Kiama resident Lynne Ryan has sold her Just Cuts salons at Shellharbour and Dapto after three decades as a local business owner.
“I feel lucky to be able to retire on my terms, and I’m so proud to have been able to sell two of my salons to Stylists who worked for me so they can become Just Cuts salon owners themselves.”
In 1991 Just Cuts Founder Denis McFadden spoke to Lynne about buying a salon in the Illawarra.
“I’ve always trusted Denis. Back then I was working as a wedding photographer with 2 other jobs to pay my mortgage. Just Cuts was the perfect business opportunity for me to own my own business with the added flexibility to work my own hours.”
“I’m not a Stylist by trade but I opened my first salon at Shellharbour in 1991 - I loved the simplicity in the system so much that 18 months later I opened Warrawong.”
“With Just Cuts you can work on your business, not in it. In 2000 I opened Wollongong and then Dapto in 2007. The Model has been refined over three decades and you don’t need to be a hairdresser to own a Just Cuts.”
Lynne sold her salons within the network to Just Cuts owner Mohan Balasubramanian.
“Mohan has taken my team out to dinner as part of the handover, so we’re keeping it in the family.”
After thirty years in hairdressing, Lynne says that while Illawarra hair preferences can be cyclical, her salon has gone through significant changes.
“Everything comes back into fashion – the mullet is so popular at the moment, but I loved migrating from paper based accounting to digital.”
Lynne’s secrets to business success are her fully qualified Stylists and following the Just Cuts system.
“If you follow the Just Cuts system you can’t go wrong, but it also comes down to my Stylists – some have been with me for nearly 31 years. They love the Just Cuts system too because it’s so easy.”
“I’d also encourage small business owners to care – if you don’t care your Clients aren’t going to care. Be present and provide that personal touch. It’s been so fulfilling for me to see my Client’s kids coming into the salon – to see generations of Clients through my doors has been a real privilege.”
“If you’re considering a career in hairdressing my advice is simple – buy a Just Cuts!”
