some forums and different types of classes, so when a stylist comes in and if that stylist is a young person just starting out in business, I'll have people around me who know how to teach classes on: How do you build a business? How do you satisfy your customers? How do you make yourself presentable? How do you go about building a business and build confidence? I want to start giving some classes out. Just because a person comes into business doesn't mean they're going to be successful, if they don't know how to run a business. Since I know financially how to run a business, another person may come in and say, this is how you need to run this part of the business, because of the clientele coming into the business or how you can reach out to clientele that you didn't know you could reach out to? This shop is going to grow into that. I am now looking at a building that is right behind Virunde’ that has become available. I am looking into having a grant written. I not only want to be able to help the people who are coming in and out of my salon, I want to help those people who don't know what to do next or saying, “I lost my job, the economy is bad, what am I going to do next?” Those women need to know they don't have to have a job to survive. That's where I want to be.
Fuzionz: Were there any challenges?
Betty: No, not here in Red Oak or in Pantego. I really didn't have a challenge in either salon. Right now in this small town, I’m a part of the Chamber, I am a part of the community and I have had so much help from the community. I have been blessed to be around really professional
people and people who want to see me grow this business. Anything that I do, they want to be involved in it. I am the only ethnic salon here. I think it's out of curiosity with a lot of people, but I truly think they want to help me get started.
Fuzionz: Tell me about one of your ‘aha’ moments.
Betty: In here, yes...I was having my ribbon cutting ceremony and, of course, I was shocked when the mayor and the council board came in. I knew I was a part of the Chamber and I think it is because I am a minority, they really wanted to let me know that they are behind me. That was really awesome.
Fuzionz: Where do you hope to see your business in the near future?
Betty: I hope to see this particular salon in other areas in this County, because the minority women here have to go to other cities to get their services. I would like to see that done in a few of the other small towns that don’t have a salon and a spa. They have to go to North Dallas, they have to go to Arlington or somewhere like that. I see this business not only in Red Oak, but going into other small areas and I guess you would call it a franchise.