We were lucky to catch up with Porscha Newman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Porscha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?
Working in the hair industry has its ups and downs. One day you may have clients and the next day or so you may have none. During my downtime i’ve had to advertise my work by passing out flyers, posting on all social media outlets and work on my craft. Success doesn’t happen overnight. it takes hard work and dedication. I’ve had to invest in my business by finding a good location to make my clients feel more comfortable and to feel safe. I’ve had to walk away from salons and individuals that wasn’t a good fit me and my clients. My number one goal is to treat my clients like I would want to be treated
Porscha , 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?
I’ve been a full licensed hairstylist since 2009. I’ve always wanted to do hair since a little girl starting at the age of 11. I hated how my mom would comb my hair so I begged her to let me do it myself. That’s where it all started. Of course you learn by trial and error and let’s just say there were many. lol. When I went to high school they had a cosmetology class and I just had to be in there. I learned so much but really didn’t apply myself as i should have. I went to Texas Southern University for 1 year and was doing hair in the dorm but realized college wasn’t for me so I moved back to Dallas. I then had my 1st child and lost my passion for a second. After working in corporate america for 8 years, I was ready to go step out on faith and try this “hair thing” one more time. It was definitely hard the 1st few years trying to build clientele, work in an environment suitable my clients and just have a steady income. There were times when I wanted to give up but I couldn’t This is what I love!!!! I love when my clients look in the mirror and see nothing but BEAUTY. I’ve reached so many individuals who want and need to feel pretty. I do it for them!!!!!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Word of mouth is everything!!!! when I started social media was nothing like it is today. My 1st few clients were little girls that were on a local dance team. Then that brought on their mothers and then the mothers brought their friends.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I learned that the customer is not always right. I say this because I’ve done business with individuals that would lie, steal, and cheat just to get a free service or try to make us stylist look bad after going over and beyond to satisfy them.
Contact Info:
- Website: StyleSeat.com/weavemasterporscha
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Weavemasterporscha