2014 Women of Vision: The Reasy Family

Peggy Reasy
Jessie Reasy-Hagen
Jacquelynn Reasy-Woodward
Jamie Reasy-Khalili
Owners/partners at Sorella Salons and Spas, with three locations in Washington

The Reasy women—three sisters and their mom—had a dream to work together in a field in which they felt passionate. In 2003, this dream became a reality when sisters Jamie Reasy-Khalili, Jessie Reasy Hagen, and Jacquelynn Reasy Woodward joined their mother Peggy Reasy in opening the first Sorella Salon and Spa in Redmond Ridge, Washington. Less than two years later, they opened two more locations in Issaquah Highlands and Kirkland Boulevard. Customer service, a professional attitude, and technical excellence are the core values that set Sorella apart from its competitors. Every team member and guest who walks through the door is valued and treated as member of the family. Over the years, the salon have been invited to participate in Paris and New York Fashion Week, to do editorial work for 425 Magazine, to style hair for local fashion shows and attend Oribe events.

How are you passionate?
The Reasys: Passion is our first core value. We love this industry, our team, each other and beauty.

Since you started your own business, how have your motivations changed?
The Reasys: We started this business so that we could work together in an industry that would be fun and always changing. What we have found to be our most valuable asset is the fact that we are sisters—it’s what keeps us strong when chips are down. Our goals have changed, but what keeps us going and growing is our love and loyalty to each other and our team.

What do you do on a daily basis to help you grow as entrepreneurs?
The Reasys: We rely on communication and courage to keep us growing. With a team of about 100, communication is key; it took a lot of courage to move forward with expanding our business during a poor economy.

Who or what inspires you?
The Reasys: Passion. We love to see zeal for the industry and loyalty to the team. We side ourselves with good partners like Luxury Brand Partners and L’Oreal. Our team members crave to be a part of Sorella and will do the legwork to succeed with the team. We have been in business for 11 years and have employees who have been with us for at least 10—those family members inspire us to do the best we can do.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from running your own business that you would share with other women?
The Reasys: You cannot please everyone. You must have a mission and stick to it. If you keep your eye on that mission, openly communicate with the people who you are surrounded by, and work toward it everyday, then it sets up healthy expectations for both you and your teammates.

As you grew your company/brand, what ‘Ah-Ha’ moments of clarity helped you shape its future course?
The Reasys: Our “ah-ha” moment occurred when we realized that everyone has his or her own brand. Our goal is to find passionate people that fit within our brand and build them from the bottom up. This creates longevity and a better professional legacy.

In developing your company, what is the biggest roadblock you’ve faced and how did you conquer it?
The Reasys: Trying to “do it all.” Whether it be picking up a new trend, adding new services or participating in fashions shows, there are limited hours in the day and only a certain amount of people to help with these things. We have learned that we make a bigger impact if we do a few things and do them well.

How would you describe your management style? What do you think makes you a good leader, and in what areas would you want to improve?
The Reasys: Our leadership style is to lead by example. We never ask anyone to do something that we wouldn’t do ourselves. Also, we realize that gratitude goes a long way; we try to appreciate and acknowledge our team often. We continue to improve on taking conflict head-on. We spent many years being concerned more about feelings and less about resolving conflict; not being afraid to have fierce conversations has proven to be more successful.

Throughout your professional history, what’s the best lesson you’ve learned after making a mistake?
The Reasys: We believe in giving second chances. We hold the bar high, but believe that nobody is perfect and, sometimes, offering grace can make the very best team members.

What is the number-one quality you look for when hiring employees, and how do you evaluate if they possess that trait?
The Reasys: One of our mentors, Gene Juarez, gave us a very good piece of advice early on: “Hire passionate people and make good employees.” That stuck with us and has shaped our hiring protocol. We try to hire people with vigor and passion. It seems that no matter what, those qualities get us through even the hardest of days.

Share something personal that very few people at your work would know about you:
The Reasys: As a sister co-op, we realize that self-esteem doesn’t come naturally, and even the most beautiful women struggle with image. We try to remember that beauty is skin deep and giving our clients a whole experience will add to their overall satisfaction with our brand and their stylist.

What’s the best thing an employee ever said about you?
The Reasys: That they appreciate the sacrifices we’ve made and the hard work we do.

If you were training another woman to take over your job, what’s the most important advice you would offer her?
The Reasys: Work hard. You will earn the respect and favor of the team through your dedication.

 If you were to look at a scrapbook of your professional career, what would be your favorite page?
The Reasys: Doing hair for Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. We had the opportunity to work with Oribe himself, and it was a mile-marker in our lives.
 If someone were to write a book about your life, what would be an appropriate title?
REASYS: I Love My Sisters
 
If you weren’t in the beauty industry, what would you be doing?
The Reasys: Can’t imagine anything else we would ever want to do. Nothing.

What is your vision for the future of your company?
The Reasys: The future of Sorella is to keep growing salons. Our calling is to build strong, career hairstylists from the ground up. Nothing brings us more joy than when a person that worked as a receptionist during beauty school, then moved his/her way to assistant and now is a senior stylist.

What is it like to work so closely with your family?
The Reasys: We sharpen one another; we make one another better and stronger. We love one another unconditionally and respect one another without boundaries. Working with family has its challenges but, at the end of the day, it was meant to be.