Her Business Is a Cut Above
Mari Villamor
Charlie's Hair and Spa • Los Angeles, CA
BEFORE:
Mari Villamor had 12 years’ experience as a professional hairstylist when she decided to launch Charlie’s 
Hair and Spa for Men in 2009. Designed to resemble a sleek Cuban lounge with comfortable leather seating, a calming water fountain and a complimentary beverage bar, the chic salon provides services including haircuts, coloring, hand treatments, waxing and massage. When Adam Kuhn joined Villamor as a partner to handle business’s finances, she realized a sole proprietorship might not be right for her startup, and went to the SBDC at Santa Monica City College for help.
BEST ADVICE:
SBDC counselors assisted Villamor with all aspects of startup. At a business plan workshop, she met consultant PJ Abode, who helped her write a business plan and began mentoring her one-on-one. She also received help understanding the necessary licenses and permits, legal formation options, using Quickbooks, and developing and optimizing a Web site. SBDC consultant Ron Sardisco advised her on strategies for obtaining working capital.
LESSONS LEARNED:
- Never forget your vision. “[PJ] had us do a vision plan exercise. That really helped me as far as maintaining the right frame of mind,” says Villamor. “When business gets stressful, you tend to forget why you went into business in the first place. Looking back at that exercise helps me.”
- Make the most of your Web site. Originally, Villamor envisioned a simple one-page Web site, but after working with the SBDC, she saw how important a sophisticated site could be in projecting her business image and attracting clientele.
- Reach out online. Villamor received advice from an SBDC marketing consultant about using Twitter and Facebook to market her salon. She was also advised how to reword her Craigslist postings advertising stations for rent. “After we rewrote our rental ad, the number of inquiries tripled.” ”
AFTER:
Since Charlie’s Hair & Spa for Men opened in September 2009, sales have been steadily increasing; Villamor expects to reach the break-even point in a few months. Her next step is expanding her marketing efforts by participating in nonprofit events. “We’re doing an event in March for the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and are looking into doing more foundation events that benefit men,” she says. She’s also helping one of her stylists get ready to participate in televised competitions, which will mean even more publicity.
As the business grows, Villamor will continue turning to the SBDC. “PJ and everyone at the SBDC really moved me forward with my vision, business plan and Web site,” she says. “The exercises they had me do cut out a lot of roadblocks. With the thought process PJ and I went through, I was able to really nail my concept with fantastic collaboration from so many people.”
Charlie's Salon and Spa
1012 S. Robertson, Suite A
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(310) 432-0077
Website: www.charliessalon.com
Download PDF: Charlies Hair and Spa