The majority rules at a longtime Longview beauty salon operated by the same five partners since its founding 25 years ago.
That is one of the keys totheir formula for longevity, the five owners of Longview's Hair Gallery say.
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Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo | Pat Wilemon applies the finishing touches to Toppie Darden's hair at The Hair Gallery. Wilemon has been working at the salon for 25 years.
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"The majority rules," said Brenda Hileman Cobb, one of the five founders.
"We were told we wouldn't make it six months," said fellow partner Liz Graham. "We were all told we were crazy."
Crazy —maybe in a fun-loving way, but the five said their friendship and desire to make a living at what they enjoy has prevailed.
"Our initial objective was to have a nice, clean place to work," Graham said.
Fellow founder Martha Reed said the business will celebrate its 25th anniversary Thursday. Refreshments will be served to patrons and guests throughout the day at the 913 NW Loop location.
Rounding out the partnership are Sarah Jasper and Joni Lindsey.
Hileman-Cobb said some of the founders had worked together at other locations prior to venturing out on their own in May 1983.
"We all met in the hair business," Hileman Cobb said. "And we all had mutual respect for each other."
While the five have not always agreed on every business decision, Graham said she could not recall any major problems or disagreements. Reed said each partner has strengths.
"We each have attributes we bring to the business," Reed said. "Liz is the one that's straight to the point while Brenda is the diplomat."
Jasper said Reed serves as the group's go-to person when someone has a question.
"Martha — she has the answer to everything," Jasper said laughing. She said the partners have always been able to communicate well with each other.
"We've always been up front," Jasper said. "If we have a problem or concern we talk about it.
"We're really like a family," she said. "Almost like sisters."
Graham disagreed.
"No. I think we actually get along better than most sisters do," Graham said. Being able to laugh with and at one another has helped too, Hileman Cobb said.
"We all have terrific senses of humor and like to have a good time."
Like family, Reed said the associates have also helped each other through personalchallenges.
"We've been sympathizers and rejoicers," Reed said. Jasper added they have helped each otherthroughpersonalchallenges.
"Joni, who was only 19 when we started — we helped raise her two boys," Jasper said.
They have been there for each other through births, special events and even death, Reed said. Two of the five partners have had spouses die, said Lindsey.
"We've helped each other grieve and celebrate," Lindsey said.
"We've been to baby showers and pet showers and even pet funerals — you name it," Hileman Cobb said. "Through all of this we've become very intuitive with each other — it's really not hard to know what each other is thinking."
The shop was first located on Gilmer Road with seven employees beside the owners, Reed said. The business did well from the beginning and within a few years doubled the space it occupied.
Later, the need for even more space spurred the move to Loop 281.
"We've worked hard but we've had some fun times too," Reed said.
Today, Hair Gallery has 18 chairs for the beauty salon operation, two nail technicians plus massage services. Reed said the establishment is "open early to late" Tuesday through Saturday with each operator setting her own hours.
The business leases space to each operator. While the five owners are partners in the overall business, they each work independently as contractors, Reed said.
"We work for ourselves and we work hard," she said. Reed said the owners also work well with the others sharing the work environment.
"We honestly appreciate all our girls and all our customers," Reed said. "They have made this possible and we thank them."
Hileman Cobb said the partnership has no big changes planned.
"We plan to stick with what's worked."
Graham agreed.
"If it's not broke, don't fix it; and this has worked for 25 years," Graham said. She said thepartners hope to continue styling hair and giving facials and massages well into the future.
"We may all be wearing orthopedic shoes and on walkers next year, but we hope to still be here," she said.
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Women in business
- Nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women (50 percent or more women's ownership);
- Women-owned firms employ more than 12.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales in 2007;
- For the past two decades, majority women-owned firms have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all firms;
- Women-owned firms, 50 percent or more owned by women, account for 41 percent of all privately held firms
- 3 percent of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6 percent of men-owned firms;
- Seventy-five percent of all firms do not have employees; similarly, 81 percent of women-owned firms are without employees, for a total of 5.4 million firms.
- Women business owners are nearly twice as likely as men business owners to intend to pass the business on to a daughter or daughters.
- Women and men business owners have different management styles. Women emphasize relationship building as well as fact gathering and are more likely to consult with experts, employees and fellow business owners.
Source: Center for Women's Business Research
