Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lynn Berry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lynn, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?
Having a steady clientele any where is a challenge, but especially in Las Vegas because it is such a transient place. In the last year and a half I have had 12 clients move to other states. That has definitely slowed business down. The state of our economy hasn’t helped either. I have had clients loose jobs had cuts in hours or pay and in turn they are on a tighter budget and aren’t spending money on luxury services. It is a challenge to find the balance between maintaining a profitable business and offering affordable services for all my clients.
Lynn, 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?
My Hair Journey started about 13 years ago when I enrolled in TONI&GUY Hair Dressing Academy in Bellingham WA. I hadn’t ever planned to go to cosmetology school but when my best friend enrolled and told me about how much fun it was and how good she thought I would be at it, she got me thinking about my future. By the following week I was enrolled and started my journey. I worked in Bellingham for three years at two different salons and then my life took a left turn and I moved to Sedona AZ. I transferred my license and worked out there for two years before moving back to my hometown of Las Vegas. I transferred my license again and began my search for a salon that I could call home. After working for a few different salons and making it through covid I finally found my salon home and family at Viva Hair Studio where I became an independent contractor and built my clientele.
Over the years of doing hair I developed allergies/sensitivities to the toxic hair color that we use, so I began my search for products that would allow me to continue to do what I love and maintain my health. Now I use ammonia free plant based color and lightener that still delivers amazing results to my clients. I love finding clients that have been looking for a more health conscious option of hair coloring. One of my favorite things is seeing a clients face light up when I tell them that there is a an option for color that won’t break out their skin.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When I moved back to Las Vegas it was a struggle to find a good salon home. I turned in dozens of resumes and went to countless interviews. The first salon I found didn’t present themselves in the same professionalism that matched my work ethics. So the search was back on. More resumes more interviews a couple trial runs that didn’t work out. Then another salon gave me the fresh start I was looking for, but sadly ,our business ethics didn’t match and quickly became a place that didn’t encourage or support my growth as business professional. Finding the right salon felt hopeless, so hopeless that I decided to explore other job options. After working a couple jobs that I didn’t really enjoy, had no passion for and that made me a fraction of the money that hair did my outlook was feeling pretty bleak. And then covid hit. The whole world shut down. Finding a new salon was not an option for the time being. I worked odd jobs and helped friends with home school and child care to make ends meet. As the world slowly recovered and we slowly got back to the new normal I started my search again with a new found determination to make my passion for doing hair work for me. I researched salons and put together a list of the highest rated salons in Vegas and turned in resumes to all of them. I went to several interviews and had a handful of offers. I choose Viva Hair Studio because I felt that it was the right location, had the most welcoming feel and mostly felt like a place that I could grow into the stylist that I knew I wanted to be and could be. At last my persistence had finally paid off. I found a salon home with some of the most amazing women I’ve ever worked with.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Being a service provider in the field of beauty, health and wellness is a field I watched my immediate family succeed in at a very young age. My family had the opportunity to provide impeccable services to the upscale clients of Lake Las Vegas for several years, helping the Ritz Carlton live up to its 5 diamond service reputation. Learning how to maximize client experiences, deliver genuine customer service and build connections with clients is something that’s been ingrained into me long before I found my passion as a stylist. This foundation has led me to offering a one week guarantee for any and all services I offer. I take pride in the technical skills I offer as well as meeting my clients satisfaction and beauty needs even after they leave the salon.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spectrumhairartistry.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: @berry_mcgyver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berry.berry.250881
