CUTTING A NEW PATH
Business owner made fresh start after job loss
Sometimes one finds one’s path by happenstance. That is what happened to Patty Lynn, owner of Beekman Place Salon. The salon opened late last year, so 2019 will be the first full year for her business. She is relatively new to business ownership and originally got into cosmetology intending only to cut and style. But opportunities presented themselves.
“I never entertained the idea of business ownership before,” Lynn said. “I just wanted to work, to do a job. But things happened and a door opened. And now I am living the dream I didn’t even know I had.”
Lynn had worked in the health care industry until her employment with that company came to an end, forcing her to consider another path.
“All my licenses in that field were through that business,” she said. “I could have continued work in my previous field, but it would have been starting all over from square one. Since I was having to do that anyway, I was open to other possibilities.”
She decided to stay in Texarkana for the next step, since she had lived here most of her life and her family was here.
“It just made sense to go into business here,” she said.
After it was clear she would be opening a cosmetology business, she needed to find the right staff.
“I thought my biggest challenge would be finding like-minded stylists,” said Lynn. “I was looking for hard-working stylists that conducted themselves like professionals and had some experience.”
Quicker than she expected, that team came together.
“It was far easier to find my team than I thought it would be,” she said. “I’m blessed with a drama-free crew of professionally minded stylists.” She even has room for one more. “For this position, since I have an experienced team, I would consider a new stylist who could benefit from learning from this team. If they came with the right attitude, we have a good outfit to teach them the trade.”
As to what makes Beekman Place Salon unique, she offers the range of styles, highlights, perms, colors and other offerings one would expect from a professional salon. But there is more to making a salon stand out.
“I and my girls spend a lot of time here, so we didn’t want it to come across as a hair salon,” she said. “We wanted the place to be comfortable for both us and the customers. The way we decorated it, the way it smells and so forth. It is designed to relax you, to put you at ease.”
Beekman Place Salon takes appointments from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday as well as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It is located at 4064 Summerhill Square and can be reached at 903-244-8559.
“I am living the dream I didn’t even know I had.”
Lynn, owner of Beekman Place Salon “—Patty