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

Mackenzie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I first start doing hair 7 and a half years ago I never would’ve imagined that I would be the owner of my own salon one day. I took a risk and ran and I will never look back from it because it was the best decision I ever made. A little over a year ago I was working in the salon that I first started out at and I just had a thought of what if there is more. I came home that night and was talking with my husband about how crazy it would be if I opened my own salon. Days go by and I never really thought of it again but every once in a while. Spent a lot of time praying about what my next move was. Didn’t really even know where to start if I wanted to open my own. Then one day out of the blue I get a call from my step dad telling me to come check out this place for rent and honestly the rest is history. This whole journey of mine has been taking a risk and it’s been the best risk. I don’t know one thing about owning a business and I have had to learn day by day, and asking all the question I can ask but if I never would’ve taken the risk and decided to open I don’t know what my future would’ve held. Golden has now been open a year and I have loved every second of it. My family and friends know how big of a risk I took doing this and they were my biggest support system the whole time!!

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?

My name is Mackenzie Shilling Brock I am 26 years old I have been doing hair for about 7 and a half years before I opened my own salon called Golden Salon in Russellville, AR. We have been opened for a year now which is so crazy to me. It all started growing up watching my mom do hair as she was also a hairdresser. I basically grew up in the salon. That’s where I would say I got my work ethic from watching my mom work and then come home and take care of 4 kids. She literally did it all. After high school I decided that’s what I wanted to do so I went for it. Doing hair and making people feel there absolute best is my favorite thing to do in the whole world. I do everything from blondes, extensions, spray tans, and so much more!! My clients are definitely family to me so I wanted to create a place where they could feel welcomed and relaxed but also here to have fun and a good laugh and that’s exactly what I did. Being able to do what I love and with the people I love everyday has seriously been the biggest blessing and dream I could’ve asked for. Being able to grow up watching my mom do something and now being able to follow in her footsteps has been so much fun for me and so rewarding as well. I have 5 amazing girls that work at my salon and they literally are amazing at hair I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls!! I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities opening Golden has given me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!!!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Honestly I’m still building my social media audience but I feel you almost have to just be yourself. I have found that my content has done so much better when us girls are just having fun and being our goofy self’s. People can relate more and get to see our personalities.

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

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is the client themselves. In the hair world your client and yourself is a walking billboard. Social media is also a big help but honestly when I do a clients hair and then they go out into town I have had more clients call or walk in to the salon looking for me because they saw whoever in town and loved the color or cut. Being in a college town this is a big one because all it takes is just doing one person and they go back to campus and that’s your billboard.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Goldensalonar
• Facebook: Golden salon

Image Credits

Spencer moody & Savvy social creative