Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cahill.
Hi Jennifer, 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.
After finishing cosmetology school 10 years ago, I knew I wanted to own a salon one day. But I also knew I had a lot to learn before that dream became a reality. That moment finally came in January of 2022. I had been looking at spaces just to get an idea of what the average price per square foot was, and a leasing agent reached out to me about a space becoming available in the summer. I did a lot of research and decided to take it over. It was a next-gen hair salon, but the space needed a lot of work to make it a high-end hair salon. I learned a lot about buildouts and dealing with the City of Dallas. I was a very involved in the whole buildout. After inspections had passed, I thought it would be smooth sailing, but then I realized that’s when the real business building part starts. Part of me is glad I was so naive about opening and starting up a business because if I knew what all was involved, I might have been too intimidated to do it! The biggest thing I’ve learned about business is that it is ever-changing, and you have to learn to go with the flow, which is not one of my strengths. I am a planner, and when things don’t go according to plan, it takes me a minute to pivot.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would not say opening a business is ever a smooth road. If someone tell you, it is either they are extremely lucky or lying. One of the struggles has been how to handle different personalities and learning that not everyone is going to want to work with you or have the same vision that you have. People come and go in business, and each person is a lesson, just like in relationships. And being able to change your plans when one isn’t working instead of trying to keep pushing and never getting the results you want.
As you know, we’re big fans of Republic Hair Co. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Republic Hair Co is a hair salon where we specialize in curly hair, balayage, vivids, and extensions. I wanted to open a salon that was a safe space for creative hairstylist to learn and grow, so education is a big part of the salon. I also wanted to create a space where guests could come in feel comfortable, and leave feeling like their confident self! Where that means we are working with your natural hair texture and color, or we are totally changing up your look when you’re ready for something new.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
I would say I am a very calculated risk-taker. I won’t just jump in without doing my research. But even if you do your research, that doesn’t necessarily mean that things will turn out the way you were expecting, so you have to learn to take a new direction. For me, opening a salon was the biggest risk of my life, in a good way! Republic Hair Co. is coming up on its first year of being open, and I have learned so much along the way, and I know there is still so much to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://republichairco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/republic_hair_co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/republichairco/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepublicHairCo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@republichairco/about
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/republic-hair-dallas-4
Image Credits
@digges.photo
