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

Hi Kelsey Tikker, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

This is a great question for my business! The salon industry is typically structured one of two ways: commission or booth rental. Hive has had both (employees and non-employees) over our 12 years in business. When I purchased Hive almost six years ago, we had both types. After seeing how COVID-19 affected our industry, I made the decision to change the business model to a “team-based” company. From my experience, hair stylists are not typically set up with health care or retirement, unless they received one or the other via their spouse. Those two things are non-negotiable for me and therefore I wanted to provide it to my team. I found that working together as a team toward the same goals was the way I could facilitate those benefits.

Hiring the first few team members was not easy, as I was still learning the direction of the company and the structure I wanted to utilize. Interviewing with me is usually pretty casual. I like to get a feel for the candidate’s personality, and what they like to do in their downtime. I am getting more organized about having a list of questions I want to cover, and I want people to have a relaxed yet professional experience. The absolute best way to find a new hire, in my opinion, is through mutual contacts. I’ve learned a lot along the way! Trust your gut. If I were starting again today, I would probably have invested in coaching much sooner.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kelsey Tikker Applegate and I own Hive Natural Beauty Collective in San Luis Obispo, California. We are an Eco-Friendly certified, full-service hair salon. We have been open for 12 years, and I have been the proud owner for over five years. We are a collective of like-minded individuals who love the artistry of hair, love serving our guests, and really love to have fun! We deliver a clean-air salon experience and recycle over 95% of our waste, including human hair. Attending cosmetology school was always my plan. I went to beauty school shortly after high school. I have been in this industry officially since 2006. I began my career assisting very talented stylists/salon owners. I’ve worked at an impeccably run franchise of a major global company, and been an independent stylist. I’ve managed a salon, and now I own said salon. I believe what sets me apart from others is how much I care about my guests. I love creating a comfortable, personable, and consistent experience for our guests. I have nurtured deep relationships with the people who have come through our doors. Now, I am turning that around to nurture my staff by giving them the opportunity to do what I have done, reap the benefits of your typical 9-5, but not take home the headaches of self-employment.

I am so proud of Hive being the first Eco-Friendly salon in our county. I am proud to have worked so hard to create a Team-Based salon. I am so proud to offer health care and retirement for my team. I am extra proud to still be standing after COVID-19. It has been anything but easy, but I have big goals and I just keep on keepin’ on.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A major pivot in my journey of being a business owner was directly after COVID-19. Our industry was majorly affected, as were so many others. I knew I needed to immediately invest in my business and myself as an owner. I finally began coaching programs to learn more about myself and grow my company. It was then that I shifted the business from what I had always known, and am familiar with, to a true team-based company. To me, working as a team means team goals, team wins, team mentality, and team rewards! Since then, I have been able to offer 75% covered health/vision/dental insurance to my full-time staff, retirement savings options for all staff, paid weekly education, and more! At times it has been challenging, but I’ve grown and learned so much through trial and error.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being a team-based company in my industry is not the norm in my experience. Changing Hive’s business structure from what is more commonly known, to a team-based company, has been quite a journey. Our industry is full of creatives who sometimes prefer more autonomy. I have always thrived working where I felt part of a team. Now as an owner, my goal is to foster the same feeling for my staff. My passion is to provide a fun, organized, professional, reputable place to work. That has been the driving force for me sticking to my decision to become a team-based company. There have been SO many times people say to me “Why not go back to X?” or “Why not try X?” but I just continue on this journey. I truly believe in the benefits we have to offer our stylists. I will continue to seek out the perfect team to fill up our company, keep our successes flowing, and continue to grow together! Interested in working with us? Check out http://www.hivebeauty.com/join-the-tribe and apply today!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.hivebeauty.com
• Instagram: @hive_beauty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiveNaturalBeautyCollective
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hive-a-natural-beauty-collective-san-luis-obispo?osq=hive

Image Credits
Alexandra Wallace – Photographer