Beauty Business Strategies
The podcast where salon, spa, medspa, barbershop, and lash studio owners — just like you — learn quick tips to make more money, inspire your team, and create world-class client experiences.
Beauty Business Strategies
A Veteran Stylist's Perspective on Working in a Team-Based Salon with Deja Coleman
Ever wondered how a team-based company can elevate your professional game? Deja Coleman, a veteran stylist with 25 years of experience, joins us to share the impact working in a team-based salon has had on the trajectory of her career. Deja shares how the dynamic team environment at Goldwaves Salon in Fort Worth, TX has paved the way for her incredible career milestones, including winning multiple awards and currently a finalist for a North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA).
You'll learn how a supportive team can unlock doors to creative freedom and lead to not just surviving but thriving in the beauty industry. Deja reflects on how she navigated the beauty landscape, from Pennsylvania to Texas, and her journey within her own salon. Her story is a testament to the importance of collective encouragement and how the strength of a team can drive personal and professional growth.
Conversation highlights:
0:00 Deja's beginnings in the beauty industry
4:02 What does being "a team" really mean?
6:31 Navigating challenges within a team
8:53 Fostering team communication through huddles
10:15 The benefits of a team-based salon for a veteran stylist
15:45 Winning awards with the support of team
19:52 How a team-based environment benefits brand new service providers
23:16 Deja's one word to summarize being part of a team-based company
Watch the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/x1FO0EluLYs
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The Beauty Business Strategies Podcast is designed to give salon, spa, medspa, barbershop, and lash studio owners, just like you, quick tips to make more money, inspire your team, and create world-class client experiences.
All right. Welcome to the Beauty Business Strategies podcast. I'm really excited about today because I'm joined by a great friend, Deja Coleman from Gold Wave Salon. Deja, how are you?
Speaker 2:Hi, I'm really great.
Speaker 1:Good, good. So you know, part of today and the reason I'm excited to talk with you today, deja, is because I think it's always exciting to get different perspectives on our industry and really more in particular, just on being a part of a team, as a member of a team and being part of a team-based culture that Gold Waves is. But I think it's always interesting to get perspectives on things and, you know, hear a point of view, and so really that's kind of the main reason that I wanted to connect with you today is just get those perspectives. So, before we dive into it, I think you know, I think it's just important to kind of just give an introduction of yourself when it comes to you know how long you've been in the industry, kind of what your role is within Gold Waves itself, your role as a team member, how long you've been a part of it, all of that. So give us a little history.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay. I started in our industry when I was really young. This is my 23rd or 24th year now and I started in Pennsylvania. I ultimately migrated to Texas. I've done everything from education, full-time stylist behind the chair, educator in the salon, and right now, as it stands, I am a full-time stylist at Gold Waves. I'm also the color education educator and I wear a lot of other hats as well, with competing, doing hair and doing all kinds of fun projects.
Speaker 1:But yeah, that's that's where I'm at right now and we'll definitely talk about. We're definitely going to talk about some of those fun projects, other things you're involved with, for sure, because it's just awesome and it's cool to talk about for sure. Let me ask this you know you mentioned the idea started out in Pennsylvania, been in the industry now, let's say, we'll just say, 25 years, which is crazy to think about because, like there's no way you look like you've been in the industry for 25 years.
Speaker 1:That's the first thing, because I myself still describe myself as I was in the industry for 25 years.
Speaker 3:I look way, way older.
Speaker 1:Something's wrong with me, I guess, but between Pennsylvania and then, as you went to Texas, how many businesses salons were you a part of before you ended up at Gold Waves?
Speaker 2:That's a really good question. So I was a stylist at let's see one, two, three, four, four different salons before I was at Gold Waves. But being an educator, I was in a lot of salons all the time, working with them and seeing what their day-to-day was as well. So I've been part of a lot of salons, but personally I've worked at four.
Speaker 1:Gotcha.
Speaker 1:So when it comes to what you've been a part of and also just what you observe, as you said, as an educator, and being out there and being a part of different cultures, being in different businesses, what do you see Like, what are the, what are the differences that you see between?
