Morgan Mondy of Mae Studio on Building a Business, Expanding a Brand and Making a Graceful Exit

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Morgan Mondy, owner of the cozy and welcoming hair salon Mae Studio, joins Carrie on The Localist this week. Morgan and Carrie dive in with what it’s like to almost simultaneously open a new business and sell a business (it’s not for the faint of heart!). Morgan tells us what she envisioned for Mae, the client experience she wanted to create, and how “the Rachel” made victims of us all. Morgan and Carrie then discuss how Morgan got into cosmetology, how college isn’t for everyone, and how a passion for learning is one of the keys to success. Morgan describes the early days of her first salon and how it differs from Mae, and the importance of company culture. Morgan and Carrie then get into the operations of a business: supporting staff members, finding locations, building out a new space, and the inevitable delays associated with any construction project. We wrap up the conversation with how Morgan selects the products and merchandise available at Mae (perfect for the local-minded and eco-conscious folks!), and the events that are held there (Galentine’s Day — need we say more?). 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Mae Studio  

Mae Studio on Instagram

Morgan Ashley Salon

Darling Magazine

Church Street Coffee and Books 

Santa Fe Day Spa 

Railroad Park

Bumble and Bumble

Kevin Murphy

Dreamer’s Supply Co

Daughters Baking

Brat Brot

About Carrie

Carrie Rollwagen is host of the Localist podcast and cofounder of Church Street Coffee & Books. Currently, she works as Vice President of Strategic Planning at Infomedia, a web development company in Birmingham, Alabama. Find the Localist at @thinklocalist on Instagram and follow Carrie at @crollwagen.

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