You Don't Own a Salon. You Own A Business.
In his latest blog, Leon Alexander Ph.D., challenges industry conventional thinking to help owners add more to their bottom lines.
Personal Compass: Where's Oliver?
Take a photograph from any salon industry gathering and chances are Oliver Steinnagel is in the crowd. Armed with an amazing work ethic passed down from his German immigrant parents, Steinnagel, who co-owns Oliver’s Hair Salon with wife ...
May 2, 2016
3 min to read
Take a photograph from any salon industry gathering and chances are Oliver Steinnagel is in the crowd. Armed with an amazing work ethic passed down from his German immigrant parents, Steinnagel, who co-owns Oliver’s Hair Salon with wife Wendy in Overland Park, Kansas, seamlessly blends managing a successful salon operation with keeping active in the industry. Over the past six years, he has served on the boards of both the Professional Beauty Association and Intercoiffure.
His interests have led him in some unique places, from his early dates as a Rodeo Drive stylist welcoming clients including Farrah Fawcett, Brooke Shields and Jaclyn Smith to obtaining patent rights on fishing lures to lobbying for improved cosmetology laws in Washington D.C.
Maintaining a core value of customer service and a belief that how a client looks after a visit should be as important to the stylist as it is to the client, it’s no wonder Oliver’s Hair Salon is a success.
SALON TODAY: What time is your alarm set?
Oliver Steinnagel: "Typically 6:30, but I usually wake up earlier."
ST:What’s for breakfast?
OS: "Usually a protein bar and one of my creative protein shakes with fresh fruit and a variety of other healthy things!"
ST: Which do you check first: email, Facebook, Twitter, or voicemail?
OS: "I normally start with my emails. Then focus on returning voicemails and text messages."
ST: What time do you go in to the salons?
OS: "I usually arrive between 9 and 10 a.m."
ST: How do you divide salon responsibilities?
OS: "Wendy tackles training new talent, developing systems and programs, human resources, philanthropy, photo shoots and event planning. I handle leadership development, coaching, stylist technical skill development, goal setting and industry and public relations."
ST: Who do you wish you could have lunch with?
OS: "Ed Doering who was like a father to me, and passed away 30 years ago."
ST: Daily fitness ritual?
OS: "I love to walk outdoors."
ST: What do you do when slacking off is an option?
OS: "Riding my Harley or an occasional nap."
ST: When do you get your best ideas?
OS: "Walking, fishing, or riding my Harley."
ST: Tell me something that would surprise me about you.
OS: "I had two patents on fishing lures at the age of 16."
ST: Cat, dog, both, or something else?
OS: "Dog- Ellie"
ST: Do you cook?
OS: "I specialize in scrambled eggs."
ST: How do you unwind?
Crown Royal on the rocks, with friends.
ST: What time do you go to sleep?
OS: "10-10:30"
ST: What do you love about your life?
OS: "Being married 28 years with with daughters whom I am very proud of."
ST: What career would you have if you weren't a hairdresser?
OS: "A cowboy, riding the range."
ST: What do you want to come back as in your next life?
OS: "Our family dog."
Steinnagel holds two patents on fishing lures.
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