Reece Corbin is one of our Members that has had great success after opening her salon suite with the Suite Elite. She is a Member at Salon Plaza in Herndon, VA working as a colorist and a Jon Paul Mitchell School national color educator. We spoke with Reece during the COVID-19 salon closures in our Suite Elite & Friends webinars and have recently caught up with her to discuss her experience as a Suite Elite Member during this time.
A little background about Reece:
Reece started cutting hair in Maryland at 14 years old. Once she graduated from high school, she went straight to the Paul Mitchell School for management and education. Once the suite concept started popping up in several locations, she decided to become a part of the Salon Plaza family to take ownership of her own work. She has been with us for 5 years now! Reece has become an educator for Paul Mitchell School as a system distributor as well as providing one-on-one lessons.
What does owning your own business mean to you?
“You can run your business the way you want to. Being able to create your own schedule and interact in a private space has been my favorite part of owning my own business, especially with COVID.” Reece goes on to explain that she can relax and not worry about the chaos with a big salon. “I can focus one-on-one. I can provide a better service to my clients by truly getting to know who they are.”
How has being a Suite Elite Member impacted your life?
“I’ve learned a lot…. It’s truly taught me personally and professionally and has allowed me to do what I want to do. When I first opened, I put a lot more into building the business. And building the right clientele. I stepped away from working Saturdays because I control my own schedule and I want to be home with my family. It has allowed me to be more present for those things.”
During COVID-19 Salon Closures.
When it was announced that salons would be closing, Reece realized she had two options; be freaked out or do some great things with it. Reece ran her business from home by providing tutorials on her Instagram page. “It was out of my comfort zone because I’m not a big camera person but I realize guests are asking so I had the time and set up a little area in my apartment and put a backdrop up. It gave me an opportunity to grow. I also did a video project for Paul Mitchell as well. I would normally not have had the time to devote to something like this or had the confidence to do so.” Reece also adopted a puppy during this time, took long walks daily and focused on what she could improve on both personally and professionally.
Reopening Her Salon.
Now that she has returned behind the chair, she is extremely grateful for the private suite. “Everyone has so many different needs; a child with a compromised immune system or an elderly client… I can provide a space for them to be able to come in. We can close the door, use hand sanitizer, and provide a super safe place where they can relax. It has been great to reconnect with people one-on-one.” Reece said she was thankful for the education and updates from MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza on how to safely reopen her salon.
One interesting change in perspective was the simplicity of beauty during the closure. “I love that our industry is in demand but I love that so many women were forced to see themselves in their natural state and feel beautiful.”
So how did this unprecedented time in our industry influence Reece?
“I have had a lot of personal growth. I am going to implement all of the habits I began during the closure like cooking meals, going for walks, and not rushing around as much. I want to continue practicing more self care and love. It’s been really great for me personally. The safety of being a Suite Elite Member has been especially wonderful during this time.”
Follow Reece on Instagram and check out her personal website to learn more about the work and services she provides.
