Meet Andrea Tucker | Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Tucker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Born and raised in Denver as a 5th generation Coloradoan I was driven from a young age to become an influence on our city. Many moons ago, Denver was regarded as a “Cow Town” and left quite a bit to be desired by young, artistic and creative individuals such as myself. I was determined to be a driving force in changing that perception.. After graduating from Englewood Highschool, I attended CSU for a degree in Apparel Design to pursue my dream in the creative world of fashion design. It was my hope to one day design my own clothing line and open a boutique here in Denver where I would have the opportunity to influence the fashion direction of our city. While getting the education on how to manufacture clothing I knew it would be equally as important to gain experience in the field, so I took a position as a sales associate at a clothing boutique BEBE. It was there I began to network with other local fashion influencers and before I knew it I was working along side them creating fashion editorial photo shoots. Not long after, I began working as a personal wardrobe stylist where my work was recognized by 5280 magazine. During this time I found my passion did not lie with the design and manufacturing of clothing but rather the process of updating and refining individuals from head to toe. It was the intoxicating feeling I would get working one on one with my clients that helped me recognize it was the beauty industry that was really calling to me. In 2004 I decided to pursue the beauty industry and took a position as a Salon Manager where I gained the experience of running a high end, high energy, fashion forward small business. As each day passed, I found my passion for the beauty industry growing more intense and it was then I realized the significant impact I could have on the Denver market by way of beauty as opposed to clothing. In May of 2010, and not a Cosmetologist myself I decided to take the biggest risk of my adult life and open a salon in Downtown Denver! Needless to say the road has not been an easy one, from daily challenges in staffing, to unforeseen situations like floods, fires and now a global pandemic, I have persevered through it all and I am happy to say 10 years later our doors are still open! We have touched thousands of heads, hands and hearts and have worked daily to make the people of Colorado feel beautiful, fashion forward and most importantly confident in who they see looking back at them in the mirror. Owning one of the largest and most successful salons in Denver has been a dream come true. I take great pride in opening my salon, a young woman under 30 and during precarious economic times. To this day I am inclined to pinch myself knowing I trusted my intuition and strength to open my own business. It has been the most fulfilling decision I ever made for my career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most proud of the environment and culture I have created through the years. I believe that is exactly what sets us apart from others. In the world of beauty and fashion, most people can feel intimidated and uncomfortable. From the beginning it has been my desire to create an environment that feels welcoming and puts our guests at ease. Our vibe should be translated from the moment they make their first phone call, to their initial visit and continuing through the longevity with us as our client. Vetting our staff members has been equally as important, not only to insure they provide the highest quality of service, but even more significant is knowing they can work together as a family and a team. We spend more time with each other than we do with our own families at times, so creating a harmonious balance between my staff is key to ensure that feeling translates to our environment and the guest experience. It is imperative they see us working together with adoration and appreciation for one another. The best compliment we can receive from our guests is that they see how much we care to support one another and in turn it makes them feel at home when they are with us for their appointment. Getting here was not easy, by any means. Challenges always seem to present themselves and even today 10years in business, I find myself constantly learning and evolving in my methods as a business owner. The day I stop learning and growing is the day I need to hang my hat and bow out, although by all appearances that won’t be happening any time soon. Working to overcome each challenge is a huge opportunity for personal growth. It’s what gets me out of bed every morning and keeps me striving to be the best I can be that day. I think the biggest lesson I have learned along the way is that there is no RIGHT way. There is not guide to life or to business and that patience with myself is crucial in being a great role model and leader. What I want the world to know about my story is that dreams do come true. As cliche as it is, hard work, determination and passion will take you as far as you want to go in life. There is no goal too big no dream too unrealistic, to achieve them just takes patience. Set small goals and always celebrate the small wins. You really can be whatever it is you want to be and you really can love what you do everyday, I only know because I am living proof.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To David Pellegrin for believing in my dream from the very beginning and giving me not only the opportunity, but a space to design as my own where I created an environment that represents who I am and embodies the essence that is Studio: a collective of stylists. To all my friends and family, especially my mother and my sister for listening to my concerns for countless hours, only to reassure me of my ability to persevere. Most importantly, to my Staff, for always showing up, taking great pride in the work they do and the environment they do it in and for being the greatest supporters of keeping my dream alive!

Website: www.studiostylists.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiodenver/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio.stylists/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-a-collective-of-stylists-denver?osq=studio+a+collective+of+stylists