Sabrina Guzman has not only had a successful salon in downtown Oxford for ten years, but has also made an enormous difference in the community.
‘It’s amazing to me that I have been able to keep my business running for 10 years and I want everyone to celebrate it with me,? said Guzman.
On Sunday, Sept. 16, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sabrina’s Salon is having a large party where they ‘roll out the red carpet? and have surprises for their clients to show their appreciation for their business.
Along with the other surprises is the chance to win a two-night, three-day vacation to either Atlantic City or New Orleans. Clients will receive one entry ticket for the vacation each time they visit the salon.
Guzman founded Sabrina’s Salon in 1997 with only the help of one nail tech. Shortly after opening the business, Guzman hired Lisa Schultz.
‘I could not have run this business without Lisa, she has helped me through so much and I am forever grateful for it,? said Guzman.
Guzman originally worked in Rochester, but the drive became too much because she had five children to take care of at home.
Guzman started to see the businesses opening up around town and the new subdivisions being built and realized that Oxford was a growing community that would be great for her business.
When she opened up her business it was very successful because many of her clients lived around Oxford and the ones that didn’t were willing to make the drive.
As the amount of clientele grew, so did the amount of workers. Now, as Sabrina’s Salon’s tenth year of being open they have 12 staff members.
‘My staff is the best I could possibly wish for. They are my second family,? said Guzman.
Guzman’s staff also work with her on her continual strive to help others in need. They hold three fund-raisers each year that raise money for each organization.
‘Every single person who walks through my door has suffered through some kind of emotional or physical pain from cancer. It’s very important to me to help out through the American Cancer Society,? said Guzman.
‘We also do Cut it Out, a national salon organization against domestic violence and I really enjoy that because as cosmetologists we hear and see everything. Even things that a best friend might not see,? said Guzman.
Their final project is usually a local charity.
‘The community has given so much to us through clientele and I really like to give something back to them,? said Guzman.
Last year, Sabrina’s raised money for Oxfords School’s music programs with the ‘Made in Michigan? event. In this event, they had signed gifts from singers Bob Seger and Kid Rock where they auctioned them off for money to combine with the donations they received.
Throughout the past ten years Guzman remembers one particular event where her staff truly came through.
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, a staff member came to her wanting to do a fund-raiser for the orphans of 9-11.
‘They came in on their days off and really made a sacrifice. They really wanted to help people out that really needed it through that terrible time? said Guzman.
There are other things that Guzman loves about her job, such as being able to train with celebrity stylists such as Philip Pelusi.
‘They teach us what is ‘in? and keep us learning about all the new techniques. This way we can stay with the progression of cosmetology and keep our customers happy,’said Guzman.
Guzman believes that to run a good business such as Sabrina’s Salon one needs, ‘customer satisfaction, happy employees and a little bit of luck.?
‘It wasn’t easy to have a business for 10-years. The hardest part for myself is the paper work but it has to be done and each week I got it done,? said Guzman.