'Give Them What They Want'

Salon FX opened recently at Sixes Crossing. David White, who opened the hair salon with his girlfriend, Tammie Anderson, said customers can expect a friendlier atmosphere than in chain salons. Canton-Sixes Patch sat down with White to talk about his business' recent opening.

Patch: Why did you decide to open up your business during the economic downturn? What are the advantages and disadvantages to opening now?

Salon FX: It wasn’t a bad time to open. There’s really never a good time to open, there’s never really a bad time to open. I was unemployed. Tammie was not happy, so (we decided) to create our own future.

Patch: How is business going?

Salon FX: Slow, but that’s expected. I think things will pick up once people find out we’re here, once Tammie’s customers (and the other stylists') customers know where they are.

Patch: What’s the plan to get the word out that you’re here and open?

Salon FX: (We have) several ideas. Of course, you’re going to have your Internet media. That’s probably going to be first and foremost. Then, we’ll probably do some advertisting in local papers. Word of mouth.

Patch: Is this a dream for Tammie?

Salon FX: She has had her own shop before. Then, (she) semi-retired and went to work for chain stores. She would rather be in a salon that is not a chain, that has a real salon atmosphere.

Patch: What’s the difference?

Salon FX: Chain stores are get them in, get them out. You know: Don’t talk to your customers. Just cut hair. And move on. You get what you pay for.

We’re more customer-oriented, knowing the community, knowing (our) customers, knowing who they are and what they’re about. (We) work with them to give them what they want—if it takes an hour (or) if it takes 15 minutes. It’s service.

Patch: Why did you pick this location?

Salon FX: It’s a great value to be in this location because you’ve got BridgeMill down the street, River Green down the street, Lake Sovereign down the other way. It’s just full of subdivisions and people. There’s only one other salon right in this general area, and you’ve got down the street. We feel like this is just a great location that’s growing. just opened. You’ve got the , the nail place, Anytime Fitness, . It’s just a small little area where there’s a lot of people. The traffic count here is incredible. One Saturday I sat here and counted cars for an hour—710 cars in an hour. That’s pretty good.

Patch: What are the challenges and benefits to opening your own business?

Salon FX: The challenges? Government. I’ll just leave it at that. The benefits? Numerous. It’s your own business. You make it what you want. It’s just very rewarding to own your own business.

Salon FX is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.