Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie Kecskes.
Hi Connie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As the oldest middle child in a family of 7 girl and 2 boys, i loved playing with my younger sisters hair, whether they liked it or not! I decided i wanted to become a hairstylist when I got tired of feeling like I was never listened to while in the salon getting my hair done. I often heard “I just love cutting your hair” but felt i never left with what I wanted.
In May of 2020, while salons were closed due to the Covid19 pandemic, a salon owner approached me with an unbelievable offer. She wanted to sell her salon business and leave the state. I never actually wanted to own my own salon and had been working at the same location for 28 years! I had no savings to purchase a business, was unemployed because of the shutdown, but it was such an incredible opportunity that I just thought “what the heck”… the worst that could happen is someone would say “no”, all the stars would not align and I wouldn’t be able to complete the transaction. The owner offered to work with me and wait for any payments until the closure was lifted, the property management allowed me to take over the lease and I was on my way to salon ownership! Our first full year of business didn’t happen until 2022, we were shut down 3 times after the sale, the last time ending in February 2021!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The pandemic and 3 shut downs made the first couple years challenging along with when we were open we had to limit the number of people in the salon, staff and customers. When I purchased the salon there where 4 employees and by the end of 2020 two had moved on leaving the other two plus myself. Today we have 10 stylists, 1 skincare specialist and a salon customer service manager. We have received the prestigious award of Salon Today’s top 200 salons plus many local San Diego acknowledgment.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a National Trainer for Eufora International teaching both advanced cutting and color classes to licensed salon professionals across North America. I love the flexibility of being a hairstylist, you never know what the day will contain, I love all types of haircutting and color, and love helping people achieve their hair goals and keep their hair looking healthy and beautiful. Color specialties: natural, dimensional, grey coverage, highlighting, blonding.
We work closely with our local cosmetology school, Palomar Institute of Cosmetology and have a program in our salon to train up and coming salon professionals.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband is one of my biggest supporters! He is probably the main reason I took the leap and took a chance with the purchaseof the salon. We have been married 35 years and he has always been my biggest cheerleader, even when I didn’t feel so sure about things he has always been there to cheer me on and drive me forward.
My biggest role model in salon business is my good friend and former employer, Gayle Fulbright, owner of Headlines The Salon in Encinitas. I worked with her for over 28 years. She runs an amazing, successful business for almost 40 years, has raised 2 amazing kids, has 2 beautiful grandchildren, and has more energy than anyone i know! Her dedication to her family, her friends and the salon industry is inspiring and she is someone i can always count on for any encouragement or business advicei might need!
Without my amazing team and my loyal clients who I cherish, none of my success would be possible! I am so thankful for ALL of them and count my blessings everyday!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Bleachandbrawn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bleachandbrawn?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bleachandbrawn?mibextid=ZbWKwL
