The mere thought of starting a business can be overwhelming and intimidating. Honestly, I felt the same until one day I realized that my late grandma, Eleanor Iwamoto had been my inspiration all along.
Grandma was a strong-willed and determined woman who in 1958 started her own business, Ellie’s Beauty Salon. The salon was located on 378 North School Street in Honolulu, Hawaii. For 45 years, she cut, washed, and blow-dried hair, leaving a lasting impact on her clients and her community.
Growing Up in the Salon
My grandmother's dedication and passion for her work has left a deep impression on me. As a child, I often visited and spent time in her salon, watching her effortlessly transform her clients' hair and listening to the ladies swap their stories with Grandma.
My favorite place to hang out was behind the salon desk where she kept her appointment calendar and phone. I would pretend to answer the phone calls of customers and “book” their hair appointments. Reflecting on this time, it was probably in that salon that I first fell in love with the idea of owning my own business.
Creating a Welcoming Space
One of the things I learned from my Grandma was the importance of creating a welcoming space. She believed that a salon should be more than just a place to get your hair done; it should be a place where people feel comfortable and at ease.
As anyone who knew my Grandma can attest, she loved to chat. She had a way of striking up a conversation with just about anyone. She was friendly and warm and treated everyone with kindness and respect.
In my own life, I have always taken this lesson to heart. I truly believe that a friendly smile and taking the time to chat with someone can often make the biggest impact.
Carrying on Grandma’s legacy
My grandmother's spirit lives on in my business. I could not be prouder to continue the tradition she started all those years ago. Sure, starting my own business is bound to have its ups and downs but with Grandma’s lessons in my pocket, I am ready for anything.