Rita Hazan
Founder, Rita Hazan Salon
www.ritahazansalon.com
What do you want to makeover in 2007? Maybe you fantasize about a slimmer physique and fatter profit margins, but (sigh!) these things take time. How about effecting change in only a few hours by becoming a blonde bombshell, seductive brunette or redhead who turns heads?
While you contemplate your new hair color… get inspired by the launching story of Rita Hazan, a girl from Brooklyn and in-demand hair colorist who struck out on her own four years ago and founded the Rita Hazan Salon (www.ritahazansalon.com), which recently moved to a new location on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Rita has transformed the tresses of celebs like Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez and Carmen Electra, to name a few. She has appeared on Oprah’s makeover shows and here she talks about making her business and clients shine…
Beauty and the Business
Rita: “I saw this commercial on TV for Wilford Beauty Academy, and I said to myself, ‘I could totally do that. ‘ Right after high school I enrolled in beauty school, and I knew where I wanted to work. I assisted Brad Johns for five years and worked at Oribe for a total of 10 years. I went out on my own four years ago.”
Becoming Unstuck
“I needed a personal change. I wanted to do something different. You know how you kind of get stuck in a rut where every day is every day? If I stop having fun, I don’t want to do it anymore. I needed to be stimulated, differently challenged maybe. I decided to open my own place.
“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I created my own atmosphere where a woman can come in who has tons of money or who has no money, is a CEO or is a housewife, and make it a fun atmosphere?’”
Risk? What Risk?
“I didn’t think about it (being a risk). I thought, ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’ So I lose everything and I can move in with my mom. What do I have to lose? Money? Big deal. I can make that again. I’ll still have a roof over my head and people who love me.”
Where She Got Start-Up Funding
“Believe it or not, I saved my money. I spend money because I’m a big fashion girl… but if I made 100 bucks, I put $75 away and spent $25.”
From One to 45 Employees
“I started to realize (the business) was something when people called me and wanted to work for me. I wasn’t the type of woman who went out and recruited people. For me, I want people to come to me because they want to, not because I sought them out. It makes an atmosphere of people who came here because they wanted to come. Now we have 45 employees and it started with myself.”
Sincerity = Best Strategy
“It was time for an atmosphere where (women) feel comfortable, where they don’t feel like they have to glam up to get their hair cut. No drama. You don’t feel like you need to be somebody to be here. Everyone knows your name. (Our staff) will smile when you catch their eye. (They’ll) ask you, ‘What do you want to drink? Are you hungry?’ And it’s genuine - they do it because they really want to do it. The creative energy in here is insane. They inspire one another instead of trying to compete with one another.”
How She Won Celebrity Clientele
“I already had celebrity clientele (before I launched my own salon). I can’t say I started from scratch. I had enough clients to pay my own rent. They know that they’ll look beautiful. I’m known for transformation and image changing with hair color. If someone wants to do dramatic change… Britney Spears went from brown to blonde because she wanted to make a statement. When women are ready and they want to be glamorous and create something special, they will call me.”
Greatest Challenge
“My greatest challenge would be… I want to do it on my own. I’m doing it without investors and without anyone telling me how to run my company. I’m making mistakes on my own and learning how to fix them. I went from being a colorist that had no business training to creating a system that works for us. I just made up a system that works. A few years after the growth of the salon, I had my brother Jack help me with the business part, and now he takes care of that.”
Secrets to Her Success
“Listening to what women want. The biggest part of success is listening to people and paying attention. Women want to be treated to luxury… while you’re sitting with hair color on your hair (at Rita Hazan Salon), Marina massages your shoulders and back - it’s complimentary. We have an office where (clients) can use computers, fax machines, scanners. There’s a VIP room when you walk in the door. We have 10 laptops at the front desk that are fully wireless. You can have your manicure done and you don’t feel like you should be back in the office.”
Lessons Learned
“Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. A lot of people said ‘no’ to me about everything. I come across a lot of women who think they have to be tough, one of the boys. I wasn’t like that at all.”
Winning Big by Being Nice
“When we hired contractors, I was involved in it, and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Rita. ‘ I learned everyone’s name. It became personal to them - they wanted to get it done, get it done right, and get it done on time. We had a launch party with the contractors here. They became part of the experience. You don’t have to be mean and tough or obnoxious, you just have to be sincere. When people do stuff from their heart, it comes out much better.
“We started (renovating our new location) in August and finished in November. Six thousand square-feet from scratch. It doesn’t have to be 100 percent perfect, but it has to be 90 percent good enough.”
Words of Advice
“What was my quote throughout this whole thing? It was, ‘Make it happen.’
If we needed money, we would say, ‘Let’s ask the bank for money and make it happen.’
We’re in New York. If you can’t do something like this in New York, where can you do it?
“You will reach a scary point in your business. Don’t be afraid. Don’t turn away. Keep going. Even from bad things, great things come through. Sometimes a disaster is the best thing that can happen to you.”
Speaking of Disasters… How to Avoid One at the Hair Salon
“Never give full control to your stylist or colorist. Never say, ‘ Do what you want.’ You never know what they’re thinking. They could be in any kind of mood at the time. Bring pictures. Have an idea of what you’re looking for, more or less. Talk through whatever it is with the stylist or colorist. Say, ‘I’m thinking of making my hair brown, but I don’t want to because… ‘ From that, you’ll get what you want.”
Rita’s Take on Hot Trends
“Tone-on-tone colors are sophisticated and sexy. The trend is no longer chunky and childish. Women want to look beautiful and young at same time without trying to look 10 years younger. No extreme colors.”
