Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Patrick.
Hi Doug, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My brother Mike Patrick and I started Salon Suites International in Murfreesboro, TN in 2001. We were one of the very first companies in the country to introduce this new concept where individual beauty professionals lease their own private suite and operate their salon independently from the other Suite Holders around them. At Salon Suites International, we operate as a management and maintenance company that allows each individual Suite Holder to set their own schedule, determine the services that they wish to offer (based on their individual licenses), set their own pricing and brand their own unique business in a way that represents who they are! In 2016, we leased a large space in Memphis at 6491 Winchester Road and built eighty-two individual beauty suites at that location to be leased out by licensed beauty professionals who offer services that include, hair, nails, skincare, massage and more! In addition, we have created a facility that while not exclusionary, does promote a message that “Jesus Is Lord” and we actually placed a large, lit sign on the exterior of our building with that message. And we pray for all of our Suite Holders and also partner with World Overcomers Church (our neighbor just down the street) to send in their prayer team to come in about once a month and pray not only for our Suite Holders, but for any of their clients who may be walking through a difficult season in their lives! And finally, we do require that each individual Suite Holder obtain a City/County business license and although we cannot say this for certain, we believe that our location there on Winchester Road has helped create an environment in Memphis of having one of the country’s fastest growing female and minority owned business models out there, and that is something that we are very proud of!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it certainly hasn’t been a smooth road as we have had to invest thousands of dollars in security and site preparation in order to keep our Suite Holders and their clients safe, and we have also had to deal with a deterioration of the infrastructure in and around the East Memphis area!
In addition, as inflation and the high costs of living over the last few years has caused many consumers to cut back on the services and/or frequency with which they get beauty services done, and this has a direct impact on the success and profitability of all beauty professionals as they have to work more hours and get more and more clients to make the same amount of money as they once made – which is especially difficult for beauty professionals with families as again, many of them are first and foremost Moms!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Salon Suites International – Memphis East?
We want all of your readers to know that at Salon Suites we create an opportunity for beauty professionals to own their own business – one that is affordable, one where they can keep more of the money that they earn, and one where they can be kept safe and be supported for the wonderful job they do in not only making folks look beautiful, but also being there for their clients to help listen to them when they are either celebrating a great victory and/or walking through a dark valley in their own life or in the life of someone they love. In a very real sense, being a beauty professional is being in ministry and at Salon Suites we recognize that, and try to support our Suite Holders in that effort whenever and however we can!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those just starting out in the beauty industry, you must first recognize that it’s not as much about your skill set whether its with hair, nails, etc., as it is about “people”! You have to like people and make your clients feel important when they come to you for an appointment! There are lots of choices out there, so if you want to have a repeat client (and hopefully a new friend), you have to care as much about the person as you do about the quality of the service that you are offering! It also takes a lot of hard work! And finally, newly licensed beauty professionals should start out in a good existing shop where they can grow some clientele and also have some mentors who can help teach them beyond what is learned in beauty school! Then, once you have a good clientele, come see us and get your own suite!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.salon-suites.com
- Phone number: 866-86-SALON or Doug Patrick’s cell: 615-804-9661
