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This Aspect Hustle Highlight Q&A options Kayla Valerio. Valerio owns Haus of Color, a six-figure salon enterprise specializing in vivid hair colours.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Colour. Kayla Valerio.
What was your day job (or different sources of revenue) whenever you began your side hustle?
I used to be nonetheless a hairdresser and doing hair however on a a lot smaller scale. I would been a hairdresser for years, doing facet jobs right here and there to assist me fulfill the dream of opening my very own salon someday.
When did you begin your side hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I have been doing hair for nearly 16 years, working at a mom-and-pop salon and constructing out a various ebook of clients through the years. I've at all times been drawn to designing vivid, shiny and colourful hair designs, however I did not have many alternatives to experiment whereas working full-time. With a second right here and there, I honed my expertise as a vivid colorist, working with clients on the facet. There have been a number of school college students within the space who wished to attempt my aesthetic.
My passion for the vivid seems to be fueled my inspiration for Haus of Colour. As of late, I am solely taking over new shoppers who need wealthy, vivid colours and kinds. These are the kinds that I like to do, and the work simply fills my soul. At the moment, we are the prime vivid hair salon within the space, and shoppers journey close to and much to us after seeing our work on Instagram and social media.
What have been a few of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Covid modified my complete view on the business. After I was working solo, it was simply me, and my shoppers have been sporting masks. It was actually very lonely. It made me understand how a lot I missed being round folks and wished to have my very own salon. I dreamed of an area the place I may have a staff, welcome shoppers and luxuriate in a good looking community house.
What have been a few of the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your facet hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
I am behind the chair full-time, so the most important shift was balancing my day-to-day shopper work whereas managing operations. At my earlier salon, we used a reserving system to coordinate the enterprise, however after I went off alone, it was simply me scheduling bookings, responding to potential shoppers and managing the funds. As soon as my enterprise began choosing up, I knew I could not return to pen and paper.
Selecting the correct software program to run a enterprise is not straightforward, however to scale, I knew I had so as to add some tech to my combine. The software program platform GlossGenius sucked me in straight away. I would by no means seen a reserving website so lovely or so cute and kitschy and enjoyable. Their design side instantly locked me in, and I used to be like, Oh, yeah, I am right here for the lengthy haul. I used to be in a position to double after which triple our bookings.
Haus of Colour has advanced a lot all through the years. At the moment, the enterprise has grown right into a full-service brick-and-mortar salon, and we have now seven stylists and a nail tech.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Colour
When did you are taking the enterprise full-time? What does development appear to be now?
I took Haus of Colour full-time in Might 2021. It was very exhausting to make issues work, contemplating the pandemic was nonetheless very a lot in impact. I began with one stylist and me, and it has blossomed into seven full-time stylists and a nail tech. It took constant effort and time and lengthy nights and days to make this as soon as dream a reality.
What do you take pleasure in most about operating this enterprise?
The Haus of Colour salon has grow to be a second house for my staff and shoppers. Now we have such an awesome inventive house, and I like to open it as much as our neighborhood, particularly our proficient, superb shoppers.
A variety of our shoppers are tattoo artists, and we have arrange tattoo pop-ups, that are widespread. There's at all times a line across the constructing. In the course of the holidays, Haus of Colour hosts tables, and my shoppers convey their home-made items and we promote them. I've met many creatives by internet hosting occasions. It has been a good way to build our clientele and our bigger neighborhood of artists.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Colour
What's your recommendation for others hoping to begin profitable facet hustles or companies of their very own?
You'll be able to find success in doing the work that you just love. After I began Haus of Colour, I took a wager on my creativity and artistry. I now have a staff of proficient stylists and shoppers who're simply as passionate in regards to the vivid aesthetic as I'm. It is introduced an unimaginable house, staff and shoppers into my life.
