Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Vogel.
Marina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a hairstylist from Europe, been working in the beauty industry since about 17 years.
Owned a salon in Germany for more than 8 years. Been travelling to the US since about 10 years and it’s been always my dream moving to America and opening my own Salon here in Florida!
So I followed my dreams, saved up money, sold my salon in Germany and 2 years later I moved over the big pond!
I opened a salon in north Fort Lauderdale, but had a lot if difficulties with the rebuilding from the salon. It ended up like a little nightmare! I got ripped off, worked with the wrong people, the wrong contractor, he took advantage of the little stupid German girl!
It took much more time and money to rebuild the store and I lost some money and once it was finally done (about 4 months late as it was supposed to) it wasn’t even as nice as it should be!
I already had a beautiful salon in Germany and of course my 2nd salon should come out even more fancy and upscale but that was just a dream! So I decided to sell the salon before losing more money, that’s what I did.
But then I needed to make some money for living, I already lived about 6 months from my savings only…
So I decided to bartend in a restaurant at the beach! That’s what I did for a few months but it never was my passion being a bartender! Than I was looking around for something to go back to do my passion, HAIR!
I worked for 3 months in a little salon but it was commission based and I didn’t make enough money plus I couldn’t show my creativity as much, so I felt very fast that wasn’t the right thing for me.
Well then by searching online, I found this company who were opening up these Salon Suites and I can have my own room and be independent! That’s what I did and I finally got business and clients came to me and they came back and referred other and I saw success and I finally got my passion back and was happy!
Still was bartending on the side but after a year, I was able to quit bartending and going back to do hair fulltime!!! What a good feeling this was!!! Can’t describe it!
So now after working for 2 years in the salon suite I actually just signed a lease to open up again my own little salon! But now it better, and I know the right people and be more careful!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No it wasn’t smooth at all!
Not knowing the right people was rough at first and I also missed my family and good old friends! Thank god, I had my 2 dogs that I brought from Germany with me! I got homesick but never thought about moving back, I knew it’s not going to be easy! It was a rocky road!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MaVo Hairlounge – what should we know?
I’m a hairstylist! I do men & women! Specialized in balayage highlights & long hair!
Some people call me the Balayage Queen!
I think what sets me apart, that I am trained in Europe, had a salon for many years and I’m very open, not to intrusive and I can say pretty much I know what I’m doing!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
For sure my Mom! She always supported me, I talk to her a lot and at the beginning when I was homesick I was desperate, crying on the phone, she always cheered me up. That helped me a lot!
And also, I have a very good friend of mine, Daniel from Munich! He knows who I am and always believed in me! He is also a very successful businessman and he helped me a lot with his tips. He also visits me a lot here in Florida
Contact Info:
- Address: 1942 E Sunrise Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 - Website: Www.mavohairlounge.com
- Phone: 9546254768
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: MaVo_Hair
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Mavohairlounge
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