Opening and Sustaining A Hair Salon Business - Advice from Three Business Owners in Regent Park

When it comes to starting a hair salon, even if you have the styling skills, launching a business can be a challenging process. As with any burgeoning industry, competition is fierce and there is no place in the market for mediocre. You will need to find a niche for your business, keep up-to-date with grooming trends, source new products, motivate your staff and socialize with your customers. 

Yet there is plenty of opportunities. The Canadian hair and nail industry is valued at $4.2 billion per year. Men and women of all ages enjoy looking their best, and hair salons cater to that.

Whether you’ve just graduated with your cosmetology degree or hair-styling certificate or you’re just ready to open your own business, it’s important to consider the cost of opening a hair salon. The cost of opening your own salon is around $60,000 for a basic setup, but it can go up to $500,000 or even more. No matter how much you invest in your new business, you'll want to do everything you can to ensure your salon's success. 

In this article we talk to three hair salon business owners about the challenges of starting and sustaining a business in Regent Park. The businesses are Dundas Beauty (with Theresa Betou), Supreme Cut (with Flory Wembolwa) and 611 Purple Factory (with Martin Ferreira).

Theresa Beto of Dundas Beauty

Theresa Beto is the owner of the Dundas Beauty located at 442 Dundas Street East in the Regent Park area, around Parliament and Dundas. Theresa, along with her mother, have been in the hair styling business for some time. Their first shop, which was located by Gerrard and Sumach street, opened in 2007. Later they relocated the shop to Sherbourne street for a year or two. After selling the store and taking a break to focus on her family, Theresa opened Dundas Beauty in 2019. Dundas beauty is an African braiding, weaving, styling and beauty supply store. When asked what was the career path that helped them to open the business, Theresa said that her mother really just started learning the braiding skill in Africa and began teaching her four daughters, who began practicing on each other and their friends. This led Theresa into watching Youtube videos and taking some classes in hair and esthetics. Once she took the classes, Theresa realized that doing hair was what she loved so she spoke to her husband about her goal of going into business with her mother and he was ready to support her. They started off by purchasing discounted packs of weave in bulk at other salons. They would stock up little by little and store it in the basement of their house. It took them quite a while before they realized that they had enough merchandise to open a shop.

When asked why they opened up the beauty salon in Regent Park, Theresa mentioned that there were not enough salons doing hair black hair in the downtown area of Toronto.

Some of the challenges they face while opening a business was mainly money, “having a salon in downtown Toronto is so much more expensive than having it in the outskirts like Scarborough.” said Theresa.

Some on going challenges that they are experiencing right now are that a lot of people are learning how to do braids and have learned how to maintain their own hair. Also increasing number of people are going natural which makes it hard for them to sell hair products.

Flory Wembolwa of Supreme Cut

It has been three years since Flory Wembolwa, owner of Supreme Cut, opened his doors in Regent Park. Supreme Cut is located at 432 Dundas street east (close to Parliament and Dundas). Flory himself grew up in Regent Park and experienced the changes that have happened in the neighbourhood through out the years. When I asked him, what were some challenges that he faced while he was starting his business? He mentioned that just growing up in Regent Park was a challenge, so to open up his business he was expecting challenges. From a very young age Flory learned that there will always be “rainy days” so be prepared to have them!

Flory started cutting hair at home at a young age. His friends trusted him & supported him which lead him into building his clientele by work of mouth. Then he started working at a Regent Park barbershop called Lisa’s. While he was working at Lisa’s, he learned more skills which lead to an opportunity to work at Miami Fades, a Toronto hair styling chain of shops. The same year he worked at a Miami Fades shop in Yorkville, was also the year that he opened his shop in 2017.

When asked what he would do differently with what he knows now? Flory answered, “unfortunately it is to choose a different location from Regent Park”. When asked why? He said, “for personal reasons.”

Flory’s advice to young adults when they want to enter the business is to be ready to challenge yourself and do your research as if its school.

“When you tap into your gift or skill it becomes school you have to wake up on time and make it a routine,” says Flory.

Flory’s goal is to not just expand his shop but expand his team to different parts of the world and that when he walks in to his shops that he feels the same kind of energy that he created when he first started his business from his home.

