We were lucky to catch up with Megan Thomas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I have been doing hair for about 10 years now and I always hear from my clients how hard it is to find the right stylist that actually takes the time to listen to how they want their hair. I also hear how they used to go to a stylist or barber and they would charge $50 or more for the same exact haircut I just gave them and they would say it was better. My mission as a owner and stylist is to always provide the best haircut and experience as possible at an affordable price. It’s not just about giving a haircut to me, It’s also building a friendship, a relationship with the client. I want my clients to feel like they are coming to visit with a friend,. I have clients that I have been cutting since they were in middle school, and now they are done and graduated and moving on to college. It is my mission to provide a space that all people will feel welcome when going to get their haircuts.

Megan, 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?

A little about myself and the story of how Mingo Cuts came to be starts back in 2008. I’m originally from Vancouver Washington, moved to Indian Rocks Beach Florida in May of 2006. I met my husband in June of 2008 and after a few months of dating he nicknamed me Mingo because with my bright personality it reminded him of a flamingo (and I was wearing flamingo pajama pants) and my name being Megan it made sense to put the two together— Mingo. Who would of thought that almost 15 years later it would become the name of my business.
I graduated from Sunstate Academy in 2013, been doing hair for almost 10 years seven of those years were at Great Clips. I became an assistant manager for the last three of those seven years and made many clients.
With Covid that happened or should I say starter in 2020 things got hard for a lot of businesses including ours. Was working 6-8 days in a row sometimes 10 hours shifts non stop. The most haircuts I did in one day was 42.
One of my clients who I have been cutting now for almost 5 years, always kept asking me when I was going to open my own shop. He said every time he came in, there was a line of people waiting for specifically me. For a few years I would just laugh it off, I’m not a big fan of change. I was finally financially in a safe place to where I wasn’t stressing about paying my bills, BUT on the downside I never got to be home with my husband and my kids.
It got to a point where when I started looking at the numbers and doing the math at what I was making at Great Clips that I realized how much money I was making them when I could be making it for myself.
So in October of 2021 I reached out to my client who is now in fact my business partner along with his amazing wife Jamie Bryd and told them I was ready to step out and take the chance in starting my business.
As months went by, and preparations were put in place, Mingo Cuts officially opened June 2, 2022. It’s located in Clearwater Fl off gulf to bay INSIDE Mattison Avenue Salon Suits & Spa I’m Suit 174.
I offer fades, color, styles, beard trims, deep conditioning treatments and more. All hair types are welcome at Mingo Cuts and I hope to provide the best experience for your hair.
With being in business for only 3 months I know without a doubt that I made the best decision not only for myself but for my family. I’m able to be more present with my family, attend school functions, have weekends with loved ones but at the same time making the same if not more money all the while working on my terms.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

Cameron Bryd came to my past job about 5 years ago as a walk in. I remember him returning a few times and going to a different stylist but after only a couple more visits he started requesting me. At that point he became one of my regulars and we began building our stylist/client relationship. I got to know him found out that he was a massage therapist and that he just opened his own business called Massage Alchemist. He gave me his card and encouraged me to make an appointment. Soon after I had an appointment to get a massage from Jamie Fortune who is now Jamie Bryd wife to Cameron. Once they won me over to return to get routine massages they kept asking me “so… when we going open your shop” they did this over and over for years. Every time they would come get a haircut they would point out the line of people waiting just for me, Jamie would declare loud enough for everyone to hear how I was the only one aloud to cut her husband and kids hair. After years of them doing this it finally stared to click in my head and I began thinking about it more and more.
Blew my mind how people that don’t know me outside of me doing their hair would believe in me so much to want to go into business with me.
I think no I know I got lucky when it comes to having the business partners I have, they truly do want the best for me and my family and see my work ethic and believe in me.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

One of the smartest business decisions we have made is Mingo Cuts became members to this networking group called RGA and what that stands for is revenue generating activity. They have weekly daily meets and also mixers where I go and meet other business owners and entrepreneurs. It not only has helped me grow clientele wise but I have learned so much from other business owners and entrepreneurs of what they went through to get to where they are now. I fully believe in the saying “surround yourself with successful people, and you yourself will be successful.” I also Uber on the side in the evenings and weekend. Not only am I earning money by giving people rides but I’m putting my business name out there and have also gained clientele from that.

Contact Info:

• Website: Mingocuts.com
• Instagram: Mingo Cuts
• Facebook: Mingo Cuts

Image Credits
Reese Batan, Triston Sampson, Jennifer Joswig, Chelsea Joswig, Caleb Spotto, Ryan Jones, Amanda Barrier, Ethyn Beard, Rue Thomas, Arrelious Thomas, Cameron Bryd, Jamie Bryd, Bob Horvath, George Porr