We recently had the chance to connect with polly Sanders-Peterson and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning polly, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
I remember the day I was interviewed for the First Hall of Fame Hairdressers in Denver, Colorado. That morning, I felt nervous, but I tried to act professional and mature, suppressing the emotions bubbling up inside me. After years of striving to be the best, I measured my success by comparing myself to other prominent hairdressers—their achievements, what they owned, the number of stylists they worked with, the size of their clientele, and their charging rates.
Today, someone or some people believed I was one of the “best,” so I took the time to dress up. I did my hair and makeup, and chose a great outfit: probably black pants, heels, a crisp white blouse, and just the right jewelry, along with a colorful sweater. I felt great and looked great!
Well, I’m off to the interview, and wouldn’t you know it, they were late! However, they called and gave me enough time to treat myself to Starbucks—a coffee latte with an extra shot of espresso to calm my nerves, along with a little hazelnut syrup to sweeten it up. Then they finally arrived! Charlie Price was there and gave me the once-over. I thought to myself, “Yep, you look good!” At that moment, I felt at ease; I could relax and enjoy the interview!
The day of the event finally arrived, and I was excited to be accompanied by my beloved accountant. As I entered the venue, I was overcome with excitement and joy, knowing that I was going to be inducted into the first “Hall of Fame” for hairdressers in Denver, Colorado.
As I stepped inside, I saw some of my favorite clients cheering for me, along with some of my favorite bosses. In that moment, I realized that I was just as talented as they were. In my heart, I said to myself, “I have finally measured up!” I was standing alongside renowned hairdressers like Rita B. and Paul Garcia, to name just a few.
Yes, my day had come! At over 70 years old, I felt proud to be recognized as one of the best in my field. It felt incredible to know that I had finally made it. Receiving the “First Hall of Fame Hairdresser Award” was a dream come true! Love, Polly @ Pollyandcompany
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Polly Sanders-Peterson, and at 81 years old, I still enjoy going to my salon as much as I did on my first day! I’m excited to see my friends and clients, many of whom I have served for over 35 to 45 years. As the owner of Polly and Company for more than 40 years, I take pride in providing services to busy professionals and active retirees—both women and men—along with some of their children and grandchildren. I still work 4 to 5 days a week, from 10 AM to 6 PM. My specialties include coloring, highlights, design cuts, and curl control treatments, with a few perms here and there. My clientele is diverse, including both straight and unruly curly hair for men and women. www.pollyandco.com
What makes my salon special is the relationship I have with my clients and the connections we share. We discuss our lives, travels, experiences at fine dining establishments, hopes, struggles, and victories, as well as our children’s growing pains and successes.
I am an Outreach Pastor and the founder of Covenanthouseoflove.com ministries, where I have been serving for over 31 years. I am passionate about teaching, counseling, and helping broken women find emotional healing through love, acceptance, fulfillment, and God’s grace. My work extends to various settings, including community centers, women’s prisons, and online teachings. I have authored four books and share my insights nationally and globally with other women leaders, always offering assistance wherever I can. You can learn more at www.covenanthouseoflove.com.
I am currently networking with other stylists, leaders, and organizations to find the right candidate for an associate position. This person will take over a day of work with me and help expand our services to independent living facilities, allowing me more time to focus on my ministry work.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I grew up knowing a lot of responsibility for my elder daI grew up with a mom who had severe epilepsy and three brothers to cook for and take care of. I realized that I could work hard, and I loved it! In fact, I still love working hard and have a great time doing it! However, now I no longer believe the things I once believed about myself.
For over 43 years, I believed that I was not loved, accepted, or pretty, and that I would never be good enough. However, all of those feelings were just lies and deceptions, shaped by my own perceptions and what others had said to me.
Through the guidance of great mentors, pastors, and bosses who believed in me and recognized my gifts, along with my personal love for people and hair, I have come to understand that I am loved and valued. I realize that I have great worth, and I possess experiences and knowledge that I can share to help shape others who may be struggling with feelings of inferiority, lack of confidence, or who find it difficult to believe they have something to offer.
Through my studies at Bible College and my personal journey of knowing God, I discovered how deeply I am loved. I realized that I have so much love to share with others, especially those who are forgotten, rejected, or struggling to find love. I use my books to help teach this message both in and out of my salon..
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh my God, yes! There have been many times in my life, both in business and personally, when I felt like I couldn’t go on. One particular instance was when I tried to sell my salon in 2004. I did all the right things: I found a person who wanted to buy a salon and set things up to ensure her success. My goal was to transition to full-time work in my ministry while still having a little money left over to help grow it..
Here’s what happened: The person came, and we settled on an offer. After I sent out letters to all 150 of my clients, thanking them for the best support a hairdresser could have, I let her come in and start remodeling the salon. I was prepared to work with her for as long as it took to make my clients comfortable. with her.
On the day of the sale, I found it difficult to get out of bed; I felt completely stuck. A client called and informed me that things were not as I had thought. I called my husband, and together we went to the salon to finalize the sale. Upon our arrival, the new owner had changed her mind. She no longer wanted certain aspects of the sale; instead, she wanted my clientele. I couldn’t understand how I would be able to get by with so little. After renegotiating, I worked there for a few weeks, but I eventually realized I couldn’t endure it any longer.,
At this point, I asked, “What happened? How did I miss this?” Starting over at 60 years old felt daunting. But then I met Matt and Stratton, the founders of Sola Salon International, and they believed in me. Matt said to me, “Polly, I believe in you.” That was all it took for me to start over and rebuild my clientele. Now, my business is doing great! I know, as I did with help from Matt and Stratton and God You can Too!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I’m finding that today we have to adapt and focus more on service-based revenue and less on retail sales. One of the biggest lies being perpetuated by our industry, particularly beauty supply companies, is that “retail is profitable.”
In the 1980s and 1990s, retail was thriving! Back then, there was no Amazon, and there were limited outlets for selling in grocery stores or beauty supply companies. However, things changed toward the end of the 1990s and accelerated rapidly through the 2000s and early 2010s. Grocery stores began selling professional products outside of salons, and then Amazon entered the market. Additionally, major companies like L’Oréal started acquiring numerous brands, merging with other industry players, and buying Salon Centric, gaining control over how and which products are stocked and how many.
We have lost exclusivity, and our clients no longer rely on their stylist for retail purchases, even though we are still trying to retail and stay priced with Amazon and other big consumer outlets. We have adapted to focusing more on service-based revenue, and we are seeing an increase in our services, with a 92% or more increase from services. Polly Sanders-Peterson www.pollyandco.com
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
In 2004, God allowed me to be stripped of everything I held dear when I lost my salon, and I nearly lost my hope. I began to question my identity and struggled with feelings of despair, which is one of the most devastating things to experience. But through this challenge, God revealed a profound lesson within me that I will carry forever: I am valued, loved, and completely accepted. I have so much to give—not just inside the salon, but also to my family, community, nation, and the world. And that gift is “Love.”
I’ve come to understand that possessions, money, or fame will not sustain you during times of great loss, health issues, or feelings of loneliness. It is only by knowing and experiencing true, Godly love that a person can truly understand who they are in their heart.
Today, I am incredibly thankful to know and experience unconditional, immeasurable, and unending Godly love.
Author of “LOVE SEARCH” by Polly Sanders-Peterson
Visit: www.covenanthouseoflove.com or find it on Amazon.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pollyandco.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Polly Sanders-Peterson
- Linkedin: linkedin/pollyandcomp@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pollyandcompanmy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pollysanders-peterson3624
Image Credits
all pictures belong to me: Polly Sanders-Peterson
