Annilee Armstrong is the founder and owner of Red’s Chair, providing exceptional hair services since 2013
A discussion with Annilee Armstrong, OWNER
Why did you choose Sidney as the location for your business?
“We live in Sidney and have lived here for 18 years. It just made sense for me to work from home, based on my lifestyle, the low overhead costs, and the fact that we had a space that would work. The Town of Sidney was excellent about helping with the business license process and all of that.”
How has your experience been with the Sidney community?
“It has been pretty positive and the town office was fabulous. I decided to get a little bit more involved in the community and joined the Economic Advisory Committee. My business has been well received and I have had a really positive and easy experience.”
What is the most rewarding aspect of running your business?
“For me, it’s the connections that I have with people and being able to hear and understand the different ways that people think about things. I have a good balance of people from all age demographics and it is really interesting to listen to everybody’s thoughts on different topics and to be able to find common ground with them. One of the things I love about being a hairdresser is that I often see people from when they are nine years old up to when they are graduating high school or getting married and having kids. That natural progression through life is really meaningful for me to see.”
If you could give one piece of advice to a new entrepreneur, what would it be?
“Know what you have to offer and know your demographic. Find the right way to connect with the people that would be best for your business. For me personally, I knew that I had invested a lot into my education and I knew what I had to offer and what value I held to my clients.”
What are the core values of your business?
“Having a culture of positivity, listening to others, and having a good and open minded attitude. Whatever you are putting out is what you are going to get back. You are going to attract people similar to yourself.”
What are your short term and long term goals as a business owner?
“For the short term, my goal is to be open to change and be adaptable with everything happening right now. Long term, I want to continue to meet the needs of my clients and have my salon be a comfortable space for them. I would also like to continue becoming even more community involved.”