Two former SmartStyle employees who left the salon inside Walmart to open their own Cortez location in April have seen such success that they wish they’d left sooner.
“It was a hallelujah, best decision of our lives,” said Jenna Gallegos, co-owner of Shear Shack on Main Street.
Gallegos and her sister, Christina Padilla, brought two stylists with them from Walmart and have continued to expand.
They brought in a nail technician Angelynn Johnson and plan to add stylist Kinsey Dennison, another employee from the salon at Walmart.
They attributed their success in part to their price point, which they kept on par with SmartStyle. While charging $15 for a haircut, they still realized more profit compared with their time at SmartStyle. At SmartStyle, starting pay was a 38 percent commission and employees had the ability to eventually earn 48 percent.
“We’ve all made twice as much,” said Sara Evans, a stylist who had worked at Wal-mart for five years.
During some monthly specials, Shear Shack’s prices have dropped below SmartStyle’s.
For marketing, the owners turned to Facebook to share deals and hours directly with the public.
But they believe the Main Street location also contributed because it offered greater visibility and allowed them to build relationships with other businesses, the owners said.
“We’ve gained clients from being on Main Street,” said Gallegos.
Many customers also followed them from Wal-mart and prefer the personable and relaxed atmosphere of the salon, in part because it’s less rushed.
“They don’t feel like they’re just a number here,” Padilla said.
Another indicator of success was a nomination for the Best New Business in town as part of the Best of Cortez competition.
The stylists hope to continue to expand their services but don’t yet have a timeline.
mshinn@cortezjournal.com