Cutting class: Stafford students get style points in cosmetology
By Joanna Tebbs Young
Correspondent | October 26,2015
Anthony Edwards / Staff Photo Stafford Technical Center cosmetology student Kassidy Collett works on cutting Laurie Rheaume’s hair at the school’s Bellezza Salon.
Laurel Austin and Holly Savage are cosmetology instructors at Stafford Technical Center.
Together they have overseen the student-run Bellezza Salon since its grand opening in October 2012. With 10 to 15 cosmetologists-in-training working in the salon, it is open for business to the public.
What is nature of your business?
Bellezza Salon is a full-service salon where the work is performed by the students and supervised by their cosmetology instructors.
How/why did the company begin? What was the inspiration, the story behind its beginning?
The salon began as part of the cosmetology program that started in 2011 at Stafford Technical Center. It is a two-year program consisting of 24 students between the first and second year program. The first year program can take in 14 new students each year.
During the first year, these students not only learn what they need to be ready to work on clients in the salon the following year, but they are also fully prepared to sit for their Vermont State Board Cosmetology exam once they have accumulated 1,500 class/salon hours.
This enables them to start their career as a cosmetologist on completion of high school, giving them a head start on their career while saving them thousands of dollars.
How did you get where you are today with the business (has it changed focus, grown, downsized, etc.)?
In 2011 Stafford Technical Center launched their cosmetology program starting with 22 students and two cosmetology instructors, Laurel Austin and Holly Savage. Students were trained in all aspects of cosmetology fundamentals.
The second year we added an assistant licensed cosmetology instructor, Stacy Hutchins, and began preparing these students in all aspects of salon fundamentals as well. We opened the salon in October 2012 with 16 returning students.
As a student-run business, does it differ from how other businesses are run? What makes it unique? What is its most appealing aspect to customers?
It is different from other businesses as students are still in the learning process. Clients are able to get regular salon services at a discounted price. Rest assured, students are supervised by their instructors to ensure client satisfaction.
Teacher: What is the
most important thing you’ve learned as head of a student-run business?
As students are performing all services, the experience is one of the most important tools in their preparation for the real business. Here they learn all aspects of customer service and professionalism in a real life setting.
Student: What is the most important lesson you have learned in helping run this business?
I think the most important lesson we have learned in helping run this business is, learning good communication skills with the clients, and how to build our clientele.
Contact information
Bellezza Salon, 8 Stratton Rd, Rutland, VT 05701
802- 770-1055
Hours of operation: Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you are a locally-owned Rutland area small business or sole-proprietorship and would like to be featured in A Business Story, please contact joanna@rutlandreade