beauty industry because of this ridiculous idea that I had to go to a traditional college.

After not following the traditional path of a college degree and twelve years of a career in healthcare I realized my happiness as an entrepreneur is what I should be pursuing. I often wonder where I would be in this career if I went to beauty school at 18. Would I have taken more risks during those years when I was unencumbered by a mortgage and mouths to feed. That’s something I can’t know. What I do know is I go to work every day feeling inspired, I love what I do, I spend every day making people feel great inside and out.

Jules, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Salon Forté is located in Woodbury MN and is an independent suite inside Salons By JC. I am a color and cutting specialist concentrating on gray coverage, gray blending and blonding services. I have been in the beuty industry for 12 years. spending the first 8 years as an employee at a salon growing my clientele and learning my craft. I then started my business in 2019.

I’m proud to be a retailer of Kevin Murphy products, and also use their color line for my services. It is important to my target market and me that the products I use are earth friendly. The Kevin Murphy line is always exploring new ways to reduce the footprint they leave, and are currently using recycled ocean waste to package their product.

A majority of my clients are busy moms who need a little time just for themselves. I have created an environment where they can customize each visit. My guests receive a Day Of Arrival Form via text. In this form they can choose the type of music played, whether they want to to chat about what’s happening in their lives, continue working through their appointment or decompress and read a book. They can decide to treat themselves with an add on service like an extra long neck and scalp massage coupled with a hair treatment. As well as many other options to customize the service to their needs or wants. Our lives are so busy these days, I want my guests to feel like seeing me is an experience not just another task to mark off the to do list.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

like a lot my guests, I too am a mom. I listen to a lot of podcasts and books on audible. Some of my favorites for business growth are;

The Modern Hairstylist podcast-Hunter Donia
Thriving Stylist Podcast-Britt Seva
Atomic Habits- written by James Clear
Twelve And a Half -written by Gary Vaynerchuk

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most important piece to growing a clientele is to know your target market, where they shop, eat, and how they spend their money. What do they do in their free time and what are their values. You need to know them almost as well as you know yourself. Todays consumers are spending more time researching what businesses they want to support. It’s important to speak to their needs when utilizing any sort of marketing strategy. I have multiple social platforms I use to speak to my target market, all of which lead to my website where they can book an appointment. I have found, most of my clients find me through my google business page. I make sure to add pictures of my work, keep that page up to date and respond personally to all reviews.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.salonforte.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salon_forte_/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Salon-Forte-inside-Salons-By-JC/100054263931174/

Image Credits
Sam Gordon of Gordon Design Co.