March 19, 2017

Meet Jeffrey Lance of Styles by Jeffrey in Lakeview / Wrigleyville

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Lance.

Jeffrey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My start in the industry was not a planned route. I had attempted college twice and realized that it just wasn’t going to work out for me. I am a hands on learner. I love to learn in many ways but I excelled at things I could learn by doing. I was talking with a close friend in the industry and thinking about what I was going to do. I knew any kind of education was going to be important for success. I wanted to do bigger things and be in a bigger city. I began hair school at the age of 23. I quickly learned that this was just what I needed. When you have direction and commit to it you can achieve anything, I started out and as soon as we hit the floor as students our first class was a cutting class. We had a guest teacher a former student and local salon professional teaching the cutting class. The teacher watched my techniques and how quickly I picked up on skills. She began following my work during school and contact me to see how things were going. She coached me on techniques and courted me to come and work for her once I graduated. This job offer in my very first hands on class inspired me knowing that someone believed in me. I graduated and began working with her. I also helped out in my friend’s salon. I was learning things everyday and knew that it had come time to make a move. I packed up and headed for Chicago. I didn’t have contacts here so I went to work for a chain salon to have income. I spent time checking out salons and programs. There are many ways to operate a successful salon, I just didn’t believe it was the way I wanted to operate. I ended up staying at the chain salon for one year and six months working multiple locations to save all the money I could. I decided I was going to open my own salon. I ended up talking with another stylist I worked with. I was 27 at the time and thought I could do anything. I talked to her about going into business together. We were the busiest stylists in the salon. We made our plan and made the move. I was much younger than her and we had different opinions on how things should be done. I sold my share after 2 years in business. I headed out to start all over on my own. I have owned my current location for nearly 8 years. I have an incredible staff and we pride ourselves on consistency and skill on a very warm relaxed and inviting environment. We recently remodeled. I believe that the key to success is not becoming complacent in your work. I needed to feel renewed and breathe some life into the place. I designed everything with the clients input in mind. It has become a place I always intended it to be, we are positive and looking forward the years to come and the bonds we will make with all the clients that will come in over the years.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s never easy starting any business there will always bumps in the road. I was young when I opened my first location. I knew enough about business to get started but not how to deal with differences in opinions. My first salon was a partnership and there was a huge difference in age and cultures between us, we worked well together as stylists. As business owners we disagreed in how to operate. I had a lifetime ahead of me so I had to think long term big picture. When I opened my current salon I was the sole person in charge of all the decisions. I’m famous for saying “If the ship is sinking you are in charge of solving the problems and redirecting your course”. If you don’t like the way things are going you have the ability to change what you don’t like. I started this salon in 30 days after spending my life savings on the previous location. It was hard for me to start knowing that the salon was not going to be everything that I thought it should have been. I also had to learn the hard way that if you ask your clients if they will be following you to a new location yes doesn’t always mean yes. In my move I knew about 40% of my clients were planning on following which doing the math would make it work just barely. I did not consider the fact that no matter how much people love you convenience is key to clients. I lost 10% of the clients due to location and Cubs season. The additional 10% was devastating to my finances. I lived at work practically all the time to catch every new client that I could. I spent two years working solo to make sure that I would make it.

When you are a business owner you want to cultivate a great staff and sometimes people are not always who they are when you interview them. I have had great employees and I have had not so great employees. I want to have stylists that clients can relate with and feel welcome. I’m very traditional in my operation and how we conduct ourselves. There is always a time a place for everything.

I also believe in growing at a sustainable pace. This makes the salon environment much more relaxed. The problem with that is it is hard to compete with larger salons and expanding how much business we can handle. It is on the other hand easier to maintain your reputation as a business.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Styles by Jeffrey – what should we know?
Styles by Jeffrey or SBJ Salon as our clients have lovingly nicknamed us is like the cheers of salons in the neighborhood. We specialize in many things as a salon. As the owner I specialize in haircuts. I believe that the architecture of a cut can make any hairstyle. If you have a bad haircut it doesn’t matter how great you style it or how amazing the color is your base has to be right. I more importantly specialize in the consultation. If your stylist isn’t asking you about your daily routine and how much effort you put into your hair they will not be giving you the correct haircut. If you are a person that lives for styling and products you can get any style an make it your own. If you are a person that is wash and wear minimal styling if any then you need a haircut designed with that in mind. The one thing that I hear from new clients especially women is that they chopped more than I asked for. My response to that is I am not in the business of you not returning. I will always check you length and layers and make an assessment of my recommendations. I will ask first what your desire is and then consult you on what I think. I always use one situation as an example. I had a girls come in bleached blonde dry and damaged hair. Needed 6 inches taken off. That is never going to happen she was looking for 1 inch. I pleaded my case and asked to meet in the middle at 3 inches. We ended up agreeing on 2 inches. I finished her cut blow-dry styled and she asked me to cut the additional 1 inch. I built her trust that I was doing exactly as we agreed even with my reservations.

My other full time stylist and sidekick is a colorist by passion and became a certified colorist in our color line. She specializes in blondes and has a #blondetourage following. She will be beginning training classes for our color line to become an educator for them. This is a big deal because she will be learning and teaching stylist the newest color trends and bringing them back to the salon. This means you will be sitting in a chair of someone who lives and breathes color and education. The strongest understanding on how to achieve the colors you are looking for but with the best integrity for your hair.

These are just a few of the things that set us apart from others. We believe education and training can only benefit you.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My brother is my number one person. We are twins and have a strong bond that we can never deny has made us the successes we are. When leaving my first salon he was my silent investor and personal cheerleader. He is also the direct and blunt to the point person I think everyone needs in your life. He never let me give in or give up. He also taught me the bookkeeping and business side that everyone hates but needs to accomplish and accomplish well.

My parents always pushing me and teaching me to be the standup person you need to be in life and especially in business. They never stopped believing in me. They will listen to me gripe but respond honestly to help with solutions.

There are many other friends that have helped me along the way. I have had friends who are walking billboards to co workers and friends. They have been relentless in making sure they tell people until they come to me. I don’t know if they come so that my friends will leave them alone or what but I will take it. I also have the friends that don’t hesitate to call me on something they see hear or notice.

My mentor was the director of my hair school. Stacy Jones has always believed in me and saw my talent for what it was, She was also the first person to tell me to stop being so shy. “Shy people don’t last long in this industry if you want to make money you’re going to have come speak up and engage”. She has kept in touch with me and answered many phone calls when I have a question about the salon industry that only someone in the industry can answer. I can’t thank her enough for being that for me.

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