We were lucky to catch up with Markeita Pruitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Markeita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Let me start off by saying, I initially opened my first salon in 2010, 3.5 years after graduating with my Cosmetology certification. At that time, it was an open concept salon which simply meant all stylists shared the same space, shampoo area, etc. I operated that successfully for 5 years when I felt that God was calling me to close. I had recently remodeled by upgrading furniture, paint, decor, and equipment when God said “it was a dying breed”. While I didn’t know it at the time He was moving me into a more progressive salon model. I wrestled with the idea from fear of others thinking I failed, but I owed God my obedience. So, after speaking with my husband about it all, I closed the doors of my first establishment.
For 2 years, I traveled as an Hair Artist – doing Hair shows, conventions, speaking engagements, and so on. It was truly a dream come true. My husband and I were actually packing our home to relocate to another city where I felt we could gain more traction in our careers when God began speaking to me about “launching a new concept”. I toiled with the idea because I was stepping into the type of career I always saw for myself. But again, I owed God my obedience. So I began a search and secured a building that was divided into “rooms”. We fixed it up and launched our first salon park generated towards business mentorship and a goal of teaching other individuals how to build a sustainable business in the beauty and barber industry. That was in 2017.
I rebranded (The Suite Life Salons) in Dec 2019 after seeking God for clarity in vision and purpose only to be met with Covid 19 a few months later. I found myself back at the feet of Jesus questioning like “you told me to do xyz… what is going on?”. He gently reminded me that He promised me double for my trouble, and that it would come to fruition. 4 years after opening our first salon park, 1 year into the Covid crisis, we launched our second location – The Suite Life Luxury Suites.
Now almost full to capacity, operating smoothly with greater and clearer purpose, I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to see and watch the development of the businesses of our current tenants.

Markeita, 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?

So, I was gifted the ability to do hair at a young age. I recently found out my great grandfather was a barber and entrepreneur in the 1930s and 40s where my grandfather watched and learned to cut – though that was not his profession. But I too would watch when my mother would go to the salon, or when I was getting my hair braided as a kid I would ask if I could watch in the mirror. I would then take what I saw and perform it on my dolls. I would also have dreams of hands performing styles and would be able to wake up and mimic what I dreamt. So I started around 13 years of age. Decided at 20 years of age to pursue it as a career after 2 consecutive layoffs (God was setting the stage and redirecting my path). I remember 2006 being one of the worse years of my entire life. I hit so many bumps in the roads, I faced endless racism at the school I attended, marriage on the rocks as a newly wed, and was in the worse mental space. But “something” wouldn’t let me quit.
I thought after I graduated it would be better, but even then, when I went to register for my exams, TDLR – the governing regulations agency for Cosmetology had no record of me or my hours. It was a mess, but I came out victorious and have been building an amazing career ever sense – with each passing year experiencing growth in skills and business. Grateful to still be an influencing voice 16 years later.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Back in November of 2021 after launching my second salon park (while in s pandemic), the Lord prepared me for an “emptying” of my business with 2 words – “clean sweep”. I thought maybe He was preparing me to make a transition of closing as He’d done in the past. I was so surrendered that I was fine with whatever He’d instruct me to do. Well, He instructed me to remodel an empty building. I begged for different instructions because it would have been easier to release it. I reasoned by saying operating one location would free me to dive deeper into ministry and just give me the ability to breathe.

He wouldn’t release me to release it but instead gave me a fresh vision. After 6 months of it being empty, yes 6 months! I begin asking Him what was the plan. While I enjoyed the isolation (introvert moment), I knew He hadn’t led me to remodel an entire building for me to enjoy by myself; plus I had been given this incredible vision.

As with everything in my life, I sought God for help, strength, and instructions. And after a season of diligence, obedience and constant pursuit, in one week I filled up by over 50%. A week later another suite was filled. The following week, the last 2 were secured by tenants.

Nothing could have prepared me for this transition which was nothing like I imagined. Yet, I sense Him saying “this is only the beginning”.

Don’t quit!!

Any advice for managing a team?

As a leader I prefer to lead from and through my own personal experiences. It’s most impactful if they can hear your story and know you’ve overcome – it lends to the hope of others. So transparency is key to me. But also, authenticity and integrity. I let my yes be yes and my no be no. I’m great at compartmentalizing, so while we grow in relationship, we operate professionally (while in the work place and handling work matters).

But most importantly, I maintain high morale within my company by operating from a servant’s heart. I don’t elevate myself above anyone, nor do I breed a competitive environment by elevating others over another. The fabric of our company is woven by Equality, Adaptability, and Integrity.

God has spoken to me lately regarding aligment and allegiance. Both of which I’m still studying the depths of what He’s releasing, but let me give you this:

There is power in community.
There is power in being properly aligned as a result of your obedience.
There is power in being steadfast and immovable; postured before God & surrendered.
There is power in your yes.
There is power – even as a leader – in being under the right leadership.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thesuitelifehtx.com
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/thesuitelifehtx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesuitelifehtx
• Other: www.simplymarkeita.com

Image Credits
Melvin Pruitt