Today we’d like to introduce you to Kori Phylow.
Hi Kori, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
12 years ago during cosmetology school, I worked as a lead front desk of a high-end restaurant. After cosmetology school, I worked in a booth rental salon and was offered a position as a front desk manager at a high-end restaurant in Austin, TX. Within 19 Days, I flew to Austin for the first time, interviewed, and moved with what fit in my car. I said I was going it give this place one year and then it’s back to Arizona for me…. well… that was ten years ago. I continued to do hair while working at the restaurant, and after my mission was fulfilled, I left and went to work at a chain salon. I kept an excel spreadsheet and when my salon numbers reached the dollar amount that I needed to pay my bills and be able to afford salon suite expenses, I put in my notice and started my small business journey. I’ve learned a lot, some of it I learned the hard way, but one thing that I did from day 1 was build a solid foundation for a business to GROW. I didn’t pick the cheapest and smallest options, I chose software, licenses, banking, etc. for a larger small business so that I could grow seamlessly over time. And I have. Fast forward almost seven years, I am now in the largest salon suite and did construction to make it larger. I own Headstrong Salon LLC in Round Rock, TX, I was voted into the Top 3 women for Austin Business Woman of the year in 2022 and voted into the top 5 “best Hair Salons in Round Rock ” for 2019 and 2020. I am the Owner and Founder of The Headstrong Mindset – a business coach for Salon Suite Stylists and owners, and I recently opened Headstrong Salon Supply in partnership with Life of Riley Salon Supply, where licensed stylists can purchase their salon supplies from my studio. I have a team of five and we are living the DREAM. We are a group of women who LOVE to see each other grow and succeed – a true support system. The Future of Headstrong Salon LLC and the Headstrong Mindset is STRONG, exciting, and ready for life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I moved from a city where I knew no one and worked in an industry that thrives on connections, relationships, and loyal clientele. I had to build that from zero. When I started in the Salon Suite in 2015, social media wasn’t what it is today, and influencers were just starting. So there was very little information for Salon Suite Owners – which was also an up-and-coming concept. So I had to piece my business together like a puzzle. I spent countless hours doing research on rules, regulations, and taxes because “independent stylists” were the grey area of the beauty industry. Another big challenge was covid 19 and keeping my business afloat while praying that Salons by JC was going to be able to keep their business afloat as well! I also had the hardest time finding employees that would fit the vision. I needed to find stylists who wanted the Suite Salon life without the big responsibilities but were also willing to keep the Headstrong fundamentals intact, which most stylists wanted to have the Suite Salon life and all the freedom that comes with that. So, I challenged myself to create a job that people would love to come to every day, and I’m happy to say I have finally done that within this last year.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Headstrong Salon LLC and The Headstrong Mindset?
It’s ALL about the positive energy, good vibes, and “no bad days.” We text that to each other daily. Small Business Setting, BIG Business Energy, and success shouldn’t be selfish. It should be shared.
Yeah, we do hair… but we do it differently. We run a business first, with all the love in the world for our team, and then provide amazing service to our clients.
The Headstrong Mindset wants stylists to grow, succeed, and not have to struggle. This industry gets a bad wrap for inconsistency in many different ways, and I think I still structure and empowerment, we can start a movement to change that!
What does success mean to you?
I created a business by piecing together the aspects of my career that I LOVE and figuring out a way to generate revenue.
I see success in real-time when I watch my team SOAR and succeed, especially knowing where they started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://headstrongsalonllc.wixsite.com/salon https://theheadstrongmindset.mykajabi.com
- Instagram: @headstrongsalonllc @theheadstrongmindset @koriheadstrong @headstrongsalonsupply
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headstrongsalonllc
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-headstrong-mindset/id1628602079
Image Credits
The Photo where I am wearing black and blue while holding a coffee cup and the photo with the hairspray are by Austin Local Photographer – Alexsi Carresquillo with c12photography on Instagram @c12photography
