We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful LaQuisha Scott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with LaQuisha below.

LaQuisha , appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

Honestly, I don’t know if I can call this a failure or a redirection. In 2020, I signed the lease to my first brick and mortar location and went in with a partner, on a journey to open the top hair and skin clinic in the DFW area. Fast forward to 2022, my partner decided she wanted to shift her entrepreneurial focus AND my landlord decided they wanted to sell my commercial building (that I was in the middle of a 5 year lease on). All of these happenings came tumbling down brick by brick and so quick. Within 30 days, I had to make the tough decision to close my location that I had put so much blood, sweat, MONEY, and tears into. I closed my location with no backup plan, no where to operate out of, and no idea where I was going next. I quickly pivoted from an 1400 sqft salon and spa, to a 120 sqft salon suite. It was a gut punch, and a massive transition to say the least. I went into the space thinking I would utilize that temporary space for a month or two while I searched for a new commercial space. Between inflation, horrible communication, slumlords, and the lack of feasible options, I ended up making that space my home from June 2022-May 2023. I felt so defeated during that timeframe, I had to scale my business back so much, I lost so much money with the transition, my overall sales were down due to not being able to accommodate clients as I once was, it was A LOT! However, looking back, everything was absolutely for a reason and though I had to experience that temporary set back, TODAY it was all worth it. Today I am back in my very own 1800 sqft completely renovated, commercial space, and working on fully staffing it. My space also doubles as an event space to be used for trainings and classes in the beauty industry. All this was done without partners or investors, just the support of my amazing husband, my parents, and my best friends. So again, I can’t 100% consider this a failure, but more of a redirection and I definitely experienced the greatest growth and the biggest win!

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?

I am a salon owner, master stylist, educator and mentor. I have been in the beauty industry, licensed and behind a chair since December 2006. I started my own business in September of 2015 after seeing the dire need for proper education and training within my industry. There are so many consumers who truly don’t understand proper haircare and maintenance and so many stylist who don’t know how to properly educate. There was a void and I needed to fill it, between education and mentorship, I found my passion.

OUR MISSION
Here at Qui Monroe, we pride ourselves in changing the dynamic of healthy hair care through new and innovative processes and tools. Our mission is to help you reveal your best self from the inside out. We will revive your damaged hair, maintain your healthy hair, or aid in the re-growth of troubled hair through means of education, personalized treatment plans, protective styling, protective thermal styling, custom hair regimens, healthy option coloring services, and custom wig making. Here at Qui Monroe, our goal is to change hair care, one crown at a time.

I currently offer specialized services such as:
Coloring services
Natural hair care and maintenance
Extension service such as micro links, I-tips, sew-ins, and custom wig design
Cuts
Scalp rejuvenation
Relaxers

I also have a full product line available for purchase that aids in moisture retention, heat protection, and silk shiny hair.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what has helped me build my reputation in my industry is a myriad of things. Transparency- I am open and honest with everyone I encounter rather it be a consumer, client, or vendor. I want to maintain the most genuine relationship with all those that I come across. I will advise to the best of my ability and if I am unable to commit, perform, or refer a service I am upfront and honest about that.

Education-I am sure to educate my clients on proper care and maintenance, as well as send them home with an ongoing regimen to ensure they can maintain at home.

Honesty- if a requested style is not right for you based on current state of your hair, I will not perform the task but will give you alternative options. Alot of stylist will still take your money and perform a service that you should not be receiving. Such as chemical services on already damaged hair, a client coming in and requesting a cut based on a picture they saw, but the stylist knows their hair won’t do the same thing as the inspiration picture (for many reasons), etc.

Business Acumen-At the end of the day, I am a business owner and I need to maintain a good reputation in order to keep the amazing clientele that I have. A few things I do to ensure that is timeliness, client management, automated systems, and accountability.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for me has been word of mouth. Social media is great and most people’s google these days when searching for a new service provider, however my tried and true strategy and what I prefer these days are word of mouth referrals. My clients love me so much and wouldn’t send me anything that doesn’t align with my business model. So much that I am thinking about pivoting to a referral only model for all future new clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.quimonroe.com
• Instagram: @qui.monroe