Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra and Anna Soto.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As the eldest daughter of Latin American immigrants, I always knew it was important for me to set myself up for success. My dad worked hard as a mailman and my mom cut hair to provide a private education for my siblings and I. My parents never wanted their children to work as hard as they did, so education was a top priority. Fast forward to college, and as the first person in my entire family to attend, I did not know what major to pick. I went with the one that interested me the most, psychology. As my undergraduate graduation approached, I realized that I didn’t want to go into the professional psych field. Since I worked retail all through college, I figured I could go into sales and that’s exactly what I did. I landed a good job at a Fortune 500 company and persisted with that job for 3 years…. enough to know it wasn’t a long-term career for me. Although I thrived in sales, I did not enjoy the work anymore. With no plan and enough savings to survive for 4 months, I decided to quit my corporate job. After 3 weeks of unemployment, I woke up one morning and got dressed for work. I stepped into my mom’s existing small business, a full-service hair salon: Hair Philosophy. My mom was surprised to see me there, but I told her that I was there to work. She told me she couldn’t afford me. I then told her, I would work for free for the first 3 months. She allowed me to do so with caution. I started slow, but caught momentum within the first 6 months of working. My new business partner and I decided it would be a good idea for me to return to school to pursue a business degree. In August 2015, I began a traditional MBA program at Mount Saint Mary’s University. While undergoing the program, we were able to rebrand our business and increase year-over-year sales at a steady rate. We implemented a customer rewards program, expanded our line of services, transitioned to multiple tech systems, began a recycling program, and secured awards from a reputable supplier in the industry as Best Salon in the East LA area and Best Colorist-Anna Soto. I graduated with the MBA in May of this year and we have plans to expand the business even further.
Has it been a smooth road?
Hair Philosophy was established in the midst of a recession in 2010. Since disposable income was scarce, people were not paying top dollar for their hair services. As a high-end salon in the East LA area, this was a real threat. We decided to participate in the recession and lower our prices, but not cheapen the quality of our work. Without a doubt, this strategy kept our doors open. It was not until 2015 that we were able to implement a price increase, bring top quality products back into the salon, and still maintain customer satisfaction.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hair Philosophy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Hair Philosophy specializes in color-correction and texture treatments. We pride ourselves in maintaining the integrity of our client’s hair, all while making them look and feel good! As a company, we are most proud of our clientele. Many of our clients are generational, in that a grandmother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, etc. all receive services here and only here. We are family owned and love catering to families. As a professional hair salon, we are honored to serve the public and maintain respect for each and every individual client. A large factor that sets us apart from other salons is that we make it a priority to build a business that sustains into the future. We are not only interested in being the best in our industry, but also being one of the best small businesses in America, which is why we began a “green” program in which 95% of our waste is being recycled and repurposed. We typically employ young people from the community to support our local environment and often participate in charitable events.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The best thing about this city is the diversity it offers. Where there is diversity, there is culture and when different people can come together in a positive way, what we can learn is endless. What I like least about this city is the traffic.
Pricing:
- HP Signature- Cut & Color $115
- Color Correction- $175
- Brazilian Blowout- $350
Contact Info:
- Address: 501 W. Whittier Blvd., Montebello, CA 90640
- Website: www.hpmontebello.com
- Phone: 323 726 9511
- Instagram: @hpmontebello
- Facebook: @hpmontebello
- Twitter: @hpmontebello
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hair-philosophy-montebello
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
