Inspiring Conversations with Lori Cheadle of En vogue salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Cheadle.

Hi Lori, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in high school they offered cosmetology courses . I was able to finish early by stay to 5:00 pm every night and by attending school on my Christmas and spring break. Graduated in July from beauty school and June from high school. A family member had met Beverly Sassoon on an airplane and she inspired him to send me to the new Sassoon school in Manchester England as a graduation gift .
It was a school I trained with 5 other students from all over the world. This gave me the skill and confidence to believe I could be one of the best in the industry.

When I came back from England I was able to get a job in my dream town Boyne City . I worked for an amazing woman who took me under her wings and after 3 years of working for her she was ready to sell and offered it to me . I was 21 no extra money but I knew if could get a loan I could do well . I went to
The bank and the basically laugh at me and said no . You have no experience and not enough down payment . So I came up with new ideas and would ask my banker if they would work . After about a month of bugging him he called me in and told me he found a program that I qualify for through the state of Michigan. The way it works is I pay in 400.00 dollars and the bank puts in 400.00 dollars this money goes into an account if my business fails the bank would get the money from this account so there was no risk for the bank . I’m very great full for this opportunity it gave me .
After this I had a few things going for me , I could do great hair , I had a great employee that stayed with me when I bought the business , and I could work long hours , and the most important thing thing was I knew I knew nothing about owning a business. I took a business class at the college I barely passed it because he graded on participation.
Little did the teacher know I was taking notes and listening to the other business owners that were in the class and more experienced than me . I learned so much , it was a total win for me .
One of my clients was a very wealthy businessman . Had business all over the US . I would ask him questions and on faith do everything he suggested . He would be in the salon every 3 weeks . And sometimes I would go to his office and run things by him .

Another belief I had was get the best accountant use the help of your salesman .
I also went to every salon business training I could go to.

I owned it for 14 years then sold it to my top stylist . I continued to work at the same salon. She owned it for 7 years towards the end she told me her true love was her clients and doing hair. After a 7 year rest of owning the salon . I truly missed the marketing and helping the staff grow and watching them improve their lifestyles through doing great work on people . So I bought back the salon and she stayed with me . Now it’s been 14 more years . For a total of 28 years owning the salon and this coming August 2026 i will have worked for the same salon doing hair for 40 years .
The current situation at the salon is I do hair about 20 hours a week. I have an amazing manager which is in charge of employees and daily operations . I still once a month meet with a salon coach going over financials, promotions and things that can better the salon . 3 questions I always ask before implementing a new system is does it benefit the salon? Does it benefit the employees and does it benefit the clients?
This has been very helpful and making decisions for our Salons success.

I am so proud of our staff. We have service providers that have almost hit 100,000 a year and our setting goals to do that.

My goal is to help our staff hit the life style that they love , and to help them achieve their goals and dreams . This is what keeps me excited about this business.

I would also like people to look at this career as a career. And a great way to make a great living and love what you do . There is money to be made.
I’m honored to have been able to work with such amazing people from my advisors, to my employees and clients .

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No owning a business is never smooth the hardest thing for me personally is when staff members leave our salon family.
I have learned not to take it personally we are not a fit for everyone and that’s ok .

When you own a business those numbs in the road are really hard try not to
Focus on the bump just focus on getting over the bump. I have an attitude now of what’s next and how can we learn from it and how can we better from it? This makes it kind of exciting to own your own business. You never know when the next bump is and how hard it’ll be but over the 40 years of bumps I know that there’s never a bump we can’t get over.

As you know, we’re big fans of En vogue salon . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
En vogue salon started out as
Studio One hair design it opened in 1980 with the first owner Judy Hunt . I came to work with Judy in 1986 . Bought it in 1990.
Our location was 44 north lake Boyne City. In 1992 we bought the building we are currently in now 105 Water St. Boyne City. In 2011
When I bought the business back from my stylist we renamed the salon en vogue salon. This was I new beginning and a fresh start .
So this salon has been in business for 45 years.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to anyone new is you can do it .
Look at any problems as adventures. The more adventures you conquer the higher success you achieve. You never have to do it alone reach out to any expert and take there advice . Surround yourself with amazing people that are smarter than you.

Contact Info:

• Website: Envoguesalonbc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/envoguesalonbc