A Cut Above
Salon owner offers more than jobs
When they come to work in the morning, Charlene Carroll's
employees know they can expect more than the daily grind. They can
also expect a philosophy on life and business the 46-year-old
Bostonian has developed over 19 years of owning a hair salon.
It's a philosophy that prompts her to hire neighborhood
youth to do odd jobs in her shop-and to find out just what her
employees expect from life.
"When a person comes to me [for a job], I try to be
upfront. I want to know what they're going to do with their
lives and what their goals are. I need to know if they're
motivated or if I need to motivate them," says Carroll from
her salon, Charlene's Hair Salon, in Boston's predominantly
black Roxbury neighborhood.
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For the truly motivated-and more advanced-Carroll's help can
include free continuing education classes to learn new hair-care
techniques, the chance to demonstrate hair products at shows around
the nation, and training in the skills needed to operate a
salon.
"About five salons in the area are owned by former
employees of mine," boasts Carroll. "I try to get my
people to the point where, if they leave here, they can go out and
open their own businesses."
Opening a salon wasn't her goal in the beginning. "I
was perfectly happy working for someone else," remembers
Carroll, who started her business so she could get a pension plan.
"But I always wanted to be the best at whatever I
did."
Sometimes, Carroll discovered, being the best means striking out
on your own. Now she's teaching others to do the same.
-C.E.G.
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