Speaker 1:And here's what how I want to kind of ask this question, I think is a lot of businesses out there, we all every time I go and work with someone or talk to someone new, it's like everyone's standard line is we have a great team. Sure, and you know, and I understand the. I understand why people say that you know because, again, they do overall, they like the people that work for them, they like the people that they work with. You know they do consider themselves to be, you know, part of a team. But I think that we all kind of know, when we really dissect that a little bit, there's a real big difference between really being a team and saying that like we like our teammates or things like that. What would you identify as kind of your observations on what's the difference between a team by verbiage and really being a team when it comes to the day to day and actions?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there is a huge difference. I didn't know, I thought I knew what a team meant until I really was immersed in the culture of Goldwaves. Um, I thought that it was. You know everybody getting along and you know you kind of look out for each other when you can, but you're always the first priority. You know that kind of thing and I feel like that's the majority of businesses that I've been in. That's kind of the idea Everybody's amicable but you kind of go about doing your own thing. But with, like, gold Waves, it's literally a culture that is taught from the very first day that you work there and it's about being conscious of yourself but also like everyone else around you, and it's your first instinct going to how can not only can I help myself, but how can I help everyone else around me and just really being conscious of it. But it is cultural and is it's taught from like the first day that you're, you know, in a in a business.
Speaker 1:How do you stay personally motivated each day to go in and be a good teammate? Because, I mean, let's be honest, um, we all know not every day is a banner day. Uh, not every day is like, yeah, rah, rah, and we're on the best of our game, and you know what. We go through phases in life where sometimes we could just get into frustrations. Maybe there's, you know again, we can't paint the picture that you know. Hey, listen, we'd be lying if we said that every day, in particular, where you are at gold waves is the perfect day.
Speaker 2:It's not like we don't have frustrations or challenges or things of that nature. Every business has that right.
Speaker 1:Every business has that. So how do you stay on top of your game? Or when you get into those moments where it's just like you know what things are I don't, I guess, lack of a better way to describe it when we're in that negative space at times, and but you're still a part of a team, how do you, how does it look then? How do you get yourself out of that? Or how does team support that? Or, yeah, just what happens when things aren't just perfect?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because you're right. I mean, there's so many different personalities and so much different energy that it can go one way or the other. You know, and nothing is perfect Even with culture, you know, nothing's perfect. But the great thing about that is we also have built a team where, if I'm not having a good day, I can be transparent and it's all about communication and just say hey guys, I am, I'm really struggling, you struggling, you know, I I didn't sleep well last night, or you know something is going on. Um, just know that. And if you guys need anything extra from me, please feel free. Like my door is open, you know, but I feel like your other teammates have to be um honest with you and have to communicate with you. But you've got to leave that door open so that you're approachable even in moments when they're not your best, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love you keep talking. You've used the word a couple of times in there communication, and you know it's one of my. This has been my personal soapbox for the last year to year and a half or so is because I think that, as you just said, when communication breaks down and you gave a great example about how, when communication is good, I feel in a place where I can communicate with my teammates about where I am you know, that creates a feeling of understanding and trust on your end, and so communication being a key piece. You know, how do you think that? How do you think a team environment, how do you foster better? That's maybe that's the right question I want to ask is how do you maybe yourself personally or your observations about as a, as a company?
Speaker 1:Because, just real quick, for those that might not be familiar, I kind of make some assumptions in my uh. For those that might not be familiar, I kind of make some assumptions in my brain. Not everyone knows how big gold waves is. What's the, what's your, what's the gold ways? Total population right now? Uh, from, uh, a team members.
Speaker 2:Let's see, we have 24-ish team members.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's everyone yeah Right. So we got 20 plus people as a part of this team. Going back to it is you know again, how does communication, how does that continue to get built stronger in your environment? Because, man, when there's 24 different lines of communication that could possibly happen. A lot of things can break down pretty quickly.
Speaker 2:I agree. We always start off every morning with a 10 minute huddle and we all trade out who is going to deliver the information. So it's not just always coming from one person, but we talk about our goal, we talk about openings that we have, new clients that we might have in the building, and this is the perfect time to communicate between us, like hey, you know this is going on and I'm going to need help at three o'clock or whatever. Like we're all setting each other up for to have the best day possible, and that's when you can feel free and open to say, man, you know, I'm I'm struggling, or, uh, I'm having the best day ever and I want to share that, you know. So I think getting all on the same page again. Going back to communication, um is really important and we all start out every single day with our team on that leg.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I love it. So let's get back into. You know kind of where we started with this conversation, which is hey, listen, you as a, as a experienced veteran stylist, being a part of this team. As a experienced veteran stylist being a part of this team, what have you seen like your journey from when you first started to now? What have you seen as the, as the what's the benefit to you being part of a, a stronger team culture? Just as a, just as a hairdresser, just as a person, what are the greatest strengths that you observe from that? Wow?
Speaker 2:Well, first of all, you know, I had a really good friend whenever I was thinking about going back behind the chair 100%, because I was an educator, I was also behind the chair a little bit, but I was making a really long commute, my work-life balance wasn't great, and she knew that I really wanted to get back into creative work and that it wasn't possible in the space with the team that I was at at the time.
