© Flux Salon.

Fresh year, fresh you! This January, Res Nova Law is pleased to shine its Portland Business Spotlight on Flux Salon, a woman-and-stylist-owned hair salon with the fun philosophy that happy hair equals happy people. We had the honor of sitting down with Flux Salon co-owner, Haley Eldridge, to learn more about how she and her business partner, Carrie Morrill, became the owners of this trendy Portland business.

“Making people feel better about themselves is intensely satisfying. As owners of Flux Salon, it is our goal to make this a place where people want to be, where stylists enjoy coming to work, and where clients look forward to their appointments. ”

— Haley Eldridge, Co-Owner of Flux Salon  

Haley (left) and Carrie (right). © Flux Salon.

Taking the Leap.

Haley has been a stylist in Portland for more than 13 years and, in that time, has established a robust clientele that continues to grow through word-of-mouth referrals. With every head of hair being unique, she enjoys the challenge of collaborating with her clients to make their hair visions a reality.

During her successful career as a stylist, Haley started to notice the many ways in which salons could provide a better experience for their clients. Thanks to her knack for spotting inefficiencies and finding creative solutions, Haley knew that she could pull off business ownership, especially ifgallery she had a business partner who shared her passion and vision. Then, in 2014, when Haley and Carrie received the unique opportunity to purchase Flux Salon, they enthusiastically took the leap into business ownership together. Haley knew her partnership with Carrie would be rewarding, because both women had a solid rapport with each other built on trust, communication, and resolve. Plus, purchasing an already-established salon provided them with a solid foundation to build on, and the freedom to shape their own salon experience.

Making the Transition.

One of the first items that Haley and Carrie had to address with their newly-acquired business was synchronizing the look and feel of Flux Salon. When they bought Flux Salon from its previous owners, the company had multiple logos and themes, lacking a cohesive message and brand voice. To remedy this, Haley and Carrie worked with a local graphic design company to come up with their current logo, color palette, and the gorgeous floral patterns that adorn their website, business cards, and other marketing materials.

Having to work within a typical startup budget, Haley and Carrie made efforts to use free and affordable resources to grow their business management skills and knowledge. Connecting with other business owners for guidance and attending various classes proved to be a big help.

Despite being new to business ownership, Haley had the people skills and attention to detail necessary for managing a salon of independently contracted stylists. Learning to collaborate with others as a boss and mentor, rather than as a fellow stylist, has taught Haley a lot about herself and highlighted opportunities for personal and professional growth. For example, fresh into business ownership, Haley found herself internalizing business hurdles and sacrificing self-care for the benefit of pleasing others. However, she quickly learned that being a business owner means calling the tough shots when conflict presents itself. Today, Haley tackles difficult decisions head on and has established a healthy work-life balance, all to the benefit of her personal life and business goals.

When we asked Haley what her advice would be for people just beginning their journey into business ownership, she offered the following pro-tips:

• Ask a lot of questions;

• Connect with other business owners;

• Take classes on business ownership, marketing, and management;

• Do your research; and

• Be open to input and suggestion from others, but take the time to find solutions that work for you.

Recognizing the Results.

When you walk into Flux Salon, you'll be greeted with the sounds of laughter, chatter, hair dryers, and a friendly “hello.” The reception area at the front of the salon displays a warm message welcoming everyone into a safe space. The salon itself is full of plants, sunshine, and friendly stylists who work collaboratively with each other and their clients. All in all, Haley and Carrie have certainly accomplished their goals of creating a beautiful space that is welcoming to all clients and visitors, with a cohesive look and feel.

“It is rewarding to know that we are contributing to and participating in our community and neighborhood. We are making our corner of the world a better place. ”

— Haley Eldridge, Flux Salon

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Haley! We fully support the healthy and supportive salon culture that you and Carrie have created for your clients.

You can visit Flux Salon in person at 515 SE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214; or online at www.fluxportland.com.

Res Nova Law is a boutique intellectual property and business litigation firm based in beautiful Portland, Oregon. We serve innovative companies and entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest, and we're your go-to lawyers for businesses of all types and in every stage of business growth. As experienced litigators, we can help you resolve intellectual property and business disputes, and advise you on how to avoid potential litigation. Let's talk about your business goals.

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