By: Maddie Poteat
Marcia Harper
This month we shine the stylist spotlight on Marcia Harper! Marcia works at our Regency location and is one of our most experienced stylist and longest running employee – she’ll celebrate 30 years with Garbo’s this year! She is also the leader of our fitness club! Since we are in the middle of celebrating the beauty of fitness this month we thought it would be a treat to learn more about Marcia, what she does for our salon and how she has seen the beauty industry change over her 30-year career. Read on to learn more about Marcia in her own words!
What is Your Favorite Service to provide to your clients?
My favorite services to provide are permanent waves and coloring hair. However, I enjoy performing any service that makes a guest feel better about themself.
How has the beauty Industry changed over the years you have been working in it?
Hairstylists are much more educated than they used to be and we are now recognized as professionals. In the infancy of my career finding a salon that offered benefits was rare. Now a stylist can work at a top salon, like Garbo's, where they offer their employees benefits such as health and disability insurance, paid vacation and a retirement plan. You may also move ahead within your company, or out of it, by accepting positions to further your career.
Why do you love being a hairstylist?
I see hairstylists as the doctors of beauty. We have the ability to touch more than just our client's hair, skin or nails. We help guest look and feel better and teach them how to maintain their looks until they can come see us again. We are truly health professionals.
What made you interested in the GArbo's Fit Club position?
In 2000 I was home for three months with a broken ankle. While stuck at home I started thinking of ways to better our workplace. Once returning to work I put my ideas into motion by starting a flu shot clinic and bringing CPR classes to our salons. We had such a great response that we knew we needed to continue providing health-related functions to those who work at Garbo's. I didn't truly have a position until Darcy offered me a chance to apply for it. Darcy, our owner, is very supportive.
What fun fitness activites has the salon been involved in?
There have been complimentary yoga and kickboxing classes and we are about to be treated to a Barre Class at the Barre Code in West Omaha. We have a workout corner in each salon and have participated in a few charitable runs. All the success we have had with this program is largely due to our fitness team. Claire, Erin, Susie, Molly, and Heather have worked diligently to make our program what it is.
Fitness and beauty... they don't typically go together. Why does garbo's care about staying active?
I think fitness and beauty actually complement one another well. Beauty follows fitness inside and out. Being healthy and fit makes anything you achieve in life that much better, including a workplace. It is forward thinking to add wellness to a workplace, it provides happiness and safety. I'm happy to be at a company that has that mindset, thank you, Darcy!
I loved what Marcia had to say about the relationship between beauty and fitness. Although there is something raw and natural about working out and staying fit there truly is a connection to beauty. The rush of empowerment and positivity felt after a great workout can make you feel beautiful!
When you’re behind a Garbo’s chair we work hard to help you feel beautiful. We see and feel that same rush in our clients when the chair is turned around and they see their new hair for the first time.
We believe that staying active is beautiful – that is why we dedicated an entire month to fitness! We’ve partnered with some amazing small businesses to bring you the best of beauty and fitness so make sure to follow along on our Facebook and Instagram accounts!
Thank you so much to Marcia for allowing us to interview her this month and for the work she does to keep everyone at Garbo’s healthy and fit! If you are in need of a new stylist we highly recommend choosing Marcia. You can book your next appointment with her online or by calling our Regency location at (402) 391-2333.
Thanks as always for reading – we’ll be back in a few weeks when we wrap up our month of fitness!
Sending love,
Maddie
