A dream for beauty: Fishers woman follows dream, starts own salon

0

By Anna Skinner

Melanie Stoddard went the traditional route, getting a college degree and a set career. But after a degree in public relations and business and two years in pharmaceutical sales, she knew she wanted to go a different direction with her life.

“I decided that wasn’t going to fulfill me long term so I went to beauty school and started over,” Stoddard said.

That was 13 years ago, and Stoddard is still going strong.

“I wanted to open up a salon in downtown Fishers that would be inviting for clients, a retreat for the busy women and men in Fishers,” Stoddard said. “A place to come and relax.”

So she created Blush Salon Boutique, a hair salon off of 116th and Maple Streets where she does hair coloring, cutting, smoothing treatments and sells a plethora of products and accessories.

And since she knows what it’s like to own and operate a small business, Stoddard aims to help others grow their businesses as well. She purchases many of her accessories from entrepreneurs through Etsy, an online site.

Although Stoddard has worked in salons for years, she hasn’t created and ran her own “free-standing building” until now. Yet her loyal clients have followed her.

“Business has been great since I opened, I have a great following since I’ve been doing it for a while,” Stoddard said. “I have very loyal clients who follow me and new clients who stopped in and wanted to see what Blush was about.”

One client of Stoddard’s following, Kim O’Neil, said she thinks Blush is fabulous.

“Melanie has been my stylist for over two years now and I look forward to every appointment. She is so easy to talk to and I enjoy our conversations as well as a great cut and color every time I go,” O’Neil said. “Now when I get my hair done, I can shop for a cute bracelet for myself or a nice scarf or candle for a gift.”

And despite taking the leap and following her dream, Stoddard said she doesn’t regret taking the time to go to college for a career path she didn’t end up following.

“Going to college was so important, just getting that growing, that life experience and all those skills helped run a business,” Stoddard said, mentioning that her minor in business at Indiana University helped her know how to start Blush.

Although she has been open since June, Stoddard is holding a grand opening for Blush on Oct. 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. The celebration will be held at the salon, 11631 Maple St. There will be door prizes including product and service giveaways and 20 percent off all boutique items.

“I think I have a lot to offer my clients,” Stoddard said. “I treat them the way I would want to be treated. For this whole salon I did the build out and design with my clients in mind. It’s what I’d like if I wanted to get away for a few hours.”

Blush is open Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although walk-ins are welcome, Stoddard prefers appointments. To schedule an appointment or learn more, call 523-1635

Meet Melanie Stoddard

Age: 38

Family: Husband Eli, 39; daughter Marin, 6; and son Reid, 5.

Blush prices: $55 for women, $35 for men

Hobbies: Busy mom, family time and dinners out

Favorite cut/style: A fun, short bob or long layers. “I think I like hair because I like the variety and different types of hair and meeting with so many different people every day and having so many personalities in my salon.”


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact