“I thought maybe I wanted to be a social worker, or maybe a nurse. Sounded good. Until I walked into the cosmetology salon at the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School. Wow! I still remember the feeling I got that day, I still get it when I walk into B. Anthony’ s…” ~ Jennifer Swartz, Owner, B. Anthony’s Salon
Hard work, perseverance, and a dream. Many dream, but not nearly as many put in the hard work or perseverance to actually live it.
Jennifer Swartz always wanted to be a hair stylist. “At a young age we would visit the vocational school in Jefferson. I was at Grand Valley High School at the time working on career ideas. I had a pretty cool sister-in-law I looked up to who was also in the industry,” says Jennifer.
After that memorable visit to the vocational school , the decision was made: this was where she wanted to go.
That was the easy part. Finding the funds was going to be a major undertaking…
“Growing up, I lived in Ashtabula Harbor. Some would say I had it pretty rough. I would say it makes me humble. I had a father who worked construction and was an alcoholic and a step mom who worked in catering. Our biological mother was never around.”
As one of seven children, it was not smooth sailing for the couple to make ends meet. “I could sense the hardship they endured raising seven kids. I knew I had to make money right out the gate. I asked my dad for the cash to pay for school and he said that hairdressers do not make any money and that his money would be wasted.”
But eventually Jennifer got the money. “I loved being in class where I proudly participated in everything I could and thrived while doing so.” She became class president and worked in the same salon as her sister-in -law as a receptionist through school.
“I worked in Ashtabula, then Middlefield Best Cuts. I had moved to Burton and worked there for two years then heard of a job opening at Marci’s Hair on the Square in Chardon. Being from Ashtabula, I didn’t even know how to get to Chardon!” shares Jennifer. “I applied for the job and got it based on my cool hair according to Marci! And that is where I spent 11 years of my career. I even had an apartment on Chardon Square, so I walked to work every day and enjoyed the Square and all its quaint small businesses.”
After those 11 years, Jennifer had acquired a major client base. “I did multiple trainings and attended countless hair shows. I was even training to become a designer for Joico. During that time, I had a little boy, Blake Anthony. So my dreams of becoming a platform artist were put on hold.”
After many years of working on Chardon Square and building such an amazing following as part of Marci’s growing salon, Jennifer felt she had hit a plateau. “I could not climb any higher or take on much else, so I started to search for ways to grow as a stylist. A client of mine kept asking, ‘When are you opening your own place?’ He asked this every three weeks or so, and during these silly talks over his haircut, we tossed salon names around. My son, being named Blake Anthony, took front and center. After that, he would ask every three weeks, “What’s up with B. Anthony’s?”
Jennifer looked into a number of places and talked with her boss Marci who agreed that the locations were just not right. “A year or more later, I kept seeing this yellow for rent sign on this cute little building just off the Square next to Weidig’s Floral, so one night, I stopped and peeked in the window and got butterflies in my tummy. I knew this was the spot. And so my journey started. This was October of 2012.”
Ready for change and a new challenge
Jennifer signed the lease in December, “and my whole life was flipped upside down! We opened January 15, 2013. I was so nervous I kept telling my husband I had the flu. Ha! He assured me it was my nerves. He was right. So I got busy planning and got busy searching for ways to financially support this move. My husband, who races dirtbikes with our son, had an enclosed trailer that he sold along with his beloved 2008 KTM 250. We also had some help from the Geauga Credit Union in Burton, some tax money, and a strong desire to succeed.”
With $13,000 to fund this operation, they had to watch every penny. “Ikea was my store of choice for furnishing. My friend Jennifer, who had just opened Jennifer’s Hair Obsession in Middlefield, convinced me to add more stations and more washing sinks. I was anticipating myself as the only stylist, and that was about it. I am glad I listened.”
Jennifer’s husband and some good friends combined their efforts to transform that vacant pizza shop into what has become B. Anthony’s Salon. She hired her first staff member, Breeonne Scruggs. Then came Lailey Morton from Burton, Trish Pavella from Chardon, Danielle Revlock from Chardon, then Alexis Cooley from Chardon. “As I laugh about how I said to my husband as we were putting together furniture, ‘I hope people come,’ I now find myself looking at bigger spaces just a year later and have a business that was profitable the first year! Amazing ! I love our clients!”
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Clients often express how much they love the unique setting of B. Anthony’s Salon. They like the online booking system, Vagaro, where anyone can hop online or use the app on their smart phone and book an appointment 24/7. “They like our heavy glass coffee mugs. They say the salon is soothing, they love the music, the color on the walls, the smell of our nag champa burning and just the atmosphere. All these things were very important to me. It’s the small things that make a first impression.”
B. Anthony’s Salon is committed to advancing their skill in the hair industry. “I took our staff to a two day show this past fall and have had countless classes since. Educating my stylists is key. They also feed off each other. Each girl has their own unique talent. I learn from them everyday,” says Jennifer.
Even though she finds working full time running a business and having a family difficult, she considers herself a busy body and embraces the challenge.
“This is not it for us,” says Jennifer, who knows how to rise above obstacles. “This is only the start of great things to come. My favorite quote, ‘Catch on fire with enthusiasm, and people will come from miles to watch you burn.’ We are burnin’ up at B. Anthony’s. I love what we do and what we offer!”
B. Anthony’s offers a full line of hair care services for men, women, and children some of which include haircuts, design cuts, blow drys, relaxers, conditioning, special occasions, color, highlights, etc. Pedicures and manicures, waxing – B. Anthony’s does it all! And they do it very well! Visit their Facebook page for great photos and happy comments from very satisfied clients. Book an appointment today and see for yourself!
“Great salon! Nice, stylish, very relaxed atmosphere.
I love the new salon and I love having Jen cut my hair! Every haircut I have gotten from her has been awesome and grows out beautifully. She did my first ever highlights and they looked very natural! So glad that she is in Chardon.” ~ Kay P. January 2014
B. Anthony’s Salon
206 Center Street
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Book 24/7 from their Facebook Page
(440) 286-2242
Tue: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thu: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
