Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey M. Handel.
Hi Stacey M., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in fashion and hair began as a child in the South, where I preferred styling Barbies over baby dolls. Although I was a jock in high school and others assumed I would pursue sports, I found myself comfortable doing hair in the dorms and earning extra money cutting hair in college. When I recognized a potential career, brochures from various cosmetology colleges showed me a pathway. My parents supported my move to Dubuque, Iowa, where I excelled and worked overtime, completing a year-long course in less than nine months. Before graduating, I secured a position at a prestigious woman-owned salon and clothing store. This was an excellent first job. The owner, Sue (Hanson), provided opportunities that have been a significant part of my success over the past 40 years. The role was ideal, and I quickly advanced thanks to the salon’s focus on ongoing education and corporate growth. I soon became the Educational Director and salon manager, helping to develop a team and oversee facility expansions. This salon grew to include an accredited Pivot Point school and expanded to nine locations within nine years. We merged with a regional chain, which opened new opportunities for the next phase of my career. I accepted an offer to manage a salon in Dallas, TX. Although the role was rewarding and challenging, I found it limiting. I chose to open a private full-service studio focused on makeovers and image consulting services. I performed hair and makeup makeovers and wardrobe analysis. Many women’s groups requested personal consulting, along with Fortune 500 companies like AT&T and Motorola. I am motivated by how image and appearance influence self-esteem and foster a positive attitude. Our family relocated to Knoxville; however, I elected to return to Dallas 4 days a month to work with clients. While commuting, I developed a business plan, a floor plan, secured funding, and started construction of the first spa and salon in Farragut, Tennessee: Garde Bien SpaSalon, Inc., which opened in 2000. The impact of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center affected travel, which led me to focus on Garde Bien and stop the commute. My dream flourished. We introduced many firsts in services and products, including Custom Mineral Makeup and Japanese Straightener, and became the leading bridal salon and spa in Knoxville. This continued for over 10 years, with annual programs at the Women Today Expo, Fashion Stage makeover presentations, monthly newspaper makeover features, and appearances on WBIR-TV, where I shared makeup tips in combination with providing free makeovers to more than 100 deserving women over that decade. We also had the privilege of hosting numerous charity events to raise funds for breast cancer and co-sponsored the annual Women’s Wellness Retreat, a truly cherished event. Our next step was to purchase our current location in Renaissance Farragut in 2011, allowing us to offer even more meaningful makeovers. Our stylists focus on solving problems through their services. I was frustrated by our limited resources for addressing thinning hair and hair loss. Evolve Hair Solutions developed a training program to certify stylists in solutions for clients dealing with thinning hair. I was brought on as an Educator to collaborate with Evolve Hair Solutions ‘ recently appointed Technical Training Director to introduce these solutions to stylists across the U.S. Many women needed help, and we successfully introduced the Evolve Volumizer, which gained widespread acceptance in Knoxville. We expanded our services to meet demand for natural-looking human hair, offering the highest-quality designs for full wigs, toppers, and extensions. This enabled us to reach more men and women in need. Garde Bien is proud to help women and men with alopecia, effluvium, FFA, and Trichotilomania; Knoxville Hair and Scalp Clinic, staffed with highly trained experts, offers solutions for hair thinning, scalp issues, and many hair loss concerns.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I had a clear vision for everything I wanted to do but didn’t know where to start. I spent over a year working on a business plan. There were challenges in getting things done, gaining experience on the job, learning, and seeking out experts to teach my wonderful team. First, I found an organization that helped: The Small Business Development Center, a federal program that covers all aspects of starting a business. My counselor was tough; he provided me with a solid foundation. He pushed me to create projections and understand how to be profitable. I didn’t like him most of the time, but that meant he was helping me learn how businesses make money. Together, we developed a realistic and achievable business plan, which helped me secure a small business loan. I joined the Farragut West Knox Chamber early on and met many supporters. This inspired me to serve as a board member for two terms—five years. Women face challenges in business, especially with contractors—those good-ole-boys. I learned to use my polite Southern charm to get things done and earn respect, helping the project stay on schedule and budget. We recently expanded and renovated our current location. My previous experiences helped me communicate better with contractors by deepening my understanding of my project, which contributed to creating a beautiful environment for staff and clients. Every decade brings unpredictable challenges: the economy, 9/11, the mortgage crisis, COVID, and the new tariffs. We’ve survived each one thanks to all the tough experiences with devoted mentors and a solid business model.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Garde Bien SpaSalon and Knoxville Hair and Scalp Clinic: Our uniqueness is our strength. We are an established hair salon with experienced stylists who have expanded their knowledge to help women and men struggling with thinning hair and hair loss through effective solutions. We are a comprehensive business offering a full range of hair services for every client. We chose to deepen our expertise specifically to assist those most challenged by various types of hair loss. We provide Trichology, the study of hair and scalp, combined with holistic guidance to find answers and steps to maintain or restore hair. Using diagnostic tools, our clients can learn about their overall health and how it relates to hair and scalp issues. We offer the highest quality human hair wigs and toppers from leading brands worldwide. I have personally selected these companies, visited their warehouses and factories, and met with the owners and designers. They design for dignity, self-esteem, and benefit those who want to live life without compromise. We’ve heard stories from cancer survivors who have returned to work because they look like themselves, from a burn victim who is no longer embarrassed, and from a young teen with Trichotillomania who feels comfortable talking with us. Women with male-patterned baldness are thriving with new hair. Women with FFA are excited to finally wear flowing bangs. A young girl wants to wear a ponytail like her friends, or simply desires a well-trained stylist who understands what she wants and can consistently deliver to her. We customize all of our selections to provide the most natural look and the latest trends with our coloring and cutting services by our highly trained staff. We offer complimentary phone consultations for the most common questions that can overwhelm, and to help educate clients about the differences. Face-to-face fitting consultations are available to select from various collections and to try on, along with custom orders to ensure absolute perfection. Restoring feelings of youth and happiness is very rewarding for us.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have great respect for my very first employer, Sue Hanson, who hired me right out of school. Her vision for her salon gave me valuable opportunities to learn the ropes of business, which I have used to grow my own. We have a long-standing relationship and continue to collaborate on training programs and develop hair solutions. Larry Rossini at The Small Business Development Center (which offers free counseling programs and experts for ongoing business questions) directed me to tax classes and a detailed six-week business course. But most importantly, he forced me to focus on the numbers more than just choosing wallpaper. The chamber was filled with individual assistance, including a counselor at S.C.O.R.E., support with my start-up, and a great place to network and promote. I have a good CPA, not only for tax returns but also for providing solid insights into the business’s growth and the changes I need to make. Or software not only records data but the company hosts a conference filled with expert presentations and workshops. I attend conferences and workshops both within and outside my industry. Over the years, I have read many insightful books; one of the early ones was *E-Myth*. I joined a BNI chapter—Business Networking International—many years ago when we were building, which helped me better understand how to generate leads, referrals, and craft a perfect 60-second introduction. I participate in two to three educational events each year. A key benefit is discovering programs or groups that offer new ideas and reenergize my efforts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gardebien.com and www.gardebienhairloss.com
