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Leslie's Hairitage Salon offers spa services in central ND
As a licensed cosmetologist, Leslie Tooke saw a potential market in Bottineau (population 2,400) for a beauty salon and expanded spa services, such as manicures, pedicures, tanning, massage therapy, and spa treatments. Even though the area already had seven salons, she knew that her ideas for her services were unique and she could count on the outlying communities including the Turtle Mountains and Lake Metigoshe tourist traffic to Support sales. But how to get to that point?
Leslie sought out Diane Olson, Bottineau EDC, and Mary Beth Votava, SBDC- Minot. Leslie worked with Diane and Mary Beth for months prior to opening - writing her business plan, developing budgets, and creating a loan proposal. Her hard work paid off. In early fall, several lending partners came together to finance her new venture and Leslie and her husband Larry began the daunting task of renovating the new site. Leslie purchased a historic home near Main Street and renovated it to be open for business by mid-fall 2004.
In Leslie's words, "A project like mine was very scary. Diane and Mary Beth helped make the plans and projections easier to see the true potential of a success."
Leslie has enjoyed tremendous success to this point and has met her personal goals for starting this venture. She now focuses on maintaining a controlled growth of her business while meeting her customer's demands for additional services. It's a balancing act for every business owner and the Minot SBDC office will continue to provide business consulting service and make training available to support small businesses like Leslie's.
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