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Published on: 3/1/2006
Last Visited: 3/3/2006
Parker Washburn, Leon's Beauty Salon Inc.
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Parker Washburn
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In 1994, Parker Washburn took over as president and CEO of Leon's Beauty Salon Inc. in Greensboro.
Since that time she has opened four more salons, remodeled the company's existing locations and all the while focused on employee morale during a time of great change for the company.
Meanwhile, enrollment at the company's beauty school has increased while the school itself has been profitable for eight straight years, despite a rough economy.Washburn has also managed to increase the profit-sharing plan for her employees.
She says focusing on people has been the biggest key to her success.
"Treat everyone with respect," Washburn says."The client is everything.Customer service is everything.Don't look at the customer as a money-person.They need expertise - and good cheer."
Most would agree that Washburn is a people person.She prefers to read good fiction over "business books" because they provide important insights into human relations.Those who know her say she takes human relations to an art.
"Her employees absolutely love her," says Michael Gillis, an accountant at DMJ & Co.CPAs LLP."She would do anything for the company, and every employee reacts to that."
Gillis has known Washburn professionally and personally since 1987, and is impressed with Washburn's ability to get the most out of her people.
"She interacts with her employees on a personal and professional level," Gillis says . "She doesn't portray (a distant) executive.She works almost every Saturday because her employees are there.She's very fair.She has such great relationships with competitors that it's amazing."
Washburn's "people focus" could not have been more important than in 1994 when her mother, then president of Leon's, died.Washburn had to deal with the death of her mother and take over full control of the company at the same time.
She had learned much about the company since arriving in 1978 to manage maintenance and admissions at the school.However, taking over the sales and financial sides of the business was tough.The hardest part, Washburn says, was picking up the financial operations and working with insurance.
"Mom was a phenomenal business head," she says."She had always taken care of (the financial end of the business).She took a lot of risks."
These risks paid off for the company, which had established itself as a successful beauty school and salon chain since being founded by Washburn's step-father.
"When (Washburn) took over the company from her mother, she gave everyone positive assurance that the business would go on," Gillis says."She updated all of the facilities and began to expand.She's not afraid to spend money in order to make money.The school is doing better than ever."
Washburn believes that there is profit potential even in a down economy.She also believes that the service industry will continue to grow.
"We've continued to see a profit without having to increase prices," she says.
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"It's important for a business to give back to the community," says Washburn.
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