Speaker 2:And so this lady was like you know, this is team-based pay, this is, it's different, but it's amazing and these people are awesome, and I'd never heard of it before. And I was like, oh okay, I mean, you know, I'll give it a shot. And so I started talking with the owners and and we talked for a long time and they said you know, there's a lot of opportunity and stuff. But I had no idea until I actually got in and realized that if I had never been with these people, in this space, with this team, there's no way that I could have gotten more creative, that I've gotten myself out there and gotten goals done that I've been meaning to do for years. They support me, they are excited for me when things happen. I'm, you know, same way for them. But there's no way that I would be able to be where I'm at, doing what I'm doing on a personal level, if it wasn't for the love and the support of the team every day.
Speaker 1:Right, I love that. I mean, that's a great segue into you know, and I want to a couple of places I want to go. But it's a perfect time to start to bring this up because, again, I know your involvement in so many other areas, like you talked about educator and things of that nature, but talk about the opportunities that you would say personally, that you would say you know what, because I'm a part of this type of a culture, a part of a team, what doors you feel that's open for you that maybe you would say would have been I'm not going to say these doors would be closed, but what doors would have been a lot harder to get through if it were just like a me myself and I kind of I'm trying to do this all on my own versus what you're doing and the things that you're accomplishing as being part of the team environment Talk a little bit about how that growth and the things you're engaged with and involved with so I think obviously the number one thing is monetary no-transcript.
Speaker 2:We have apprentices, but we also have each other, and so if there is somebody that calls up and says, you know, I need this big color service or I need multiple services and I can only fit them in, for you know, the smaller parts of that like rough, drying, shampooing, glossing, doing small things that I would have never had that on my book and then in return would have never been part of our team goal, and when we meet team goals we get bonuses. When we meet team goals, we get to go to education. That is pretty expensive, you know, if you're trying to do it individually. So not only like am I seeing more money and I have amazing, amazing work-life balance because I have a much smaller amount of hours that I have to fit everything in, but I'm able to fit it in because I have other people that are helping me as well. So everything I mean everything is much more possible.
Speaker 1:I love that, you know, and again, it's exactly it. It's. We talk about this. That whole idea is exactly that as you talked about. Hey, listen, if, if I know, my team is there where maybe myself or someone else can get in a service that we would never be able to do on our own.
Speaker 1:It helps us to reach our goals easier as a team and then that, therefore, can come back to benefit all of us, yourself included uh through, like I said, through, uh, whether it's just our, our, our weekly paychecks, or it comes down to, as you mentioned, other things, the opportunities to do education and things of that nature. Now, here's something I want to. I got to have to start bragging about yourself a little bit, deja. All right, I'm going to make you brag a little bit about yourself and I want to just see again where team has helped to support this.
Speaker 1:Certainly, you know, this comes down to all right, we've got to have the motivation, we've got to have things like that, but we're also maybe it's been supported through the culture or the environment. But let's talk a little bit about the fact that, yeah, you mentioned, oh, yeah, I work as a you know educator and I do a few other things kind of on the side. You've been very coy about it, but it's like oh, there's these things called like Naha award winner and things of that nature. Give us a little brag time, deja. I need a little bit of brag time about yourself.
Speaker 2:Okay, Well, in my career I always have this like big thought process of I want to, I want to be, I want to put myself out there, I want to put my projects out there that I have in my head. I've always wanted to do photo shoots and do collections and creative work, and I've never been in a space that I was creatively free to do those things and that I felt like, no matter what, my team truly and I know this sounds very cliche, but my team truly makes me feel like don't ever let anything tell you you can't, and I've always been in a space where I've always told myself that I couldn't for one reason or another. But I got with the Goldwell team and the Gold Waves team. Both I love Goldwell and I love Gold Waves.
Speaker 2:Goldwell is really what sent me in a direction of. I felt like I had a platform that I could finally be competitive on and I went back to the owners and I told them I was like I really want to do this. And not only did they support me, but they brought in educators and hooked me up with them and if it weren't for my connection with them, I placed silver for the United States, for creative color for Goldwell Creative Awards. Last year I placed fourth for International Beauty Industry Awards for a semi-finalist for a wig that I built, and then this year I'm on a team and we are finalists for North American hairstylist of the year. So all of that very, very short time that that happened I mean it was like less than two years.
Speaker 1:I was going to say it's been a crazy 18 month ride.
Speaker 2:It has.
Speaker 1:It's awesome, that's awesome and like, like you were saying before we started up the podcast, like you were saying, it's like this year I want I don't want silver, I want gold and we want you know what?
