Hair and there in Transcona
The busiest time to visit Transcona Salon Spa might be on a Friday morning, when the regulars come in to get their hair done. Owner Kerry Harrison says the Friday morning clients have gotten to know each other, with the conversation flowing at this community-oriented salon and spa as neighbours recognize each other: “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a long time. What are the kids doing now?”
While the salon has been open for decades in the same location, Kerry Harrison has owned Transcona Salon Spa for the past 10 years. The decision to buy it came after she sold her original salon on Regent Avenue. Her career started over 20 years ago as an assistant for a stylist, where she helped with cleaning, wrapping hair, and shampooing. “I was his best assistant girl ever,” says Kerry, proudly. “Even now I still give great shampoos.”
Transcona Salon and Spa doubled its space 7 years ago to add the “Spa” portion of its name. While half their clients still come in for hair, the other half of the clientele pass through the door for head-to-toe spa services like manicures (including gel nails), pedicures, facials, henna brows, and microblading. The spa also introduced the Bioelements line of skin care to Manitoba, a line which Kerry describes as, “Part science, part nature, and totally clean.”
The loyal customers in the 17 to 70 age range keep coming back, both those from the neighbourhood and beyond—and they refer family and friends. “I love Transcona. The community is awesome. You get to know everybody. I haven’t worked anywhere else in years and don’t want to. It has a good community feeling and I’m proud to be part of it,” says Kerry.
The sense of community explains Kerry Harrison’s tips for aspiring entrepreneurs: make sure you know your numbers, understand your community, and identity who you’re serving. “And be good to your employees.” Kerry keeps in touch with the salon’s former employees who have gone on to open their own businesses. “People come and go, but it’s nice to see people succeed,” says Kerry, describing how one woman apprenticed with her, and then years later, her daughter also apprenticed with her. “I would like to know that my bosses were happy for me.”
For Kerry, that sense of support has come from her business contacts. “My suppliers that I’ve known for years and years have always given me the ‘you can do it’ talk,” says Kerry. “They actually encourage my dreams. They’ve always helped me to achieve my goals.”
All photos by Kristhine Guerrero