When I asked what it was like being a young Black entrepreneur? Flory said it was frustrating, due to what Black people experience daily. Flory believes you have to be ready for what the world has to give -both the negative and the positive. For Flory - life, family and friends, inspires him to be better.

Perhaps reflecting on Regent Park, Flory encourages the people he grew up around, to open their minds, because when he grew up people around him were close minded to a lot of ideas due to lack of knowledge. He encourages everyone around him to think bigger on what you could do and be. Flory chose to open up his shop in Regent Park for the culture and for his people, to inspire young people and show what is possible. Flory says that he never had anyone to look up to business wise. Growing up he thought that drug dealers and gangster were a big thing to look up to, because growing up in Regent Park you never saw Black owned businesses and a black businessman. Flory is an example of what one could be when you open your mind and believe in yourself.

Martin Ferreira of 611 Purple Factory

We touched based with owner of 611 Purple Factory, Martin Ferreira, on how a fairly young entrepreneur opened up a barbershop located right in the heart of Regent Park, on 611 Dundas Street East, across the street from Aquatic Centre.

Martin Ferreira started cutting hair at an incredibly young age of 15 years. After shaving his own long hair, Martin learned that he could cut his own hair and afford to keep his hair short and neat. Then his older brother purchased hair clippers and he began to cut hair for his family and friends, eventually charging them for his time.

Martin’s plans for opening up a business began when he went to school for Advertising. Martin had no interest in taking a corporate position. “I did not care to make Coca Cola more money .. I don’t think they needed my help.” say’s Martin. If he were going to pursue something, he was going to pursue something for himself and something that would not have to conform to workplace “politics.” Initially Martin thought he would open a barbershop supply store. However, while he was studying, he was still cutting hair and earning some money. By the time he successfully finished the program and graduated, Martin knew he wanted to cut hair professionally and see where it would take him.

When asked what he would do differently if he knew what he knows now about the business industry, he mentioned that a piece of advice that he would give himself or to anyone is to trust your vibes or in other words trust your intuitions. Also, to observe the people around you. “Unfortunately, not all people will have your best interest at heart,” said Martin. Another word of advice is that you have to be willing to put a lot of hard work into your craft. Martin used to be alone at his shop when he first opened cutting hair until 2:30 – 3:00am! Martin’s aspirations for his barbershop is to grow and build, and also to have more influence outside of the shop. He would love to be in a position where he could offer more than just a haircut.

When asked what a piece of advice that you would give to a person wanting to be in the industry? He answered by saying, “you got to love it. If you don’t love it don’t bother … it is going to test your heart in time and if you don’t love it, it will show.” You also have to be able to deal with people. Barbers are also like therapist he said. You have to learn how to not carry customers emotional weight when speaking to them on personal issues. Martin believes that the barber business is a game of reliability and customer service is key. You will have to be willing to be a thousand hours in it.

When asked why he started a business in Regent Park, Martin replied, “I didn’t choose Regent Park…Regent Park chose me”.

Martin’s relationship with Regent goes way back, much prior to the start of the redevelopment. “I had friends and family here and I am blessed and honoured to be here”. Martin believes that Regent Park is a historical neighbourhood with a rich heritage and culture. The history is very deep and a lot of people don’t know about it even people who moved into the area from other parts of the city. “I feel the need to educate them. This is not just another Starbucks, I am part of this heritage,” says Martin. Martin hopes that the 611 Purple Factory will contribute to the future of the neighbourhood. Even if it is just conversations with young people or condo owners about the history of Regent Park, while they are in the Barber’s chair at the 611 Purple Factory.

From my conversations with Theresa, Flory and Martin, owning and operating a business comes with a lot of challenges. Challenges like, closing your business due to the Covid-19 pandemic, that are often unexpected. However, these Regent Park business owners, have shown that when you have a passion, drive and willing to put in hard work, you could be successful.

By Gaelle Kosi in collaboration with Adonis Huggins

(Gaelle Kosi is a summer journalist with the FOCUS Media Arts Centre. Adonis is a staff member of the FOCUS Media Arts Centre).

 

 lick the link below to watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe3fUBicr7U&feature=youtu.be