Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Blydenburgh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Rachel, thanks for joining 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.
I had always had a dream of owning a salon and barber shop, but was afraid to take the big leap. When my daughter was born, I had the urge to change the world and leave a lasting impact. I had thoughts of changing careers to a job that I perceived had a greater impact. Maybe a school teacher? A police officer? An immigration lawyer? But being an ADHD girlie, the school setting was never my strong suit. It took a bit, but I finally realized that the career I had and loved was more powerful than the world has ever given it credit for, powerful enough to change the world. So I got to work finding a salon space in our little suburban town about 30 minutes out of the city. My goal: to create an inclusive, creative space that celebrates everyone as they are, in the suburbs where salons are generally very “one size fits all”. I also aimed to disrupt beauty culture in the way I hire and mentor my employees, as well as the education we present. My goal is to lead in a way that brings people together and fosters a true team mentality, while celebrating individuality and building them up for whatever goals they have in the future.
Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
When I graduated from high school, I was trying to choose between a career in the arts, the music industry or the beauty industry. I’ve always been hyper independent, so the idea that a career as a hair dresser would allow me freedom to be my own boss one day AND let me incorporate my love of art ended up winning. I have been so fortunate to have been able to train under some incredible stylists, and that I was able to practice my craft in California as well as Minnesota.
One of my favorite things to do is color corrections and helping people grow out haircuts! I love solving a puzzle elegantly and seamlessly, so when I have clients coming to me wanting to blend and grow out their gray hair or they’ve had a less than great cut or color somewhere else, I love being able to wow them by what we are able to accomplish! I think it’s the science part for me that I love; angles, weight lines, and color theory. While I’ve done some mind blowing transformations, I think what I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built around the salon. The connections that have been made in our space and the way someone’s eyes light up when they realize a space like this exists closer to their home. We are also very involved in our community. We donate to local schools/charities, we host blood drives and a monthly book club, as well as have an active presence at the local pride picnics/events. I have big dreams of expansion and I’m currently working on a training program. The community has welcomed us with loving arms, and I think our impact can become even greater!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Like many other women my age, I received a late stage ADHD diagnosis. I’ve struggled with executive dysfunction, organization and task follow through, but being hyper independent, I was generally able to mask or fight through enough to get by. Opening my business, along with being a mother to a young child and a wife, ripped a huge hole in that mask and about a year in, I found myself totally spinning my wheels and sinking. I often give credit to my best friend Ashley, who helped me with the build-out of the salon and for its existence altogether. We were about 3/4 of the way through and I had nothing left to give, I was tired and burnt out, executive dysfunction at an all time high; but Ashley would be right there saying “get up, girl! I’ll meet you at the salon in 30. Let’s go!” Without her and my super supportive husband, the salon and space would not be as glorious as it is today. The whole process with my diagnosis was so eye opening and somewhat humbling because I never really saw it, which is funny because those in my life who knew me would say without a doubt I’ve been neurodivergent from the start.
I never thought I would look back and see the opening of the salon or even other aspects of my life as making me resilient, but the fact that I did all of that unmedicated still blows my mind today. Being on the proper meds and dosage has changed my life, saved my business and made me a better mother and partner. I am able to create systems, tackle issues as they arise and follow through in a way that I never knew was possible for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a magic wand…I work really hard and have always worked really hard, but I now see the fruits of my labor more clearly and can recognize how strong I really am.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe we have built a reputation in our market by being fully authentic and transparent. When we create content or ads, we only use our work as visuals. Our brands compliment us without being our full identity, and I think people really understand from our website to our Google reviews what they can expect from us. We have almost 80 5 star reviews on Google, all completely authentic and genuine. I believe it is because we are authentic and genuine as humans and service providers. I think now more than ever, people value being real and authentic without being performative, and I would say that’s one of our greatest strengths.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sweetsalonshoppe.com
- Instagram: sweetrachel2u
Image Credits
Photo of myself by Lexi Renae Studios