Business Style
Partners ’N Hair A Legacy of Loyalty
By Sarah Brown
No one would deny that small businesses are important to their community and the economy at large. Beyond the sense of community that is created when neighbors and friends buy and sell amongst themselves, local economies benefit when small businesses exist and thrive. The best independently owned establishments are often successful because they are able to offer greater specialization as well as unique and personalized customer service. Partners ’N Hair, in Suite 108 at 6940 Van Dorn Street, has a decadeslong legacy of providing personalized service to generations of clients in Lincoln. Partners ’N Hair owner Jen Honnens finds being a small business owner to be deeply satisfying, both personally and professionally. She feels the best when she’s working “behind the chair” with her clients. “I love making people feel better about themselves,” Jen shares. She goes on to note that customers don’t often realize how much of a confidence boost or lift in self-esteem can be brought about by a great haircut or an updated hair color. “Bad hair days” are a real experience for almost everyone. Jen takes pride in knowing that she and the other two stylists on staff at Partners ’N Hair not only have the skills and expertise to deliver a cut and color that are individually tailored to a client’s face shape, hair texture, lifestyle, and personal preferences. She also makes sure that those same clients will walk away from their appointments with information from their stylists on the best ways to maintain their style and be offered the right hair products to do it. According to the Professional Beauty Association, 88 percent of women feel it’s important to have a good rapport with their hair stylist. Good rapport is essential for small businesses to thrive, especially when the small business is in a highly saturated market like hair salons. Good rapport is necessary to foster trust, and the establishment of trust develops into loyalty. When it comes to loyalty, the roots run deep at Partners ’N Hair. “We have the fourth generation of our family at the salon now,” shares longtime Partners ’N Hair client Michele. Michele’s mother was a regular at the salon decades ago for all of her hair needs. Naturally, Michele started getting her haircuts there, too. Michele kept going to Partners ’N Hair as an adult and then trusted the salon for her daughter’s hair, as well. “Now, my one-year-old grandson will be having his first haircut soon, and we wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else to have it done,” she says. “Partners ’N Hair really feels like family to us. I love everyone there—all of them! I’m loyal because of the quality at Partners ’N Hair…the
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quality of the work they do and the quality of the people who do it.” Partners ’N Hair consistently goes above and beyond expectations on the quality of their customer service and the outcomes their customers experience as a result. Salon customer Rachel knows this firsthand. As a busy real estate agent, Rachel’s schedule is always full, and her hours can be quite irregular. Recently, she was in charge of planning and carrying out a large work event that would include headshot photographs. Jen reached out to Rachel to ask if she would like her hair professionally styled for the photo shoot. “Jen knows me so well!” Rachel recounts. “I had been so busy with planning that I hadn’t thought about my hair or what I was going to wear.” When Rachel arrived at Partners ’N Hair the morning of the event, not only had Jen come in before regular work hours to accommodate the styling session, but she presented Rachel with a collection of 10 potential outfits that would be ideal professional fashion looks for the photo shoot. “I was truly amazed,” says Rachel. “Jen’s willingness to think ‘outside the box’ and bring in clothes for me to try along with doing my hair was just incredible. It turned out to be a really fun morning at the salon, trying on each of the outfits with the women there helping me decide what would look best for the pictures.” Partners ’N Hair has the sort of small business reputation that speaks for itself. They make a point to get to know each client so they can specialize and personalize the work they do for each person in their styling chairs. To schedule a consultation or make an appointment, contact the salon at 402-483-7376. WE
Jen Honnens, owner
“Partners ’N Hair really feels like family to us. I love everyone there—all of them! I’m loyal because of the quality at Partners ’N Hair…the quality of the work they do and the quality of the people who do it.”