Today we’d like to introduce you to Tranicia Acoff.
Hi Tranicia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I had a passion for doing hair as a little girl. I would always do my doll baby’s hair in every style I could think of. Once I ran out of ideas I would cut their hair, that was my way of letting my mom know it was time for a new doll, lol. Determined to change my childhood circumstances, I went off to college to pursue a degree in finance and let my dream of becoming a hair stylist go in order to pursue what I thought would be a “better” career. Well the joke was on me when I graduated in 2009 during the recession and couldn’t land a decent job. After trying to get my career going for about 3 years I finally went to cosmetology school to chase my real dream. I created my business, TS Salon, in 2015 and worked hard at it but felt stuck. After much prayer, I moved to Columbus from Cincinnati after just over a year in business and it took off. I opened my first salon in 2018 and was doing well! Then came Covid. I felt like it was 2009 all over again but this time I had experience. I rebranded my business to Cut & Blow Beauty Bar where my niche became pixies and blowouts only and my business has grown exponentially. I’m excited to see what my future holds.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always struggles when pursuing your dream I believe. Before moving to Columbus I attempted to open my first salon in Cincinnati. I’d gotten a business loan of 10k and thought that was huge. The space that I’d rented had no plumbing and the electrical wasn’t sufficient so I had to have a full build out done. I had no clue how much something like that truly cost and ran out of money not even half way through. I didn’t do proper research and had to walk away feeling defeated. That became a major lesson for me. I’ve since opened 3 salons. The first salon was opened with a much larger loan but was previously a salon so my cost were low. The second location I negotiated the build out with the landlord and used very little money to furnish the space. The 3rd and current salon was previously a salon like the first and I used crowd funding to open it. I’ve learned that there are so many different ways to accomplish the same thing and I’m excited and ready to help any aspiring entrepreneur out there who needs guidance opening their own beauty salon. I feel like I’ve experienced every side of it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a beauty salon owner and master short hair stylist. I specialize in pixie cuts and blow outs(silk presses) for the modern day black woman. I’m known for my wave mold, finger waves and all around trendsetting short styles. I’m most proud of my perseverance. I don’t have the best childhood experiences and my family isn’t full of doctors, lawyers, other professionals or even many business owners but with God’s help I’ve been able to navigate the world of entrepreneurship successfully. I know I’ll be leaving a legacy behind for my family when it’s all said and done. What sets me apart is my unique styling abilities, my professionalism and pursuit of excellence as well as my personality. My clients know they’re going to have a great experience from the style they get to the efficiency and timeliness in which they receive their service. And to top it off they get wine and a full on concert from me, lol. I love to sing.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think I covered it all. Just know I’m passionate about black entrepreneurs running our businesses professionally and not treating them like a hustle. Professional black owned business are out here, please don’t give up on us due to 1 bad experience. We have to teach each other and support each other regardless. We have to change the narrative!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cutnblowbeautybar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutnblowbeautybar?igsh=MXdqc296dHR4N3FkaQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063441776888
