Dr. Vijayalakshmi Goodapati founded Salon Hair Crush with the goal of providing high-quality salon services at pocket-friendly prices. Hair Crush is home to highly trained hair stylists and skin experts who deliver new, cutting-edge hair designs and skin care at the most affordable prices. Impeccable quality and sanitation, thoughtful guest experiences, and true enthusiasm for giving the gift of hair and beauty set Hair Crush apart from others. It is now one of the fastest growing chains of premium hair and beauty salons in Hyderabad, operating at prime locations spread across the heart of the City.

In an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Goodapati, Founder of Hair Crush, walks us through her personal and professional traits along with her role in the company:

Take us through your early educational and prior industry experience that you bring to the table. What motivated you to venture into establishing a firm that makes great hair and beauty care more accessible and economical?

Before I launched Mirrors Luxury Salons more than two decades ago, I had no formal training nor experience about the hair and beauty industry. What I had was plenty of connections and a keen sense of quality which would become my strength in the future. I've explored the world's style and fashion capitals to learn about the latest trends, methods, and technology. I've spent many hours training under some of the industry's biggest names in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Mumbai, among other places. My success is based on recreating the ambience, knowledge, and commitment to quality that

western countries are recognized for. Strong customer connections are at the heart of Mirrors Luxury Salons' success. It has grown to become one of the country's leading salon brands. While Mirrors was catering to the luxury segment, I felt there was a dearth of good brands that could serve the burgeoning middle and upper middle classes who desired to experience quality but at affordable prices. Salon Hair Crush was created to fill in this void. I made use of my vast experience of managing Mirrors and devised best practices which would reduce the Capex & Opex costs while being uncompromising on quality delivery. The cost benefits were to be transferred to the clients who spent less money and yet got the best hair and skin services in town. Today, Hair Crush has occupied a unique market position serving thousands of loyal clients who feel connected with the brand.

What are the various roles and responsibilities that you currently shoulder at Hair Crush?

I have established a robust service delivery process in which every team member's (including the founder's) function and obligation is clearly defined. I personally design customer experience from the moment he / she walks in until the service is delivered to the fullest satisfaction of the client. Since ours is a human resource-intensive industry, I personally take up the responsibility to hire, retain and motivate talented and enthusiastic staff. I also oversee design, marketing, social media promotion and delivery and quality of services.

What have been the most significant milestones that you have achieved so far in your professional journey?

I am proud that I have exemplified the genuine meaning of women's empowerment by hiring 250 women out of our 450-person workforce. Mirrors has received the 'Best Salon in South' title at the L'Oreal Professionnel Indian Hairdressing awards twice, in 2014-15 and 2017-18, in addition to more than 20 national and regional honors under my supervision. I've trained 700 students via the Mirrors Academy of Hair & Beauty, wherein, many of them have gone on to establish a name for themselves in the business. Continuous learning, traveling to the distant reaches of the globe in quest of the newest, and precision-like implementation of ideas have all contributed to my ability to keep my enthusiasm alive and thriving. 

“Our success is based on recreating the ambience, knowledge, and commitment to quality that western countries are recognized for”

Tell us about the varied expertise that you possess in the beauty sector. How has your prior industry experience helped you in your current role as the Founder at Hair Crush?

I've been in the salon industry for almost two decades now. Having been mentored by famed movie producer Dr. D Ramanaidu, I've always been interested in the hair and beauty profession. Also, working with some of the greatest names in the film industry has allowed me to form deep bonds that have lasted to this day. I have reinvented how hair and beauty care is given in Hyderabad through Mirrors Luxury Salons and Salon Hair Crush. As the company's founder and Managing Director, I am in charge of day-to-day operations as well as the creation and implementation of the brand's short- and long-term strategy. I also keep an eye on the competitive market landscape, expansion prospects, and industry advancements, to devise important company objectives.

How do you keep yourself well aligned with the periodic evolutions occurring within your respective field of work?

I've been travelling throughout the world to learn about the most recent trends and technology. I have also placed a high value on continuing education. Industry journals and trade papers are old methods of keeping knowledge current, yet they work incredibly well. Taking online classes is a major benefit since the degree of information and comprehension required to stay current and grow is higher. It is also necessary to follow key blogs that cover the industry and specialty themes. Social media is also an effective way to keep up with important industry trends. Further, I continuously attend several conferences, which assist me to generate new ideas and network with industry specialists.

As a successful entrepreneur what would your advice be to young women and girls who aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Entrepreneurship is a difficult path to take, especially for women. The job of being an entrepreneur adds to the multiple responsibilities that a woman must fulfill as mandated by the society. The biggest advice I can provide is that a woman entrepreneur must present herself as a strong individual who inspires others via her work, vision, and enthusiasm. It is also critical to establish a loyal and happy staff. Work like there's no tomorrow and always stay flexible and alert. Don't overlook the small details and always keep an eye on everything at all hours of the day and night.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Goodapati, Founder, Salon Hair Crush

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Goodapati has been an individual who has climbed from poor beginnings to great heights through hard effort and sincerity.