Creating an inviting and collaborative workspace has never been more important, especially at a time when isolation has become all too common. We sat down with three successful local business owners to discuss how they foster a welcoming environment in their businesses and, in turn, help build a thriving community.
Krystal Pohl-Kerkezian, Salon Hanover
For Krystal Pohl-Kerkezian, fashion and her family are her primary sources of inspiration. So, when it came time to open her own salon, she named it after her grandmother. She was inspired to open Salon Hanover to promote a welcoming environment that encouraged and built up its employees. She wanted to create a space that felt like a sanctuary for her employees.
"I saw young stylists who seemed defeated, and I wanted to create a salon with the opportunities that I was lucky to have," she says.
"I wondered if we could have a salon that felt like a sanctuary, where they felt safe, heard, loved, and appreciated. Where they could unlock their full potential."
Disregarding archaic hierarchies traditionally found in salons, Krystal empowers her employees through their own passions. She has promoted people to brand ambassadors or even as partners, trying to give them the same opportunities she was fortunate to have.
She focuses on connections within and outside of the salon. Salon Hanover has partnered with local artists and clothing designers to create a beautiful and luxurious space.
"We believe other types of art fuel a community of artists, so we've partnered with a lot of other artists to make our surroundings inspirational," she says.
While creating a safe, inclusive, and beautiful space isn't as easy as snapping your fingers, Krystal says the process has been inspirational. She says it pushes her salonists to collaborate instead of compete with each other.
"It transforms envy into admiration," she says.
Melissa Arbil, Walnut Creek Cadillac
Melissa Arbil is all about the hustle. Originally from Oakley, she started at Walnut Creek Cadillac as a saleswoman and worked from the ground up. Now—as the general manager—she inspires her employees to do the same.
"I want everyone person who comes to work for us to say 'I want Melissa's job,' and then I'm here to try and help them get there," she says.
Part of this includes building a good team, which she says she's curated over the past 11 years.
She believes that culture is something that can be shaped and developed.
"Cultures are created. When you see behaviors or attitudes that aren't aligning with the bigger goal, we have a conversation," she says.
"We're not always perfect."
One of her goals is to find the sweet spot where employees' hobbies and interests align with their jobs. When Melissa learned that her employee Dominic Hanecak did photography on the side, she encouraged him to take over their digital marketing and social media.
"I would never want to inhibit somebody who has a skill set or a talent like that, so if we're able to incorporate it into what we do here? Absolutely," she says.
At the end of the day, seeing her employees succeed makes everything worth it.
"When I see these guys have big life achievements, buying a home, starting a family—knowing I played some small part of that, it's very rewarding."
Giuseppe Farfan, Atypical Men's Grooming
Giuseppe Farfan grew up with a brush and comb in his hands. The founder of Atypical Men's Grooming moved from Peru to the Bay Area when he was just 13 years old. He always preferred working with his hands and developed his skills with hair by practicing on himself and his friends.
In 2022, his dream of having his own shop came true when he opened his first ATypical Men's Grooming in Walnut Creek. This July, he opened a second location in Danville, partnering with his employee Zuriel Paniagua.
Giuseppe leads by example for his employees, many of whom remind him of his younger self.
"I started being careful with my word choices and my eating habits. I started going to the gym, and I worked hard in the shop," he says.
"We want to build a space, not just for cutting hair, but for personal growth. To challenge ourselves to do better," he says.
Guiseppe reflects on not having a mentor and how it could have helped him avoid many mistakes. However, he believes there's a certain beauty in learning from those mistakes.
"But that's the beauty of it: learning from your mistakes and being courageous… Eventually, you'll get there."
Giuseppe hopes his work ethic and dedication pay off with his employees, who he hopes can balance work and fun,
"I show them what to do, so they know they can do it too," he said.
"I saw young stylists who seemed defeated, and I wanted to create a salon with the opportunities that I was lucky to have," said Krystal.
"Cultures are created. When you see behaviors or attitudes that aren't aligning with the bigger goal, we have a conversation.
"We're not always perfect," says Melissa.