So this is a story about a hair salon.
Isle of You Hair Color Studio is a cozy, intimate boutique salon in Pittsburgh's trendy Lawrenceville neighborhood, offering customized, full service hair care and select accessoriess, art and jewelry, featuring local artists. It started as a small, one-person operation featuring the passion and skill of this person:
I'm Shari, and I started Isle of You Hair Color Studio after many years working in corporate hair color education for manufacturers. Being a casualty of two corporate downsizings ignited a burning desire to mold my own future, and create a world where I could control my own destiny. Or at least my own work day. I loved education and training, but the politics and pressures of the corporate world will wear on a girl after a while, and I just wanted to create a little place where I could do some pretty hair, till I figured out what to do next. The cool thing is that through this, I rediscovered how much I loved doing hair- and hair color in particular. I fell in love with being a hair colorist all over again, and the beating heart of my sweet little studio came to life in my hands. It is a cool, cozy little salon where I get to make awesome people feel beautiful. It's a place where people like to come and hang out, look at all the pretty handmade things, chit chat, and leave looking and feeling their best. I love being a hairstylist, and I have never been happier.
So now.... the good news is that the business thrived and I had to make a decision: either expand and grow, or go back to the corporate world. We decided to jump off the cliff, and build some wings on the way down. Isle of You is expanding! This is both exhilarating and terrifying, but it's the best kind of scary there is. We've signed the lease on a new location just a half block away from the original space. The new space is double the size of the original studio, so it will have some cool new features, like a private styling room for hair extensions, color, or anything else that folks might want some privacy away from the rest of the salon. We'll also be able to offer some new services like manicures and pedicures, spray tanning AND, a new treatment I'm really excited about: Teeth Whitening! In fact, that is one of the perks we're offering! So to do all this, I need some more stylists. I've hired the first of our new staff, an incredibly talented young stylist, and he is doing fantastic! I found a wonderful nail tech who will be joining us in August, and I'm looking for a select few more people to complete the team. I'm also upgrading everything from the salon equipment and furniture to the website and online booking system. And..... that's where we need some help. We're trying to do this without getting buried by big, high-interest bank loans. (We'd also like to avoid high-interest loans from guys with names like Jimmy Knuckles.) We're doing most of the work ourselves with the help of friends and family, and hiring professionals to do what we can't. We're trying to raise some capital to cover costs like new flooring and lighting, a security system and other important details. Creating this new space to be as warm and inviting as the current one is important to me, and I also want it to embody beauty and an appreciation for excellence. I want it to be a place where people are comfortable and pampered, where they can relax with a coffee or glass of wine, confident that they will emerge refreshed and beautiful.
What We Need & What You Get
Here is a short list of what we will need to complete this project:
Flooring
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$5,000.00
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Awning/sign
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$1,500.00
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Lighting (full spectrum lights for optimum color visibility)
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$800.00
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Alarm system
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$500.00
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Chairs, mirrors and misc. other equipment
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$1,200.00
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Shelving
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$500.00
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Computer
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$800.00
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Sound system
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$300.00
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Total:
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10600
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We're only trying to raise part of the total in this campaign (though if we can raise most of it we will be ecstatic!) If we don't reach our funding goals, the funds we do raise will be used for the most important/pricey things first, and we'll move on to other funding options for the rest. (Hopefully not Jimmy Knuckles.)
What's in it for you
Isle of You is located in Lawrenceville, which is a fantastic Pittsburgh neighborhood that is growing and evolving, full of art and music and fun. We LOVE being in Lawrenceville, and so have named all our cool perks after iconic Lawrenceville landmarks. We've created a variety of perks at different contribution levels, keeping in mind that some folks who might consider helping might already have a hairdresser they love, or maybe don't live close enough to come take advantage of hair services. Here's some of the the fun stuff we're offering: for $10 you get an Isle of You wristband and an adorable I Love You (Isle of You- get it?) rubber duckie. We found these sexy cool charms, available for $20 in the "Stanton Ave" perk, and you also get a rubber duckie. There's a limited amount of each, available while they last. If you have a preference please let me know, otherwise we'll chose for you.
(the Love charm reads "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you are the world!")
You'll also find travel hair products for $15, T-shirts and other Isle of You swag. Be sure to check out the Art All Night perk: for $40 you get a book of coupons worth over $200 in savings! BOGO hair cuts, free kids cuts, 1/2 price services, discounts on home care products- it's probably the best deal we have on here. Also check out the hair service packages and the newest addition to our service menu- LED Teeth Whitening from Smilesational! Whiten up to 6 shades in one 15 minute session. HALF PRICE exclusively through this campaign, for a limited time.
We think you'll find they're are all great, value-added offers, and you can give them as gifts if you don't want to use them yourself. Please check them out and see if something appeals to you! We'll post more pictures along the way. If you live too far away to take advantage of hair services, a stylish Isle of You T-shirt or wrist band will compliment your wardrobe and rocket your AR (awesomeness rating) off the chart. AND THE DUCKS!! Who can resist the Isle of You/I Love You Ducks?
Oh, *also*, we're planning a fabulous grand opening party in the fall, featuring live music by local artists, and yummy foods prepared by some talented friends. (more details to come.) I hope you will consider joining us!
Other Ways You Can Help