We had the good fortune of connecting with Jody Rowland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jody, what can you share with us about how Covid-19 has affected your business?
This virus has shaken my thoughts. I felt that my 33 years of working hard and pursuing my dreams was put to a stop that I had no control over. I felt my freedoms of earning a living were taken away. I didn’t know how to look at my team and guide them on what to do. Before we were mandated to shut down, my team showed up to work, following my lead, yet I knew deep down they were nervous to be there. I didn’t want to be responsible for their well being or their financial situation. They all had a choice, but I still felt like they were looking to me for the answers on what to do. After the mandatory shut down, it was almost a sigh of relief for my team, but then it became a fear for my business. There were so many unknowns of when and how we were going to re-open. No one could understand what I was going through (unless you had a business of your own). I contacted the banks for help, only to find out they ran out of money. Luckily I had enough of a cushion to cover the next 2-3 months. But like I said, we weren’t sure how long this would be. Other than the loss of income for 2 months, it is still too soon to fully understand the effects of the shutdown on my business. I may have to make some hard choices on my staff as to whom I feel is valuable to the needs of my business. Some may be let go because we need to control the amount of people in the salon.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cutting Edge Salon & Boutique was established in 2013. I have put together a team of stylists that are passionate about what they do. I pride myself in seeing how my stylists have grown and how long I’ve kept them with me. In this industry, it is common to see stylists hop from one salon to another. We love to engage in continued education together. The advice I would give any new business owner in this industry is to stay focused on the big picture. Financial success does not happen overnight. It is the drive and passion that will get you through the tough times. It will be like a roller coaster….just enjoy the ride. I don’t really have a date in mind of when I will want to retire, but when I do, I want people to remember me as the stylist that was giving of herself and wanting to make people feel good about themselves. And as an owner, I want my staff to remember me as their favorite boss, the one that took time to listen, the one that showed them the basics to get them to where they are today, and the boss that pushed them to be their best.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shout out to my husband, Mike Rowland for the support and love to get me through this tough time. Mike is the one I hand over all the “I don’t want to do’s” to. which normally is anything that has to deal with the IRS, and Tax stuff.

Website: cuttingedgeaz.com
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