Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Pike.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I guess I might call myself the Accidental Entrepreneur because all 6 off my businesses have not been planned at all.
I worked for the Air Force for 18 years following my husband from assignment to assignment. He retired in 1980 and we moved from New Orleans to Granbury.
I decided to stay home and not go back to work so I could spend more time with my 2 Daughters. I’d owned horses all my life so we bought a couple of horses and I decided to teach my girls how to ride and care for them. I needed some supplies so went to the only horse tack store in town but was terribly disappointed. When I went into the store I asked if they had a Mechanical Hackamore……If you are a horse person you would usually know what that is. She was pretty rude and said she had no idea what that was. I asked her to show me the tack room and was shocked at what they had for sale. Some of the bits were horrible and would tear up a horse’s mouth. I realized they didn’t have a clue about how to help their customers so I went home and told my husband I wanted to open a Horse Tack Store. He told me I didn’t know anything about how to run a business so I would fail. I told him I knew people and horses and I would do a great job. I didn’t have much money to spend on inventory because he was not willing to support my idea. I bought some inventory and brought all my show saddles, and personal things to fill my little shop up.
When customers arrived I found out what they needed and if I didn’t have it got it right away. My service was fabulous and customers told their friends and my business flourished. I outgrew my little spot and bought a piece of property and remodeled the building into a 4,000 square foot building and added pet supplies, boarding kennels and grooming. I was extremely successful and have to admit my husband was still not supportive so it caused a strain on our marriage. I sold the business because my marriage and family was my first priority. Unfortunately my husband who was a Pilot just had too many lady friends and I decided it was time to call it quits.
I had been getting my nails done for a couple of months, the Nail Technician wasn’t really great but she was the only one in town in the early 80’s so I would have her put the product on and I would go back home to finish shaping, filing and polishing them. I got really good so I decided to go to Nail School and get a license and within a few months opened my Nail Salon with my daughter. We also sold make-up so that is how the name Blushes came about. We were very successful and clients began suggesting we had hair stylists so they only had to make one stop. We began to grown and are now the largest Spa/Salon in Hood County.
I was using the only Laundromat in town for all my towels and it was not a good experience because the place was dirty and the attendant not helpful. I went home after one particularly rough experience and decided to build my own Car Wash and Laundromat since I had plenty of land. I read a great book called “Success is Never Ending, Failure Never Final” by Robert Schuler. One of the paragraphs said if you have an idea to act on it. I found a Contractor, borrowed 496,000.00 and added both right next to my Salon. I was so successful I was featured in 9 magazines and on Good Morning Texas. I got a call one day from one of the other Car Wash owners asking to buy my Laundromat and Car Wash. I sold them to him and decided to move my Salon 3 miles down the road on 2 acres of land and expanded in a big way.
The Sheriff was a great customer and was coming in regularly for massages and kept trying to convince me I needed to buy his Locksmith Business. After being elected he was not able to run his business and he knew how good I am at Business so he wanted me to buy it. I said no numerous times but I got locked out of my Laundromat and couldn’t get in touch with the only other Locksmith so I had to cut a hole in my wall to get in. A few days later the carpet company locked me out of my house and it was 9 hours before he could get me in. I finally decided I needed to buy it because everybody in town was in my same boat. I married my current husband in 1993 and knew he could go to Locksmith school and we could have a great business. We ran the business for 10 years and we finally decided to sell to the guy we had hired to help so we could give all our attention to Blushes.
13 years ago one of my Massage Therapists introduced me to a Nutrition Program that is powerful and I am able to help people with health from the inside and the Amazing Professionals at Blushes help with beauty on the inside.
It is very unusual to find a Salon that is run by the original owner and has been serving Hood County, Fort Worth and the Dallas Area for over 35 years.
Great, 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?
Heavenly Days, success is not usually smooth and mine has not been smooth but I have overcome amazing obstacles.
A few years after borrowing my 496,000.00 our town went into a very rough time and I was over loaned and income was not what was projected. I had to sell my house because I couldn’t afford two payment because my big loan was on a floating interest rate and it had risen to 18%… I put a hide a bed in the reception room and only very close friends knew I had clothes in a hidden spot and actually had to sleep in the shop to make ends meet.
Sure glad I was young, very early 40’s, so I was able to work the long hours that were required to keep up with those big expenses. I lived in the shop for over 10 years and found my Soul Mate in 1993 and we moved into our home after I was able to sell the Car Wash and Laundromat.
No business is without challenges and struggles so I have to stay on top of everything because a big salon requires a lot of good management.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Blushes Salon and Spa – what should we know?
I love this because I am immensely proud of my Salon and the Professionals working with me. I have some of my ladies who’ve been with me 20 and 25 years. As you know most Salons have huge turnover and I am very Blessed to have amazing support.
One of the things that totally sets us apart is how different the Salon actually is. Everybody working there has a private room and the acres is full of beautiful gardens.
We offer all the services of any great Spa and my Professional have more experience that average.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I am very Passionate and love helping people. I love connecting with them and helping make their world better.
I am a member of the Chamber as well as one of their Ambassadors and have been in Rotary since the early 80’s, way before most Rotary Clubs were accepting women.
Contact Info:
- Address: Blushes Salon/Spa
5464 Acton Highway
Granbury, Texas 76049 - Website: www.blushessalon.com
- Phone: 817-559-1404
- Email: mary@callmefit.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.pike.543
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
