{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Suite Independence | Building a Thriving Beauty Business","title":"Beauty Beyond the Chair | Schrene Davis' Educational Adventure","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2666,"description":"What does it take to build something you never planned for? Schrene Davis didn't set out to own three cosmetology schools — she was just trying to find a way out of a small town in Western Kansas. From a cheerleading scholarship and a cosmetology license she almost let expire, to becoming one of the early franchisees of Paul Mitchell Schools when there were fewer than five in existence, her journey is a masterclass in staying open to where life leads you.We talk about what it was really like building a school from the ground up, why the Springfield, Missouri model didn't translate to Wichita the way she expected, and how the industry — and the students walking through her doors — have fundamentally changed. We also get honest about the challenge of staying relevant as you get older in an industry that moves fast, and what it means to lead a school full of 18-year-olds who have a very different relationship with work than we did.HIGHLIGHTSSchrene describes her path as \"accidental leadership\" — no long-term vision, just a series of open doors she walked throughGrowing up in Holcomb, Kansas (graduating class of 39), she had no roadmap for college — until a boyfriend's football career took her to Missouri StateShe worked at a chain salon and booth rent while finishing her general education, and credits older mentors in those salons for her early growthBefore Instagram, building clientele meant beating the streets and handing out business cards — and there's something to be said for thatShe became a Paul Mitchell sales rep and discovered the school concept at a national gathering — and was immediately convinced it was what the industry neededWith only ~5 schools open at the time, she partnered with friends, secured a family investor, and opened in Springfield in 2005Springfield became their most successful school — profitable from day one — but replicating that success in Wichita proved much harderThe perception challenge in Wichita: Eric Fisher had already set a high...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/wKXCrFBdRv99LJH2y6b4RhmluyvdYZIEZ2rsDMkYuoI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81ZWRm/ZDIxMDIxODAzNDVk/YWQ0ZWI1ZDQ5ZWNi/ZDJiZC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}