You can’t always wait for the perfect time to seize your moment. Sometimes you must dare to jump — but you don’t always have to go at it alone! Such was the case with hairstylists, Connie Vetell and April Turner, who together, took a leap of faith by furthering their careers as entrepreneurs at Salons by JC High Point in North Carolina.
The Dynamic Duo
Connie and April had worked closely together as hairstylists for nearly 14 years, yet had never stepped foot into Salons by JC. In fact, both ladies were extremely familiar with the area, as they had previously operated out of the same exact building working at a salon that occupied the space before Salons by JC.
“30 years ago, I became a hairstylist after my second child was born,” Connie shares. “I began my career at a chain salon, then worked 20 years with a place that offered booth rentals. This led me to my transition to the location I’m currently in now, and I’ve been around this location for the past 15 years.”
Suite Owner, Connie Vettel
April has always had a passion for helping people and making them feel their best. While she’s been a stylist for 18 years, she originally wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. “After giving it some thought, I decided it was too difficult to see people being really sick, so being a hairstylist was the next best thing for me. It still makes people feel better about themselves, and they walk out feeling confident.”
Suite Owner, April Turner
Same Location, Different Chapter
Connie and April were the first to lease their individual spaces at the brand new Salons by JC- High Point. However, after years of working together, the thought of not having each other to chat with came as a bit of a bummer.
Salons by JC High Point, NC
After giving it some thought, an idea came to them. With the amount of customization Salons by JC allowed to make the space unique, the gals decided to have a doorway connecting each other’s suites, so they could still talk. While their transition to becoming independent salon suite owners was a bit scary, their experience has turned out to be easy, as they overcame their fears together.
Connie and April’s adjoining salon suites
“The complex is upscale and absolutely beautiful,” shares Connie. “We love the convenience of having plenty of restaurants, clothing stores, and a beauty supply store nearby.” April adds, “We stayed in this area because we loved the location. We love the setup, decor, and everything about what Salons by JC turned this location into!”
Both ladies have supported each other tremendously in their careers and share many of the same values and see eye to eye on so much. “We bounce ideas off of each other really well and have taken the time to get know each other’s clients, making it feel like our own little family,” April says.
Both of them have a list of reasons why they love working at Salons by JC. “The difference here is I get to set up, decorate and do exactly what I want to in my own suite. I love that I can cater everything from music to hair products to each client. Not only do they appreciate that, they love their privacy as well,” April shares.
Connie enjoys the fact that she was able to set up her suite to make you feel right at home the second you walk in the door. “It looks as if you’re walking into this beautiful elegant bedroom.”
Pursue Your Passion
Not only do these ladies pursue their passion as hairstylists, they have also grown to love the relationships they’ve developed with their clients along the way.
“My favorite part about my job is that I love people and work with them all day! In this industry, you really get to know people after a period of time, and it’s so wonderful that my clients can come in, sit in my chair, and share their hearts with me. I have clients that pray with me and clients that would prefer to sit in silence and just relax,” Connie says. “No one is between me, them, and the blow dryer!”
April’s Suite
April shares, “I love being able to make people feel better about themselves. The best part about being a stylist is the relationships I’ve built. I’ve got clients that have been with me since I first started that have turned into family for me.”
Connie’s Suite
What’s Next?
As for Connie, her biggest accomplishment in the industry is being able to create and grow her business all on her own. “I did it! No one will ever be able to take that away from me!” She hopes to move into a bigger suite of her own one day as her business continues to expand. “I’m so proud of the fact that I’ve been able to do well in this industry for as long as I have,” April says. “I hope to continue to build and perfect my craft.”
We love and appreciate Connie and April’s team effort and work ethic here at Salons by JC- High Point, and wish you both the best in your careers!
About Salons by JC: In 1997, Jack Griffey and Cecil Miller began their journey to transform the beauty industry one salon suite at a time. Like most young entrepreneurs, they started out with a big idea but had to learn how to start and run a business from scratch. After much perseverance and hard work, one year later, they opened Salons by JC in Dallas, TX in 1998, welcoming beauty and wellness specialists who were ready to break free from the traditional salon model. The company has since moved its headquarters from Dallas to San Antonio, where it continues to grow through franchising. Today, Salons by JC has over 90 locations in 26 states and Canada. For more information, visit salonsbyjc.com or salonsbyjc.com/franchise
