Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Roxana Pintilie, Co-Founder and CEO of Warren Tricomi Salons, located in New York City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the co-founder and CEO of Warren Tricomi Salons. For over thirty years, Warren Tricomi salons have crafted the ultimate experience in luxury hair care for the New York area’s most discerning residents. With salons in Greenwich, East Hampton, and three Manhattan locations, including the iconic Plaza Hotel, the Warren Tricomi experience is as convenient as it is elegant. With a team of expert stylists and colorists who work closely with each client, our salons provide personalized service using the latest techniques and high-end products that make every visit feel like a special occasion.
Tell us about yourself
When I opened my first salon-spa in 1983, I realized how little structure and work standards were in place for the beauty industry, so I made a commitment to improving the standard by creating transparency, providing more training, and using technology to automate systems.
The people on the team at Warren Tricomi are what keep me motivated. I like to say that ‘I don’t have 200 people working for me; I work for 200 people.’ I believe that without people, you do not have a business. That is why everything I do is centered on making everyone’s job easier and empowering each of them to grow, personally and professionally. We can only grow as a business if our people are growing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The ability to quickly adapt our business model and operations to meet the changing industry standards is one of my biggest accomplishments as a business owner. When I started the business, our operating systems were on pen and paper. There was no transparency for our staff or data for us to analyze to be able to get ahead of the business. I saw the need to invest in technology that would provide data and customer experience, which was beginning to become the norm in other industries. We have evolved now to a salon software that gives us the ability to analyze various KPIs per team member and per location. We have a mobile app and an online booking portal for our clients, which automate more than 50% of our bookings. These changes have allowed us to be proactive in our management style and meet our goals on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. The ability to automate certain parts of our operations through technology has freed up my time to focus on marketing efforts, which has provided a new level of control for us to work backward to meet our business goals in a precise fashion.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is prioritizing your time. It is important to make sure you find out what you are best at – and do that. Find other people to do the rest so you can sustain a proper work/life balance. You cannot succeed if you are burnt out!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be quick to adopt the best practices and technology and surround yourself with the best consultants to give you the solutions your business needs. I have managed to set the bar high for our competitors because I invest in solutions that put us ahead of the curve - I do not waste time trying to figure it all out myself. Be willing to delegate and build a team of people around you who can make smart decisions. Be committed to pushing the bar higher and improving for years to come.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://warrentricomi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarrenTricomi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrentricomi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warren-tricomi-salon/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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