Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Irvine.
Hi Rebekah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story began with a choice: Should I pursue a college education or choose trade school, cosmetology school to be exact. At the time, I was a great student with grades and test scores that would allow me to attend most colleges. In the end, I chose both. I worked my way through college as a hairstylist but even after college continued to do hair. I wish, at the time, I would have known that cosmetology school was as good of a choice as college or that it would lead me on the path to where I am now but I pressured myself into college because it felt like what I “should” do.
After cosmetology school and some college, I decided to make a huge leap and move from small-town West Texas to New York City to apprentice under top stylists, not just in the country but in the world. I worked at Frederic Fekkai Fifth Avenue where I was able to learn and grow under the guidance of amazing talent. I saw stylists make 500K a year and thought: This is it! This is what I want! I want to be an incredibly successful stylist that teaches and guides others stylists and, that is respected as talented professional in my community. With a mix of other salons and learning experiences along the way, I wound up in Austin in 2010 where I grew my talent. I worked hard, long hours in a commission salon. I crashed through, what would regularly be considered, earning ceilings for stylists and eventually decided I as much as I loved doing hair, I was overworked, underpaid, under-appreciated and had little control and freedom of time. I had to ask permission to have time off or if I needed a sick day. Honestly, I had to ask permission to even leave to grab lunch. I tried to find a salon in town that could offer independence, higher pay, flexibility but I just couldn’t find a fit that also offered a luxurious customer experience. That’s when I realized it was my job to create this opportunity for stylists like me. Through a lot of mistakes, opportunities for growth and perseverance, I was able to open bex+Co where we now have four locations and over forty successful independent stylists who run their own small business inside the walls of our space. I personally transition stylists from employees to business owners, and it’s what makes me the proudest.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think very few business owners, particularly brick and mortar businesses would call it smooth. I’ve heard the quote often that “success is not a linear path”. Nothing could be more true. In the beginning, I was a great hairstylist but unproven business owner. I had no real savings, no experience and poor credit. I had to fight for my first lease, my first loan and for my first employees. I had to convince people to trust my vision–to believe that I could follow through on my promises. And I did! After a ton of convincing and amateur business plans, I raised the money, got the lease and secured a team.
Fast forward to March of 2020 when I was shutting down my business. My husband and I also own a cycling studio: StarCycle Cedar Park. In the same week, we both became unemployed with businesses that were closed indefinitely. At first, I panicked. We had just opened our cycling studio and used our life saving to do it. It felt pretty bleak for couple of weeks. I felt out of control. I worried about my staff. I felt like I had somehow let them down by not providing them a place to earn what they needed to survive. I had no answers to their questions of when or if we would open and what it would be like when we did.
I saw salons closing everywhere and hairstylists scared that they wouldn’t have a place to go when salons re-opened. I watched my industry suffer across the country. It was a really painful time. I also saw that there were so many opportunities around me to grow my business and even more importantly change my industry. Hairstylists were ready and able to come back to work but needed places to be able to do that so I opened our second location of bex+Co on South Lamar. I took over a closed salon, rebranded it and expanded. It worked so well that I did it again in July in Downtown on West 5th. I learned how to create systems, how to save money and how to create a culture and brand with my independent contractors. In February, we opened our fourth location in Cedar Park.
The most important part of my journey are all the people that helped me along the way. None of this would be possible without my manager, Mic, who has opened every single salon by my side. Lots of long hours and hard work have gone into the process and she has been there every step of the way. My partners at my downtown location, who I count on daily for support and guidance and my stylists who have made this dream all possible. Lastly, but most importantly, my husband who allows me to chase my crazy dreams and tirelessly helps. A lot of people have trusted me in this process. They are my WHY.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I still work with clients behind the chair part-time because I believe it’s so important for salon owners to stay grounded: to understand the challenges their stylists face daily. I also love my clients and the connection we have built over the years.
Most of my time is currently spent opening new locations and transitioning stylists from commission salons to business owners. I coach stylists on how to grow and market their businesses, on creating business entities and branding themselves, accounting and transitioning clients from one salon to another.
I’m so proud to say I have 42 successful business owners working in our four locations, and I take pride in knowing I have helped them live the life they’ve dreamed for themselves with freedom and flexibility.
We envision bex+Co as a place where every stylist can create their own destiny. Where a client can connect with the artist who makes them feel beautiful. A beautiful space to be your best self.
While part of a team, every stylist is an independent business owner with unlimited potential for growth and self-development.
It is the opportunity I dreamed of for my own self-expression as a stylist.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m a serial entrepreneur and my belief is that entrepreneurs thrive on risky situations. We have to! Every bex+Co was a risk. From the expense involved in opening my first location to opening three locations during Covid to opening an indoor cycling studio with my husband that involved selling his successful construction business.
It was all worth it. Even if we had failed every single experience, everything we learned made it worth it.
I’m willing to take big risks to live life the way I imagine it should be lived!
We are currently embarking on our biggest risk so far–our first baby is due in July and I can’t wait to prove that it’s truly possible to have it all!
Contact Info:
- Email: reception@bexandcosalon.com
- Website: bexandcosalon.com
- Instagram: @alsoknownasbex
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bexandcosalon/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bex-co-austin
- Other: https://starcycleride.com/studios/cedar-park/
Image Credits
Katia Forero Photography Laura Alexandra Photo Alyse Green Photography
