Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Hart.
Tanya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, it was a cold and chilly December day in 2013 when I was having brunch with a couple of girlfriends, old co-workers of mine. We were catching up as one had started her own business in the previous months and wanted to know where I was at in achieving my own goal of business ownership. At that point, I was disheartened by the local salon community and wasn’t sure that I wanted to pursue that dream any more. I had been considering a switch in careers. Both friends (Alisha and Michaela where you at, where you at?! haha) were surprised to hear that and assured me that I would be an amazing owner. Alisha even suggested a few locations close to Aviva Esthetics, her business.
That conversation planted a deep seed in my heart and I started discussing the possibilities with my clients. One client asked me if I still loved doing hair, which had always been my passion. Of course, I still loved doing hair, I answered. When she asked me, what was holding me back and I replied with fear. At the time, I had a lot of fears holding me back. My marriage wasn’t doing well, financially I was strapped and I had two young boys at home. She then offered to help me financially, which was enough motivation for me to start pursuing my dream.
In the following weeks I had stalked and secured the location that Oomph Salon is in today. My client gave me a small loan and I hustled to come up with the remaining funds needed. I outfitted the salon with IKEA furniture and Craigslist equipment. The salon had four stations and three stylists when we opened our doors in June of 2014.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to success is a journey, not a destination. It has not been a smooth road but every bump along the path has been an amazing learning moment that I am truly grateful for.
In the beginning, within just a few weeks of making the decision to open Oomph, my mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer. That diagnosis put me on the fence of debating whether this was something I wanted to pursue versus being indispensable to my family if they needed me. My mother encouraged me to continue down my path. At the end of 2014, I separated from my husband and we divorced in 2015.
On a professional level, I had started with a “safe” business plan. I had known I wanted a strong salon culture and brand, but I didn’t have anything etched in stone. I had to make a lot of changes along the way. Change isn’t always a welcomed friend, but I think it’s the only way that people and businesses can continue to grow.
2017 was an interesting year. I had been on the hunt for larger salon space to help accommodate our growing demands. Over the course of the year, I had three potential locations fall through. I have learned so much about negotiating and construction! haha
Oomph Salon – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Oomph is an innovative salon with a rich and friendly culture. We are built on the foundation of education and passion for what we do…. badass haircutting and coloring. Each one of our stylists has been handpicked by me, not to just fill a chair, but to fit in with my long-term vision of bringing passion back to the industry that I love so much. Some would say we specialize in hair color, but I think we specialize in welcoming guests like they are family and working with them to achieve the hair of their dreams.
I am most proud of creating a new industry standard and bringing life back to a local salon community that I grew up admiring so much. Oomph is well known in the Northeast region and I have had many other salon owners reach out to me for advice. Knowing how competitive this industry can be at times, it is truly humbling to be in this position. Owning a local business has also allowed me to set deep roots in the surrounding community to help orchestrate small business shopping initiatives and give back by creating fundraisers for local non-profits.
As far as what sets us apart…. why don’t you come find out for yourself? I mean, have we met?
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Oh man, I love watching my team succeed not only in their professional lives but also in their personal lives. They are so young in their careers and making more money than I ever did in the 13 years that I was behind the chair. They come to me for advice and guidance and I have witnessed them making hard but amazing decisions to foster their growth. They are buying houses and saving money. They are choosing to live a life of positivity over negativity. In the salon industry, this isn’t always the case.
Every time they reach out to me with a “thank you” or “you inspire me” text, my heart just feels so full.
(I love you Team Oomph!)
Contact Info:
- Address: 165 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Website: www.oomph.salon
- Phone: 603-766-2336
- Email: info@oomph.salon
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oomphsalon
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/oomphsalon
Image Credit:
Amy Donle, Ashley Firth
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