Speaker 1:I mean, and there's these things and I love that. I love that and what I love about it is the fact that you know the fact that not only is this you know an awesome thing that you're doing and the drive and things, but also how, as you said, I've got a group of people around me that support and help me. You know, support me whether it's through just direct assistance or maybe it's just you know the, just the emotional support, or even just to support the fact that you know what working together as a team, as you said, is hey, listen, I'm doing my best, but I don't have to always be a big revenue producer to still continue to earn what I need to earn for my own personal life. And that, in that aspect that I know I've got a team of people we're all pulling toward reaching our goals, which helps me. That supports me in a much different way where I can do other projects that help elevate the business in general, but not always the direct line is it's not always I'm coming back and generating a revenue to help elevate the business, because what you're doing elevates gold waves and the people that are part of that team through Naha and all these things in a very strong but indirect way. So I think that's fantastic as we start to kind of get near a little bit at the end of our time.
Speaker 1:Man, we could talk a whole lot longer for sure, but I guess one of my here's the perspective I want you to take now is you now, as you know, experienced in the industry. You know where you are with just your accomplishments and where you stand in Gold Waves as a part of that team and the role you take on there. What's your perspective on someone brand new that enters in, that might walk in the door at Gold Waves now? Now they're the person that might be. Let's just say, hey, listen, they're fresh out of school, you know, and now this is their first stopping point, you know, in their first job in the industry. How do you see team benefiting that person that's like brand new, because I know you've got great perspective on that because you've you're, you're seeing that, you're observing that. So how do you look at that?
Speaker 2:I feel like they are at a huge advantage.
Speaker 2:You know, like I wish that I was born into my career, into you know, something like this, this, because I don't know what I would have done.
Speaker 2:You know earlier, younger Deja. I don't know what she would have done if she would have had the opportunities you know from, uh, from a much younger standpoint in their career. So, um, I think that not only are they at a huge advantage, but I I feel like it lends itself to like in our salon, we have an apprentice program, and so our apprentices are so supported and they go through haircutting education, styling education, color education before they are even out on the floor, and so we're making sure that our quality and their quality and everybody is comfortable is all there before they even touch guests. So they get education, they get an amazing team, they are learning, because that is so super important, and then just learning all the ways that they can be successful as fast as they can, whereas like being by themselves, like you only know what you know, you know, and when you have a team, it's, it's just so much more powerful.
Speaker 1:You know I'm thinking and I'm going to ask you to give give one word as a descriptor and I'll kind of get it started. You know, out of today what I heard was this it's almost like if I had to kind of summarize today's you know, our conversation today and say, if I would identify, like in one word, what's the benefit of your, from, from your perspective, your point of view, what's one word that'd be like the benefit of being part of a team culture or seeking out a team culture. If you're out there and you're you feel like man, if you're listening and you're like man, I would love to have what I'm hearing. Like I want to have what Deja has. Like what's Gold Wave's address? Like I need to. Maybe, maybe I need to move to Fort Worth and get myself come on down, come on down to Texas, but if I'm looking for team or something like that in my area, I think the one word I would describe that came out of today was I just feel like the underlying is you talked a lot about the word support and I think that's the key word that I would use is I feel like everything you talked about, whether it's someone brand new or maybe someone that's more veteran in the industry or things like that is being part of a team offers you support, and then you could take that.
Speaker 1:You know a lot of different ways, whether it's support personally, or support creatively, or support just in our day to day or, you know, in our, in our work, in our culture, things of that nature. So I think support stands out to me. If you had to give one word to kind of just describe in general, not only just the conversation today, but just being part of a team or that environment, what word would stand out to you?
Speaker 2:I think the number one thing is opportunity. I think that a team offers more opportunity than being solo ever could, in so many ways.
Speaker 1:Boom, I mean, that's it Done, that's it Done. We don't need to say anymore, we don't need to make a big deal. I think you fit it perfectly. I think that's awesome, I think it's a great. I think that's a great observation just to say, hey, listen, you've again 25 years now in the industry. It's like you've been in all different phases, all different environments, things like that. It's like your perspective now is just like all I see is even this point in your career.
Speaker 1:All I see is opportunity, probably opportunity for you to still continue to grow, but opportunity for people like we just talked about someone that's brand new, so I think that's a great way to wrap today up. Deja man, it's been awesome talking to you, thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Awesome and best of luck with all of the things that you're doing. Best of luck with, like I said, all this stuff like between Naha and all the different things that you're doing. Best of luck with, like I said, all this stuff like between Naha and all the different things that you're involved with as an educator and whatnot. Man, wish you the best. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right, and thank you to everyone else that's joined us today on today's podcast. Again, we look forward to talking to you soon, but between now and then, have a great day.
Speaker 3:Thanks again for listening to the Beauty Business Strategies podcast. If you liked this episode, be sure to hit follow To learn more about how strategies can help create more fun, profit and growth potential for you, your company and your team. We invite you to schedule a free 60-minute strategy session by clicking the direct link in the description of this episode.