((PKG)) COVID HAIR SALON BUSINESS
((TRT: 03:16))
((Topic Banner: Building a Business))
((VOA Ukrainian))
((Reporter: Luliia Larmolenko))
((Camera: Kostyantyn Golubchyk))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main characters: 2 female))
((NATS))
((Justine Carlisle, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
We would go to work from 11:00 to 8:00, do hair behind the
chair, serve our clients, and then we would go home and
from like 8:00 until midnight, we would be doing paperwork
online. We would be like looking for a location.
((NATS))
((Devin Cook, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
When we decided to open a salon, I felt a little shy about not
knowing what to do or how to open a business. And I felt like
what this experience has taught me is just to ask questions.
And now, I feel like I really don’t leave a meeting until I really
understand exactly what is expected of me or exactly what’s
next.
((NATS))
((Justine Carlisle, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
One of the most rewarding things every day is to be able to
have a team full of women at this point who come here and
feel empowered. I feel like our main goal with the culture of
Blackbird starts with the staff. If you come into a building and
you feel positive like happy energy, it's just going to flow off
of each other with the clients.
((NATS))
((Devin Cook, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
There wasn't a lot of women that we worked alongside other
than each other. We always had each other. But when we
think about like our contractors or our lawyer or landlords,
people that we would talk to advise, it was always men. And
I think that the conversation of like women supporting
women, people are like, “Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.” Maybe,
industries that we think are more feminine are actually still
being run by men.
((NATS))
((Justine Carlisle, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
The biggest takeaway is that every single day is different.
You know, we would come here and not know what to
expect. And I think I started living by not being able to plan
too far ahead anymore because you really never know if
your doors will be closed for a while. So, I think no regrets,
just trying to figure out every day like what to do better?
((NATS))
((Devin Cook, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
Our standards or expectations, I should say, were set really
low. We were kind of like, “Okay, let's just survive the first
year.” Right? And then once we get out of COVID, we can
talk a little bit about growth or like even just the conversation
of success. I don't really think that existed in our first year
due to the climate. I think it was just genuinely about survival
and paying our rent. And I think I'm really fortunate to say
that I feel like in the last year, we have seen success and we
are so grateful for like the kind of culture and environment
that we've been able to create even during these times
because it wasn’t expected.
((NATS))
((Devin Cook, Co-Owner, Blackbird Salon))
I feel really grateful that we share this space with so many
people that are just as passionate. I think when we were
building it and we didn't know what Blackbird was going to
look like or what it was going to be, it was really hard for us
to imagine like people being on this team with us because
how do you explain something that doesn't exist? How do
you get people inspired about something that doesn't exist
yet? To see people also excited about it and also connected
to it, I feel really grateful.
((NATS))
