The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Salon Zero Eight Nine expands to city
A new salon in Vermilion is bringing the new ways of a changing hair styling industry to a small town.
A new salon in Vermilion is bringing the new ways of a changing hair styling industry to a small town.
Salon Zero Eight Nine, 3619 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion, is seeing its first few weeks of business and has been thriving thanks to longtime clients, according to the salon’s owner Brittney Haponek.
An independently run salon that allows its staff to build their own clientele and dictate their own schedules, Haponek said the new business takes the edge off of the work and encourages hair stylists and nail technicians alike to work hard.
“I think it’s the concept of it running like a salon, so people still get that salon experience but also being independent,” she said of the business’s appeal.
Expansion
Previously working for a salon down the street from Salon Zero Eight Nine, Haponek said the building opened up a few months back when the owner of the building hoped to sign one business to occupy it.
Another salon and Homeworks General Contracting, Inc. had previously shared the space and moved out, which provided the opportunity for Haponek to start her new business.
“I’ve always wanted to own something, so we decided to come down here,” she said. “(Two former coworkers) came with me and we kind of expanded a bit.”
Haponek said the construction process took about two months and involved knocking down a wall and cosmetic updates, including new flooring, painting, installation of subway tiles and, of course, hair and nail stations.
“Basically it was just one big open space when we knocked everything down,” she said. “It was like a blank canvas.”
Salon Zero Eight Nine is now outfitted with four nail stations and six hair stations, as well as a spa for manicures and pedicures.
Additionally, the name of the salon takes after the address’s zip code, honing the business in on its local flair.
“We like to keep it local to Vermilion ... We wanted something that was kind of friendly,” Haponek said of the salon’s name.
Although Haponek specifically specializes in coloring and extensions, a variety of services are available such as blowouts, cuts, perms and waxing.
Be your own boss
Although Haponek owns the business, she said she isn’t anyone’s boss.
Each of the five hair stylists and two nail technicians works independently, meaning that they maintain their own clientele and work schedule based on appointments.
For this reason, Haponek said it’s difficult to accommodate walk-ins when each stylist has a differing schedule.
“It’s hard to have someone walk in and want an appointment because I can’t guarantee that there’s going to be somebody here to take them,” she said.
Haponek said this is largely where the industry is heading.
“In this industry, it’s nice to make your own schedule so you can have that flexibility,” she said.
“You’re kind of in charge of your own stuff, so you tend to work a bit harder, because you’re the one that has to worry about everything.”
Cultivating clients
One of Haponek’s clients Jill Hansing, 38, of Avon, said she can vouch for the quality of work.
“I’m always particular about who does my hair,” Hansing said. “I found her 10 years ago and I follow her everywhere she goes. I don’t really trust anybody else to do my hair.
“I come in and she says, ‘What do you want done?’ and I say, ‘Do whatever you want.’ That’s how much trust I have in her.”
Haponek said that although she is not taking more clients at this time, many other stylists are available.