April 24, 2017

Meet Gregory Chase of The Elsewhere Salon in Somerville

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Chase.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Gregory. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Boston about 6 years ago from a small town in Arkansas. I attended Empire Beauty School in Downtown Boston and finished at the top of my class. Shortly after graduation, I apprenticed with a Best of Boston stylist in Somerville. My career eventually took me to Newbury St where I worked alongside some of Boston’s most talented stylists. I have been lucky enough to train with supportive stylists and continue my education while building an amazingly loyal clientele. Owning my own studio has always been a goal of mine. My husband is my biggest cheerleader and with his support, I returned to Somerville and opened The Elsewhere Salon. My studio is more of a boutique feel where we only service a MAX of 2 clients at a time. I am able to develop relationships with my guests and this small studio takes the pressure of a larger salon off of the client. Guests are able to feel at home while visiting “Elsewhere”.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, haha. It certainly was NOT a smooth road. We signed our lease for our studio in December 2015. Unfortunately, we hired the wrong group to do our build out. Our goal was to be open by February 2015- but we didn’t actually open until June 2015. We had never opened a business before, so it was certainly a learning process in what papers needed to be filed with the city and state. It’s kind of like having children- you can research the internet, but there is no REAL “how-to manual”.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Elsewhere Salon – what should we know?
We like to think of Elsewhere as an “Eco-Friendly” salon because we do as much as we can to minimize our impact on the environment. This means we recycle as much as we can (including foils, product packaging, and even hair). The KEVIN MURPHY products we carry are packaged in compostable and reusable materials (including hairspray cans). Elsewhere is the first Green Circle Salon in the Somerville/Cambridge area. We have also eliminated the need for paper towels and paper cups by offering washable hand towels in the restroom and by serving refreshments in reusable glasses. We are always thinking of new ways we can reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Elsewhere is a boutique, luxury salon where we specialize in the art of precision haircutting and hair coloring including balayage. Blonde hair coloring is our specialty, but we love all hair colors!

We are so proud that we are able to service each guest in a small personal setting and we are able to help preserve our earth at the same time. We feel like we have been able to give clients something that is missing from the traditional, loud, salon with 15 stylists where guests sometimes feel like they are a part of a factory production line.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My husband Michael has been my biggest cheerleader and support. He has been able to see my vision and dedication to this industry even when I felt like giving up. Michael has been by my side for the whole ride. He takes care of a lot of the business side of the salon, giving me the freedom to be creative in the salon on a daily basis. He has had a few late evenings alone at home while I “sneak in one last guest”. It’s hard to step away sometimes and he has never been anything but supportive. Without his help and support, I would not be where I am today. With him, by my side, we’ve been able to build an amazing business together. THANK YOU MICHAEL! YOU’RE MY HERO!

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