From Childhood Dream to Business Reality: How Jodie McClendon Found Professional Success with Her Hair Salon

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In today's digital-first world, hair and beauty salon owners face unique challenges in establishing their online presence. This case study explores how Jodie McClendon transformed her salon's online presence through a professional website, and the impact it's had on her business.

A Calling Since Childhood: Jodie's Journey to Salon Ownership

For Jodie, hairstyling was more than just a career choice—it was a calling she discovered early in life. Growing up with curly hair, Jodie initially struggled with her natural texture. "I have very curly hair quite similar to yours, and I never knew what to do with it," she recalls. After spending countless hours trying to straighten it, she eventually embraced her natural curls and began experimenting with different styles.

Her kindergarten teacher noticed this passion and made a prediction that would stay with Jodie throughout her life: "You may not make it great academically, but you're going to do something," the teacher told her, allowing young Jodie to brush her hair instead of sitting still for lessons. "She said, 'You're going to be a hairdresser,' and this stuck with me."

That early vote of confidence set Jodie on her path. After high school, she went straight to beauty school while working a regular job to fund her education. Obtaining her license was a milestone moment: "Hands on that license, it was like I made it," she shares with pride.

But Jodie didn't stop there. Determined to excel at her craft, she worked under a mentor for several years, continuously honing her skills through additional education and classes. "I really wanted to be good at it, like I wanted to be the best I could be at it," she explains. This dedication to excellence took about 4-5 years before she felt truly comfortable with her abilities and clientele.

Taking the Leap: From Stylist to Salon Owner During COVID

In a bold move that defies conventional wisdom, Jodie opened her salon during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when many businesses were closing their doors. "While everyone was shutting down, I was opening up," she recalls.

The opportunity came when a friend who was closing her salon called Jodie to work for her. After praying about the decision, Jodie took the leap, and her friend eventually moved away, leaving Jodie with her entire clientele. "I got thrown in pretty quickly to have a full clientele on the first day," she says.

Today, Jodie's salon operates as a suite with two rooms. She rents out half the space to another hairstylist who operates under a separate business name. This arrangement has worked well, providing financial stability while allowing Jodie to focus on growing her own clientele.

The Website Journey: From Frustration to Professional Presence

Like many small business owners, Jodie initially struggled with establishing her online presence. She tried various platforms before finding the right solution.

"I was on Godaddy for the first 2 years," Jodie explains. "I was never happy with it. It was just very bland. It wasn't very personable." Her experience took a turn for the worse when her account was compromised: "Someone hacked my email and disconnected my calendar."

This security breach forced Jodie to find a quick alternative. She turned to Booksy, which worked reasonably well for scheduling but still left her wanting more. "Booksy worked really well... for the calendar aspect of it. But I just didn't like not being able to display what the salon is about."

Jodie also attempted to use other website builders but found them frustrating: "I couldn't even get halfway finished with setting it up, it wasn’t easy."

These experiences aren't uncommon. According to industry research, about 27% of small businesses without websites cite technical challenges as a barrier, and many find DIY website platforms overwhelming despite their "user-friendly" marketing claims.

The PremPage Difference: A Guided, Professional Solution

When Jodie connected with PremPage, she found exactly what she had been looking for—a service that not only delivered a professional website but also provided personalized guidance throughout the process.

"Yes, absolutely 100% worth every penny," Jodie emphatically states about her investment in a PremPage website. After approximately six months with her new site, she's seen significant returns both tangibly and intangibly.

What made the difference? For Jodie, it was the personalized approach: "It's one-on-one, it's personable. The people are friendly and kind and genuine and nice." This level of support was crucial for someone who describes herself as "not knowing computers very well."

The guidance she received went beyond technical help—it was educational: "The way you walked me through it... it was like going to school to learn each little thing as you went through it, and I needed that. It was so worth it, so helpful."

This hands-on approach addressed a common pain point for salon owners. According to research, small business owners rank website design and functionality among their top concerns, but most lack the technical expertise to implement solutions themselves. In fact, 91% of small businesses with websites emphasize the importance of mobile-friendly design, but many struggle to implement it without assistance.

Building Trust Through Partnership

For Jodie, perhaps the most valuable aspect of working with PremPage was the relationship that developed. Despite initial hesitation about working with a company across the country, she gradually built trust through consistent, supportive interactions.

"It was scary the whole way, though, because you are so far away. And I didn't know... who to trust on the other end of the line," she admits. "But the fact that you walked me through it, I started to gain trust over time, and that was very helpful."

This partnership approach made Jodie feel supported in her business journey: "To have a company stand beside me and walk me through it... I didn't know that was the thing. I didn't know it was possible, but you all have made it so possible for me to have a real business."

The professional website has also enhanced Jodie's business image: "My website makes me feel professional in every way. Gives me the self-esteem needed."

Financial Benefits: Saving While Growing

Beyond the intangible benefits, Jodie has experienced real financial advantages from her PremPage website and integrated payment processing. When she switched payment processors along with her website change, she saw immediate savings: "The fees I have saved switching away from Square pays for my website."

This aligns with industry data showing that small businesses can save 20-30% on transaction fees by choosing the right payment processor. With approximately 90% of Jodie's clients paying by credit or debit card, these savings quickly add up.

The streamlined payment system also simplifies Jodie's operations: "I'd rather it be one streamline one way for them to pay, because personally, I don't want to keep up with 5 different ways." This focus on efficiency reflects her business philosophy of valuing time as her most precious resource.

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Looking Forward: Faith-Guided Growth

Jodie's vision for her salon extends beyond personal success. She sees her business as a platform to serve others, particularly other women seeking independence.

"I'd love for my story to be able to help other women that are coming out of whatever bad situations to gain a sense of independence for themselves," she explains. "I know that it could for someone else, too. So my goal would be to bring in maybe younger stylists that might be struggling. Teach them, train them, help them in whatever way."

This mentorship goal is taking shape—Jodie recently met a woman at church who's about to get her license and could potentially join her team. She's also seeking guidance from an experienced business owner in her church to ensure she approaches this expansion responsibly.

Jodie's approach to business growth is deliberate and faith-centered: "Growing my business isn't something that I'm going to do... It's going to be over time. I'm gonna let God do it. I want to hone in and focus on learning how to run a business, learning the avenues of it, feeling completely confident in it."

With her professional website serving as a solid foundation, Jodie can focus on these larger goals. "I need this to turn to helping people," she says. "I want to be of service to our community. I want to be helpful. I want to be somebody people can count on."

A Foundation for Success

Jodie's experience demonstrates how the right website solution can transform a small salon business. More than just an online presence, her PremPage website has become a cornerstone of her professional identity and business operations.

"They walk through it with you. And it's perfect. My website is amazing. And it works perfectly," Jodie summarizes.

For salon owners still relying solely on social media or struggling with DIY website builders, Jodie's journey offers a compelling case for investing in professional help. As she puts it, "I want to learn everything there is to know about [business] so I can be strong later." With the right digital foundation in place, Jodie can now focus on what truly matters—growing her skills, mentoring others, and serving her community through her God-given talent for hair styling.

Are you a salon owner looking to elevate your online presence? Learn how PremPage can help you create a professional website that truly represents your business.

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