Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Krause.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My career began not in the beauty industry, but in hospitality. I spent 7 years working in hotel management, in Wisconsin which is where I grew up. My job was challenging and exciting. I was able to meet a lot of interesting people, and no two days were the same. While I didn’t lose interest, I found myself working long days, holidays, skipping vacations, and being on-call 24-7 for a salary that just wasn’t what I had expected. In my late 20s, I decided that it was time to make the change to the career I had been daydreaming about since I was a teenager, which was hair styling.
I gave up my steady income to attend cosmetology school 33 hours a week in Milwaukee, while working two part time jobs to support myself. The Aveda Institute, where I studied, was really great about helping to place their graduates with the best companies. They sponsored a day trip to tour Chicago Salons, and long story short, that is how I ended up here.
During my time working as a Hairstylist in Chicago, I have been fortunate to make some great connections with other industry professionals. I have gained valuable technical skills as well as business knowledge. Things really started to come together for me when I decided to take ownership of my career. I stopped depending upon a salon to just feed me my clientele, and I stopped allowing myself to become bummed out and lazy if I had a slow day. It wasn’t an easy transition, though. I spent a year renting my own space in a salon, which I was not prepared for at the time. I decided to leave the situation which was not serving me and moved to Delle Amiche Salon in the Gold Coast neighborhood, and I also began my own Bridal hair and makeup team. That was the beginning of 2017, and it makes me so proud (and excited for the future) when I think of how much I have been able to expand my business in such a short time!
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?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road, but I believe that we are faced with challenges to help us grow. When I look back, there were definitely points when I wasted time, but I have no regrets.
My first challenge was trying to manage my finances during my first year as a hairstylist. No one exactly prepared me for the fact that I would spend a full year working for minimum wage (plus very minimal tips) while going through a salon training program. It was less than I was bringing in with my part time jobs as a student. There I was, a 30 years old woman, rebooting her career and struggling just to pay rent, utilities and keep food in my fridge. Even still, I didn’t regret the career move to follow my heart. When things get tough, if you are passionate about your work- you will find a way to succeed.
My second major challenge was surrounding the company I worked for and my loyalty to it. I had a lot of pride in that salon, and I was raised to be a reliable employee who is committed to her job. Within a couple of years, I was working in a location that I loved, had a steady clientele and was building a reputation as one of the few stylists who were the updo and bridal hair and makeup enthusiasts, I was living my dream. Then, my employer decided to shift a few people around their three locations, and I ended up at a salon over 4 miles away. I lost my clientele (and a good amount of my income) and had to start building again (slowly) in a location with minimal walk in traffic. I also gave up my passion with this move, which was working with wedding parties. No one was booking weddings in this neighborhood since almost everyone who lived there were married already with children. I hoped for things to change for about two years before I left that company.
My advice to other women is to constantly evaluate your situation and ask if it is serving you. Building up a solid work history is great, but you need to be doing what you are passionate about and being compensated fairly for it! Any company will make the decisions that are best for them, and we also need to do what’s best for us.
I also think that women in any field, at any stage in their career can benefit from a mentor who is not employed by the same company. If I had started off being able to have conversations with someone who was successful in my field and with a broad knowledge of industry practices, I would have learned a few years earlier that Chicago is a big city and I can create my dream job here. I didn’t need to stay at a job that no longer felt aligned with my purpose.
I recommend pursuing every project you can to gain knowledge and experience, even if you are the only person doing it. When I worked at my first salon, I would use my spare time and my resources to create photo shoots with models so that I could get some quality photos of my work to build my portfolio. Some of my superiors even picked on me about this, sort of like an over-achiever in high school would be picked on. Now, a few years later, the pictures from those photo shoots are something that I have from that phase of my career that I truly own, are proof of my work, and that helped me to develop my skills.
This last piece of advice is for hairstylists specifically. Never stop taking classes, and don’t only take the ones that your employer gives you for free (if you are so lucky). It makes me sad every time I hear a stylist say that they don’t need to take classes because they have X number of years experience. We work in an industry that is based upon trends, which are constantly changing, therefore we must keep on learning. There are many different ways of doing things, and that is why I recommend seeking out your own education in addition to what is sponsored by your employer. It’s better to be well rounded than have tunnel vision.
What should we know about Beauty by Ann Krause? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am known for being a Hairstylist who specializes in all things that are girly. In a salon, I provide Haircuts, Blowouts, Updos, Keratin treatments and Extension services. Most of my clients are females ranging from bob to long hairstyles.
Along with my bridal team, I am able to provide personalized hair and makeup services to Chicago brides and their wedding parties. I am proud of our ability to provide an experience that is both relaxing and fun to begin the wedding day. Since I am able to manage the full process from the first inquiry through the wedding day, I am able to develop a relationship with my brides and help them through their planning process. My brides are able to reach out to me directly when they are contemplating ideas for their wedding day look or with any other questions, they may have. They get to communicate directly with their beauty professional and not a middleman.
My history in Hospitality Management, along with my obsessive organizational habits, means that I am able to provide a structured experience where everyone knows exactly what to expect, and what is expected of them. In fact, I have a few “check-in” points leading up to the wedding date so that my Brides are confident that all of our details are secured and that the morning of their wedding will flow seamlessly.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I am naturally a reserved person, and I have found that networking works best for me it happens organically, I’m talking about when I am not even trying to network so much as I am genuinely excited to meet other talented artists. I will usually find myself paying someone a genuine compliment, which leads to a conversation. Even if we don’t talk long, I make sure to get their business card or to connect on Instagram. Then, I make myself a note to follow up with them a few days later with an email where I will ask to connect, collaborate or refer business to each other in the future.
Instagram is huge for me, too. This is how I met a makeup artist who I work with all the time. A few times, I have by chance bumped into other Chicago women who I interact with on Instagram when I was out at an event. When I introduced myself, they already knew me, and we instantly were able to start a conversation.
Pricing:
- In Salon- Blowout $60
- In Salon- Haircut $95
- In Salon- Keratin Treatment starting at $175
- In Salon- Extension Services- based upon Consultation
- On location- Bridal Hair and Makeup between $85-115 per service per person
Contact Info:
- Address: Delle Amiche Salon
980 N Michigan Ave Suite 250
Chicago, IL 60611 - Website: www.beautybyannkrause.com
- Phone: 773-827-2369
- Email: beautybyannkrause@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautybyannkrause
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautybyannkrause/
- Other: www.pinterest.com/beautybyannkrause/
Image Credit:
My portrait- Francis Son Photography, Blonde with hair down- Francis Son Photography, Bride and groom- Rachel Mae Photo, Brunette with hair down- Francis Son Photography, Blonde with messy updo- Francis Son Photography, Bride with Bridesmaid- Kellwood Studio Photography, Blonde with Messy Updo- Francis Son Photography, Me in green shirt working with a Bride- Rachel Mae Photo, Bride putting on her shoes- Rebecca Haley Photography
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