Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Sanchez.
Hi Jenny, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
One of my best friends (Christy Dennison) who is a hairstylist convinced me to open a hair salon with her. I had no cosmetology experience, no college degree, no financial capital, and no clue what I was doing. We were two dreamers that decided to go for it. In 2008, we found an affordable space to rent in Denver’s Santa Fe Art District. It was an old theater building, it was very gritty but had character. We started with a very small business loan from Dream Spring and did most of the decor ourselves. We found antique dressers and salon chairs for sale on Craigslist. It’s always had a vintage, artsy style. It was in the path of the First Friday Art Walk and I decided to sell some retail and host, local artists, in our front reception area. We participated in the First Friday art walks and held a couple of charity events for local animal shelters, which was a lot of fun. Our stylists also participate in fashion shows and have done hair and make-up for special events from Zombie Crawls to Bridal Parties. We always received help from our friends, family, and our community. We have always been fortunate to have support.
I decided to go to the Aveda Institute and for esthetics and massage therapy. After I graduated and was licensed, I felt like I was finally part of the team. In 2011, Adam Hester started working at the salon as a cosmetologist. We had met outside of the salon and were in the same social circles. He also played in a garage band that performed music for a short film I was in called Motor Vixens. It premiered at The Mayan Theater and we sat next to each other and talked for a while that night. In 2012 Adam and I got married, and in 2013, we had our son and I became a mom. I also became a flight attendant full time and kept the salon and my handful of clients. My friend Christy decided to leave the salon (my original salon partner) she left the business and moved out of state for several years and then returned to Denver and rejoined our salon team. My husband Adam also left the salon to teach cosmetology and be a full-time parent.
In 2015, we were notified our building was going to be sold. We found our current location, an 1895 Victorian House on the corner of Lincoln St and Dakota. It’s in a central part of Denver off of Broadway and Alameda. Our rent doubled but our location and building improved. It’s still an old building but it has its charm. Having a family and a full-time job as a flight attendant is a lot to juggle. I try to take a few clients every week. When I am in the salon I help with cleaning and inventory. When something breaks, I need to fix it or have someone come out to fix it. I rely on my team to help keep everything afloat. They are booth renters, so they don’t work for me – they rent space from me and run their own hair business inside of my business, but we have each other’s back. I like to think of them as my salon family. In 2021, this year Christy’s daughter Milla joined our salon family as a cosmetologist. In January 2022 we will celebrate 14 years of being in business!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We decided to open a business during the 2007 – 2008 financial crisis and our friends and family decided to remind us we were in a recession. Unemployment was high and the housing market had crashed. We went ahead and opened. In 2015 when we had to relocate, the real estate market in Denver was picking up. We applied to lease our current spot but another interested party paid our landlord two months’ rent to hold the property while they decided on it. We were running out of options and thought we might be priced out of Denver and possibly have to close down. Our current landlord reached out to us just before we needed to vacate our previous location to let us know it was available.
Over the years we have been lucky to find stylists that fit our salon and not everyone worked out which I learned was totally ok. Covid was a major monkey wrench. I had filed our taxes late (absolutely my fault) and they were rejected TWICE by the IRS and we never received one dollar of stimulus money or PPP loans or grants. I am forever grateful that one of our stylists paid her rent during the weeks we were closed but I didn’t ask any of them too because I knew they were unable to take in any income. In 2020, we lost three stylists and our permanent makeup artist and we are a very small salon of seven chairs and one treatment room, It was a devastating financial hit and it nearly took us out. But we are recovering and I believe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We have always been an alternative style salon, edgy, kitschy, and a little macabre. We specialize in vivid color hair and alternative hairstyles but we see a variety of clientele. We welcome clients of all ages and we are inclusive. We love our clients and we see a lot of regular faces. Some clients have been coming to us since we opened.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
At the beginning of this year, I realized we were going to survive the Covid 19 pandemic and the economic challenges that had resulted from it, but I decided I wanted to thrive instead of “surviving” for the past 13 years. With my busy schedule, I thought audiobooks would be my best fit. I started listening to a variety of books on personal growth while I got ready in the morning driving, doing chores, whenever I have an opportunity. It’s made a huge difference in improving my mood, my stress levels, changing my perspective, and opening up ideas for where I can make improvements. It’s something that I wish I would have done when I started. My advice for anyone starting their own business is to invest some time in personal growth. Whether you hire a personal coach, read books, or listen to podcasts. Also, if there is something that you aren’t good at or like doing – delegate that task to someone else or hire someone to do it. I wish I didn’t learn that lesson the hard way!
Contact Info:
- Email: jenny@luxedevilsalon.com
- Website: luxedevilsalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxedevilsalon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxedevilsalon
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/long_days_with_jenny
Image Credits
Chad Larson
