follow the journey
"if you can put a full functioning kitchen into a mobile truck - why can't i do the same with a salon?"
Every time I saw a food truck - I stared at it. I studied it. I was in awe of it. I couldn't stop thinking - if you can put a full functioning kitchen into a mobile truck, why can't I do the same with a salon.
I had this idea of going mobile for years but FINALLY the idea became larger than life and the vision became so clear. The business plan for Tilted Shears Salon Truck poured out of me and everything was in line to create LA's first Salon Truck.
By the end of 2019 I was ready to turn this vision and plan into action. All that was left to do was give notice to the Barbershop I had called home and managed for the last 5 years to start making it happen. A task I quickly learned was easier said than done.
It's funny to look back at things now - building a business is never easy but building something you thought was so certain through a pandemic and a world of uncertainty is a wild ride to say the least.
a look back at the beginning...
I needed a truck that could pass all of requirements California has but I also wanted something with character. I didn't want new. I didn't want shinny.
I wanted to Renew. Reuse. & Reinvent.
Because of COVID stepvans had become harder to find and the price was higher than what I was looking at before. It took MONTHS of looking and searching all over... California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin.
Then I found it on eBay of all places. A 1991 P30 Stepvan in Madison, WI that had been previously converted into a fire truck.
I thought it would be a fun journey and a nice pandemic distraction to pick it up in person and drive it back to California. Well I made it to Iowa and then the transmission blew!
Working transmission or not thought it was PERFECT!
The lights and sirens ended up being a huge bonus on the side of the road ;)
finding the Perfect Truck!
After getting it shipped backed to California, there was a lot of work to be done. The engine, transmission and underbody needed major work. Plus all of the construction that needed to happen to turn this dusty gem from old fire truck to super sleek salon on wheels.
However, starting a business is not easy. Everything doesn't go exactly as you plan. Things take longer to come into fruition. And it's true what they say that if it was easy, everyone would do it.
To make a very long story short I've learned a lot and almost lost a lot in this last year. But to be honest, it was all worth it - the good, the bad and the frustrating!
I've learned how to be direct in what I need done, that trust looks different in business and that it takes a certain kind of drive to keep pushing when everything is going south.
On a Truck side of things, I was able to end 2021 with a mechanically sound Fire Truck with a fully rebuilt transmission, tuned up engine and redone underbody.
Stay tuned for what's next!