MENU
SEARCHThe co-owner of Genacelli Salon in Chicago Illinois, Cynthis Porcelli devotes her time to developing her team and developing diversity and success in her salons.
Cynthia Porcelli, Co-Owner of Genacelli Salon, Chicago, Illinois
Cynthia Porcelli opened her first salon in 1983 after being exposed to the amazing passion of her great uncle Raymond Raines, a successful salon owner, former president of Cosmetologists Chicago and an award-winning hairdresser in the 1950s and 60s. Today, Cynthia co-owns Genacelli Salon and The East Studio with Joseph Cartagena, the current vice president of Cosmetologists Chicago. As the directors of the salons’ business and professional development, she is a hands-on owner who devotes time daily to her stylists development and continually strives to create diversity and success in her salons.
Do you believe a woman in the professional beauty industry can “Have it all” and what does that mean to you?
“Having it all is a concept that’s different for everyone. I believe as a creative woman I can achieve anything I strive for. There is an art to everything.”
In the pursuit of “having it all”, what sacrifices have you had to make, if any?
“There have been a few challenging choices, but I would not call them sacrifices. Each choice had its own destiny and its own reward.”
If we were looking through a scrapbook of your life, what page would be your favorite page?
“My trip to Paris with my husband. Everything was perfect. I was in my favorite city surrounded by art and history, enjoying wonderful food and wine and sharing it all with the love of my life.”
If we were looking through a scrapbook of your life, what page would you want to rewrite?
“The day my mother died. She was only 48, and I was 27 and in the middle of building out my first salon. She never had the chance to have her hair styled there.”
What’s your favorite tool or strategy for maintaining balance in your life?
“I make reservations for dinner.”
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you, and how did it change your life?
“Ask questions, listen to what others have to say before you speak and be clear with your intensions. It has enabled me to make sound decisions personally and professionally.”
What wisdom would you share with a young woman entering a career in the professional beauty industry?
“Leave your ego at the door and keep the lid off your box.”
What keeps you up at night?
“A new idea.”
What makes you feel powerful?
“Channeling creativity at ground level, developing an idea and implementing it with others.”
What’s the best thing anyone’s ever told you about yourself?
“That I am a champion for change.”
What do you hope to achieve in the next five years?
“It takes the right person to shake things up and make things happen. I am dedicated to uplifting young people interested in hairdressing, inspire them to follow and realize their dreams, develop leadership within my team and continue to foster excellence in everything we do, in and out of the salon.”
Are one of your traditional, handed-down salon management practices actually breaking the law. The pros from Paragon HR Consulting walk you through seven common Human Resources mistakes that could land you in hot water.
All beauty professionals should know how to identify when a client may need some health guidance. Tracy Rado discusses some common questions that clients ask in the chair, how to advise them, and when to refer them to a specialist.
In his latest blog, Leon Alexander Ph.D., challenges industry conventional thinking to help owners add more to their bottom lines.
In her latest blog, Amy Pal helps you develop your own clear guidelines around complimentary free employee services.
From managing air traffic on busy days to handling frustrated guests' complaints, your front desk team often serves as the salon's emotional shock absorber. From a customer service lesson from the DMV to a list of strategies for caring for your front line, our experts offer ideas for alleviating stress, celebrating wins, and setting goals.
According to the KIM Report, top-line salon revenue appears steady or slightly up, but that growth is driven primarily by service price increases. Beneath the surface, retail performance and client visit frequency (appointment drift) are under real pressure. In his latest blog, Alain Audet offers strategies for keeping your salon's retail sales strong.
Putting your family to work in the salon offers some real tax benefits, but you have you have to play by the rules of the tax code to claim them. Azarvand Tax Law's Leticia Skrabut, Esq., shows you how.
Discover how to create a true “WOW experience” for every client by first building a culture where your team feels engaged, empowered, and inspired. Drawing on Calvin Stovall’s Iconic Framework, this blog explores how salon, spa, and clinic leaders can strengthen culture, elevate customer experience, and build a business that stands out for the long term.
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
The wellness industry is growing fast, and salons and barbershops already are an important part of it. In her first blog, Tracy Rado shares where the wellness dollars are heading, and how salons can grow with this movement.
While salon sales are increasing, owners often feel they're working harder for the same or less profit. Leverage Q2 data from The KIM Report, Alain Audet reveals some of the structural changes that are dampening your growth and why your region and your salon size matters.
Weaknesses in your business are amplified during the Holiday Season. Spark Pro Global's Lucy Randall shows you five things to do now to have the strongest holiday season yet.
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
