Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Kay Hallas.
Hi Mary Kay, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My Personal story started when my parents opened the small 4 chair barbershop in 1978. We were The VIllage Clip Shoppe back then. We were located in an old victorian house in” the Village” Which is now the Medina Library and parking lot. I was 10. I loved to go there and pretend i was a hairdresser. As their barbershop grew to a Barber/Beauty salon and we added 9 more stylists stations I was in middle school and i knew i wanted to work in the salon industry and get my cosmetology license after I graduated HS. I have worked here since I was 16. I received my license in 1988 and have been styling hair here for 37 years and i love it now even more then i did back then. I say its in my blood. My dad was the barber his mom was a hairdresser as well. Ive had many responsibilities through the years in our salon company but training the stylists new to the industry has always been a passion of mine. My dad trained me and he developed a training program which i took over in 2000. When my parents split up and my mom took over the salon full time. Thats when my sister Coleen joined us to help manage the salon. We went from a staff of 6 to now a staff of 40! My mom retired in 2019 and my sister and I continue to passionately run our family business. We both now wear many hats but my personal passion is training, developing and mentoring the up and coming stylist to be successful women in a beautiful industry. I love to see these young woman be able to buy a house and support themselfs at such a young age because they worked hard and followed our systems. That makes me very proud! I can honestly say I love my job even with all the challenges Its what i love to do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but road is? We faced very difficult challenges is 2008. Our industry was hit very hard. We made it through by having a great team that we helped navigate through the crazy economy! We also managed to survive Covid shut down which has to be the hardest time the salon had been through in my 37 years working here! We made it through by having a great coaching company helping us navigate through and having the best team help us and have our backs through the whole pandemic. They were amazing and we couldnt have done it without them! We did not loose one employee through the whole ordeal!
I HAVE to add working with family for this long has its challenges as well. There are many ups and downs but in the end we are family and we always have eachothers backs.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about VCS Salon and spa?
Our Business has been a staple in Medina For 47 years. We are known for Great customer service and our quality services. Our teamwork is noticeable when you are a guest here.
Our salon brand and vision is:
We Provide our clients with the highest quality service in a professioal, innovative and creative setting. Our teamwork is leagendary and our service is genuine. Living this vision is our next level.
We offer all services from hair serices to nail services along with amazing facials and massages. We offer everything thing under one roof! I really do think our front guest service team is amazing. While other salon are going the no touch route with self check in and no personal contact when you walk through the doors.We have put a lot of time training our front desk guest service to make the guests feel welcome as they come in and on their way out the door. They are the first immpression for our salon company and we are super proud of that!
I would love reader to know That Coleen and I and our Manager Ashleigh Take an extrodinary amount of time training and mentoring each and every emlpoyee here. From product knowledge, Hair design and color classes to customer service we pride ourselves on our education here at the salon company. For every retail product our clients buy from us and not the big box stores We get free education for the salon for the year. We could earn up to 6 in salon classes a year and also be able to send top stylists to NYC for training. So its so important to buy local to support your local businesses!!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is to see our employees excel and make a great living and still get to enjoy life! This is the very best industry to be in. Its creative and full of life. We get to contantly meet new people and touch peoples lives. We help people through hard life issues such as death and sicknesses but also through lifes wonderful things like marriages, babies, engagments, the list is endless! This makes my heart happy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vcssalon.com
- Instagram: vcssalonandspa
- Facebook: VCS salonandspa
