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For Latranae Knight and Randall Martin, opening Purpose Salon Suites meant stepping into unfamiliar territory.
The couple came to the business from real estate before transitioning into the health and beauty industry. Along the way, they leaned heavily on family and friends as they worked to turn the idea into a business.
“It was new, uncharted territory for us, but we have a lot of support,” Martin said.
That support filled Purpose Salon Suites on Friday, Aug. 28, as family, friends, local business leaders and others gathered for a grand opening celebration at 13740 Midway Road, Suite 800.
Purpose Salon Suites has 15 individual suites designed for independent beauty and wellness professionals. About half are already rented, with some additional suites on a waiting list, Martin said.
Current tenants include professionals offering nails, esthetics, hairstyling, waxing and lash services, among others.
Each suite is its own business, giving the professionals who work there the independence of running their own companies while Purpose Salon Suites handles the space around them.
“They run their own business,” Martin said. “Kind of playing landlord again.”
The concept is intended to be more than simply a collection of rooms for rent. Purpose Salon Suites describes its mission as creating a place where independent beauty professionals can build their brands while also being part of a supportive community. The suites include plumbing, utilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, keyless entry, a break room and an onsite washer and dryer.
“It’s a real community feel over here,” Martin said.
That emphasis is reflected in the business' name and its tagline: “Elevated spaces. Purpose driven.”
Knight and Martin's goal is to provide a professional setting where hairstylists, estheticians, manicurists and other entrepreneurs can operate independently and grow their businesses.
The grand opening also gave the couple a chance to thank the people who helped them get there.
Martin acknowledged that the road to opening had not always been easy.
“We've been through a lot with this,” he told the crowd. “We're just very thankful.”
He especially thanked the family and friends who took time out of the workday to attend, including some who traveled for the celebration.
“I truly, truly appreciate it,” Martin said.
Among those celebrating was Carla Griffin-Crowthers, a family friend who came from Memphis and helped the couple prepare for the grand-opening event.
“It takes a lot to be an entrepreneur and put yourself like that,” Griffin-Crowthers said. “I'm so proud of her and Randall.”
For Knight and Martin, the gathering marked the beginning of a business where their tenants will be building businesses of their own.
More information about Purpose Salon Suites and available suites is available through Purpose Salon Suites.
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