THE PERFECT MARRIAGE OF BUSINESS & PLEASURE
by Judy Johnston-Scroggs
Meet Adam & Janine Shuman of JRS Superstar: educators, salon owners, and creative directors wedded to their success in the wedding business…
You have worked together in the salon industry for many years. What is your secret of such a successful partnership?
Our secret is a mutual respect for each other´s talents because separately we are good, but together we are better!
You have developed a very successful wedding styling business. How were you able to do this?
Of course it was a slow and progressive journey, but we have developed a multiple approach that combines our client base: the bride to be, the bride´s mother, the mother-in-law, potential bridesmaids and friends along with our successful out-reach programs with key hotels, boutique and department bridal stores, and bridal event planners. We also use publicity, marketing, and advertising but “word of mouth” has always been our best word forward!
What do you like best about styling for weddings?
The theatre and drama of weddings is the height of creativity for a stylist! What better opportunity to showcase your talents and caring than to enhance a woman in love´s natural attributes. The wedding “stage” is historically one of exceptional importance. Weddings are the celebration of our past, present, and future. We love and cherish our roles in being a contributor to the “stage of love!”
What tips would you give to our readers who would like to start a career as a wedding stylist?
First, patience is key. Often the bride to be and all her supporting “players” are emotional, at odds, and have no unified vision of what they want. A bridal stylist has to take a delicate role of guiding, listening, being family counselor, and making the bride into the princess of her dreams…all at the same time. It´s not for the weak-kneed but one of the most rewarding roles a stylist can ever play! Market your talents through your religious and community connections, local wedding celebration sites and all the businesses that tie into this celebration extraordinaire!
You dedicate a great deal of time training “up-and-coming” stylists, don´t you?
When we entertain as well as educate, we see the instant impact of our “edutaining” from the young students that clamor for more information and seek us out for more input. This is wonderful to see their minds open and take our message and make it their own. It´s exciting to see young students so excited about learning the art and skill of hairdressing!
What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?
We hope to develop an eco-friendly line of hair coloring free of parabens, peroxide, and ammonia as well as organic enzyme-based developers and treatments along with a professional training program to accompany these new types of products. Also, we are working to complete our digital professional training and certification library. High on our list this year is the development of our eco-friendly Greenroots Salon and Training Center that includes the JRS Superstar R&D laboratory and Product Think Tank.
What do you hope a client is feeling when he/she leaves your salon?
Our clients, and especially our brides and bridal parties should leaves us feeling nothing less than beautiful, confident, delighted by their experience, and enlightened by the information on our founded knowledge, techniques, and products!