Monday, February 4, 2013

Reflection, Connection, and Moving Forward! To another great year!


               Looking back at 2012, we remember the lessons learned and the new opportunities given to all of us here at “The Zu”.  At the very beginning of the year, in January, our dear Lindsay purchased the business from Pam and Taryn.  Pam and Taryn built the business 28 years prior, based on a foundation of faith, family, and service.  Lindsay, who grew up living next door to Pam and whom became very closely tied to the business the two ladies built, founded it upon herself to take the “leap of faith” and continue to build upon the dream.  Lindsay’s husband, Nathan, has extensive experience in the management field, spending some time managing different Washington State Liquor Board stores.  When this system was closed down by the voters, the timing couldn’t have been better.  He brought is knowledge, skill and experience to Lindsay and the salon, by helping “behind the scenes” in keeping things organized and on budget.  You may see him from time to time, as he spends a few days during the week in the office and getting to know each guest and each employee.  It is definitely a new concept having a man (who isn’t a guest) around the salon!  We all have welcomed his presence and enjoy his company.  Both Lindsay and Nathan bring fresh minds and experience to the team, as well as the drive to grow the salon based on the principals it was founded upon.  The two, Lindsay and Nathan, have been incredible assets and leaders and we couldn’t have asked for better! 

                Through this transition, it has sparked inspiration in each one of us.  Inspiration and motivation to grow personally and professionally in a career that is both rewarding and exciting.  We all love Lindsay and want to see her succeed, and we know that that requires all of us both as a team and as individuals to work well and work hard.  Knowing that by doing this, through her success is our success, and through our success is her success.  We are a team as well as a family.  A family that sticks together, supports each other through strife and tribulation, as well as help and motivate; boosting moral and love. 

                We kicked off our first ever Passionately Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Open House event in October with tremendous success.  The whole team stuck around after a long full day’s work behind the chair and behind the desk, to make this event fun and exciting.  We welcomed Kristin Serniotti of KS Photography to provide fun photo-booth style photos for guests, as well as Gussie Mae’s Cupcake’s gifts of cupcakes and cinnamon rolls.  Mmmm… Delish!  We had such a good time, and each guest responded positively to what we were trying to achieve by making our evening so spectacular that we surpassed our fundraising goal for the whole month!  It wouldn’t have happened without our wonderful guests and our amazing team.  We can only imagine what 2013’s event can bring us, and the breast cancer community.

                As a Redken Broadway Elite salon has continued to bring us many new learning opportunities and experiences.  Molly went to the Big Apple to complete her hair color certification test with Redken to become Salon Zuberenz’s second Redken Certified Hair colorist alongside Megan.  This title these girls carry brings more recognition to our growing professionalism and expertise in the salon industry.  These two girls share their wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as experiences, with the team by helping formulate, consult, or whatever their team member may have questions with.  At the end of Molly’s stay in New York City, six members of our team met up with her and attended classes at the Redken Exchange; Redken’s headquarters of advanced training.  Redken provided the tickets to the class, while the team held a contest to see who would go.  New York isn’t the only place to receive amazing continued education through Redken.  The Zubie team attended Tina Terri Hunt’s Step Up program, a program that helps each stylist track her work and achieve goals to help her grow and succeed behind the chair.  After this two day class in our salon, the dynamite exploded in the salon and it hasn’t slowed down!  We were presented by another big Redken Artist, Jerick Fruits, and his aw-inspiring creative color class; another private class in our salon.  You will see his work transferred into our stylists’ hands through the beautiful hair color that walks out of our salon.  Sam Villa, Redken’s #1 educator in 2012, came to the Tacoma Salon Professional Academy (aka the TSPA).  Redken sent four of our girls to his class on advanced cutting and styling.  Sam is an incredible artist as well as an amazing teacher.  He is open, friendly and has a wealth of knowledge and experience that he loves to share with other hairdressers.  You will see his work walking out our front doors as well!  These educational opportunities are just a glimpse into what we experience here at Salon Zuberenz in just one year.  Your stylist will share with you more on what she has learned and continues to learn by being a part of a great network, community, and salon.

                As we grow our souls and our minds, so does our business.  We’ve added a few new stylists in 2012 through our associate program.  We’ve welcomed Leslie, Erica, and Heidi.  Leslie started working alongside Pam in June, and is being released onto the floor in February!  Megan took on mentoring Erica in November, and she can be expected to take on her own guests in June.  Heidi started at our front desk to get us through front desk staff transition.  Her mentor, Tanya, took a much deserved 3 week vacation in Maui in January, and when she came back Heidi started her associate program.  We hope to continue to hire new associates as each girl finishes her program and is on the floor.

We were saddened to lose our beloved Ashley at our front desk, in November.  Ashley’s beautiful smile, here joyous laugh and insurmountable sense of humor will never be forgotten nor will it be replaced.  Ashley, along with her family, drove across country to move to Charleston, SC.  At the beginning of 2013, we were also very sad to see Katie move on.  Katie brought efficiency and organization at the front desk, as well as a spiritual soul and kind heart to the team.  Katie moved back to her home town of Bellingham with her husband, where they are starting and building their family.  With the loss of two beautiful girls, we’ve added a new, and very valuable, asset to our front desk; Amy.  Amy is our full time support member, she is incredibly professional, organized, and a great go getter and a beautiful fit with our family.  We welcome Amy with open arms and hearts.

                With this New Year, we also strive to be more involved with the community by working outside the salon.  July 5th will mark 30 years of the business serving the Lynnwood area; Salon Zuberenz is formerly 33rd Sunset Snip.  We think this would be a great time to celebrate by being a part of a local Fourth of July event.  Keep your eyes and ears out for more information as the time nears!  As part of our service to the community, our Passionately Pink event will be a little bigger and a whole lot better!  If you want to be a part of it and attend, be sure your residential address as well as your email address is updated with our front desk staff. 

                By keeping with our family traditions, Salon Zuberenz is continuing its annual company retreat to the ocean.  We will be heading to Seabrook for the third year in a row, and what is happening is always a surprise!  We can’t wait! 

As we start a new year, we look forward to doing and seeing even more.  Keep an eye out for new and more blogs, like this one, new videos on our YouTube channel, and more engagement on our Facebook page.  If you haven’t already, be sure you “Like” us so you can stay up to date with all that is The Zu! 

                All of us at Salon Zuberenz cannot thank you, our special guest, enough for your loyalty and support.  From the guest who has been with us since we were 33rd Sunset Snip and been through the move and the change in ownership, as well as to the guest who is new and returns and refers.  We love each one of you and want you to know, our little family salon wouldn’t be here without you. 

                Another big thank you goes to each one of our Zubie Gals who have stayed loyal and have worked hard to continue the reputation that we strive for.  Everything from the change in locations, name of business and the system of which we work, through the change in ownership and have continued to support each other and the whole team to make it the greatest salon that it is.  Salon Zuberenz wouldn’t be what it is without each one of you!

Here’s to another bigger and better year!  To 2013!