Nail House Rock, a rock-n-roll-themed nail salon in downtown Marion, Ark., wants to give clients an experience that they cannot wait to share.
“I always put 110% in my work to keep my clients coming back,” says owner Serey Sar-Blanchard.
Come back they have! Serey says the by-appointment-only salon is staying busy, and repeat clients are helping keep her calendar full.
Sar-Blanchard’s life was in transition when she reached out to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at ASU Mid-South in November 2021. She was newly married and moving to Marion from Missouri, and she wanted to open a business.
Her 19 years of industry experience, including roles in management, led her to wanting to start a salon. Relocating provided the opportunity.
“Serey had a clear vision from the start, which kept things moving despite being so busy,” says the center’s Jack Poff Jr. “That and her industry knowledge.”
Help Every Step of the Way
With Poff’s help, she wrote a business plan, organized financial projections for her one-woman salon, and analyzed the pros and cons of adding a second nail technician.
They also discussed marketing and social media strategies. To help Nail House Rock target its social media content, Poff provided market research on the preferences and motivators of customers in the local area.
Serey says Poff “continued helping me every step of the way, and he is still staying in touch after I opened the salon to see how it is running and how I am doing.”
For startup funding, Poff connected her with Jarret Free, financial services manager for East Arkansas Planning & Development District.
Willing to invest in an experienced professional who was new to business ownership, EAPDD answered the call with its revolving loan fund.
In typical small business fashion, going from funding to opening wasn’t without snags. The furniture arrived damaged, the booking software was a challenge to learn, and unforeseen costs arose. However, Serey overcame those challenges, and Nail House Rock opened March 1, 2023.
A Family Milestone
The grand opening celebration April 7 was an exciting day for her family. Along with her husband Chad, five of her 12 siblings and other family members were present. It was also a chance to honor her late parents, who emigrated from Cambodia.
“Serey” means freedom in Cambodian, a name chosen because she was their first American-born child.
Though early in her entrepreneurial journey, Serey understands the road ahead.
“Since opening the salon, I have learned that being an owner of a business is very challenging, especially in a small town,” she said. “If a client is not impressed with my work, the whole town will know!”
That’s why she is focused on customer satisfaction, striving for each client to leave with and return with a smile. Services range from basic manicures and pedicures to acrylic full sets and fills, gel manis and pedis, and nail art.
“The goal for business this year is to work out all the kinks,” Serey said. One of her goals for next year is to hire a new technician.
When asked about the value of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at ASU Mid-South, the first-time business owner was quick to respond.
“I already have told a client to use ASBTDC because she and her husband are thinking about opening a business. They do not know where to start and that fear has been holding them back. I told her that ASBTDC is a wonderful place to start because they will help you with everything that you need to know and guide you through every step to get you where you need to be.”
To learn more about Nail House Rock, visit nailhouserocknhr.com.
Photos courtesy of Nail House Rock and Marion Chamber of Commerce
