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Much like the company that rents offices and conference rooms to business people, local owners Jay and Kerry Tolisano leased a large retail space and subdivided the complex into individual salon shops to create a co-working environment for hairstylists.
The space, MY SALON Suite, is located at Black Rock Turnpike and Stillson Road in Fairfield. Nearly all of the space's 23 suites are occupied, according to Kerry Tolisano.
Tolisano met the Daily Voice in the lobby, where clients of the various salons can let their stylists know they’re ready through a phone and video conferencing system.
The suites are open 24/7, and the stylists “can come in and work any hours they want,” according to Tolisano.
Unlike traditional salons, where stylists work with clients in an open room with several stations, each stylist has her own space, giving clients the air of exclusivity.
“They almost feel like they belong to a special club,” Tolisano said because clients have the opportunity to see a stylist in a private setting.
Stylists, who rent the spaces for a flat fee, which includes Internet, utilities and use of the necessary furniture and cabinets for professionals in the industry.
The space also comes with a shared laundry facility, Tolisano said.
“It’s fantastic,” said Shelly Damato, one of the stylists who rents space. “Almost like having someone in your home.”
Damato, who said she has been in the business for 25 years, also enjoys the feeling of camaraderie that comes with working in a co-working space. There's also an entrepreneurial spirit that “hovers” throughout the salon’s halls, she said.
Tolisano said clients often find her business card and send her emails praising the space. She told the Daily Voice that those are a testament that people are truly embracing MY SALON Suite.
MY SALON Suite has more than 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada, according to the company’s website. A Stamford location is due to open soon.
For more information on MY SALON Suite, click here.
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