#IBELONG In Beauty: How Christine Butcher Found the Best of All Worlds
Christine Butcher was looking for the benefits of employment and the freedom of being a solo artist. At the Salon by InStyle, she found both!
February 7, 2019
Christine Butcher was looking for the benefits of employment and the freedom of being a solo artist. At the Salon by InStyle, she found both!
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3 min to read
It’s a common dilemma for many stylists. If you choose to be a solo artist, you enjoy the creative and scheduling freedom of working on your own. But you’re also responsible for the dreary details of taxes, inventory, etc. And you must buy your own insurance and set up your own retirement plan. If you work for a salon, the business side is handled, but you forfeit the freedom of being your own boss. Happily, Christina Butcher believes she has found the best of both worlds at the Salon by InStyle!
IT’S ABOUT THE BENEFITS, BABY!
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Recently, Christina’s mom’s health began declining and her husband was stuck in a job he hated but was staying for the insurance. As a booth renter, she enjoyed the freedom to adjust her schedule to her clients’ needs, but there were no benefits. “When I started looking into salons near my mom in Lake City, FL I looked into The Salon by InStyle,” she recalls. “And they offered health insurance, paid time off, vacation, a 401k. I thought, ‘This is really cool!’ It’s all about the benefits, baby!”
FREEDOM TO CARE FOR HER CLIENTS
As an established stylist, Christine immediately qualified for the company program which allows stylists to set their own schedules. It’s perfect for her! “I work a split shift,” she explains. “Three days a week, I come in at 9 a.m., I leave at 2 p.m., I come back at 4 p.m. and I work until whenever. On Saturdays, they let me open at 8 a.m. It's a fantastic program that I think more independent stylists should know about.”
CURL SUPPORT
Many of Christine’s clients are “curly girls”--they love her skill when it comes to cutting and styling their textured hair. “Some of my best days at work are when girls come in crying because they can’t manage their curls, and they leave crying because they’re so happy and beautiful,” she says. She says her salon team really gets behind her specialty, including her manager who tries to stock her favorite products for curly hair. “It’s important for me to be able to offer what will make my clients’ hair look good,” she notes.
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ROOM TO GROW
Christine doesn’t know whether family obligations will require her to move away from Florida, and if so, she’s not keen on starting over client-wise. So she has begun to shadow her manager, figuring if she relocates, she could be able to apply for a management position with the company in another area. “If I ever have to move, rebuilding a book is just not going to happen in my late ‘40s or 50s,” she says. “Developing management skills gives me different opportunities.”
WHY I BELONG @THE SALON BY INSTYLE
“I'm invigorated every day, because there's always something new, something changing, something that's coming in. I’ve only been with the company a few months, but I feel as if I’m discovering hair all over again!’”
Learn more about the people and opportunities at The Salon by InStyle.
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Visit jobs.jcp.com and check out @salonbyinstyle on Instagram.
More Salon by InStyle associates share their #IBELONGinbeauty stories:
Shannon Demont has found her calling, having taken her passions for hair, photography, social media strategy, and education, and rolling them all into one successful offering: hair photography education.
Skyla Kuykendall's work is the kind of hair that makes you happy. As a colorist who loves to blend natural with fantasy, she attributes her continued success in finding her dream clients to being her authentic self.
With more than four decades in the industry, hairdresser and MODE Education founder Stan Newton has built a career around the art and discipline of cutting hair, learning the rules so he can break them.
Ashley Leoncini believes success in beauty is built through genuine connection, resourcefulness and the willingness to evolve. A bridal specialist with 17 years in the industry, Leoncini has created a career by making clients feel valued, investing in hands-on education and redefining success to include a healthier work-life balance.
Able to create a shag with gorgeous texture on anyone, Stephanie Carrillo has found her calling within the beauty industry. Now she teaches shag cutting techniques herself, inspiring countless other stylists to fall in love with creating the popular look.
When you think of Stephanie Geib, think bold color. Think beautiful dimension. Think...your hairstylist best friend. As a 2017 Honoree of the MODERN SALON 100, Geib is the perfect example of being a positive force in the beauty industry, advising that being kind to others and sharing your knowledge is the real success.
Hannah Mejia believes lasting success comes from mastering your craft, embracing lifelong education and trusting that the career you dream about is within reach. A stylist, educator and content creator, Mejia has spent 15 years building a business rooted in creativity, communication and continuous growth.
Katy Samuels has spent 14 years proving that creativity thrives when you stop searching for the "right" way and start trusting your own instincts. Known for her creative color work and signature Headband Prism technique, Samuels encourages beauty professionals to embrace mistakes, refine their craft and develop a style that's uniquely their own.
Erin Munoz has spent 17 years building a thriving business behind the chair while proving that success doesn't have to come at the expense of life outside the salon. A color specialist, content creator and salon owner, Munoz believes beauty professionals should treat their careers like businesses, embrace change and make room for both financial growth and personal fulfillment.
North Carolina-based hairstylist Tyler Plemmons wants you to know one thing: Positivity and perseverance will get you everywhere. This MODERN SALON Artist Connective Member and 2018 MODERN SALON 100 Honoree is known for beautiful balayage, gorgeous vivids, and soft pastel hair color.
For Angelica Tanta, success has always come down to one thing: practice. Originally from Romania, Tanta credits an online mentor from Ukraine—despite never meeting in person and communicating through Google Translate—with inspiring her to perfect her bridal artistry through relentless repetition.
Angela Orozco believes long-term success in the beauty industry is built on trust, consistency and genuine human connection. A stylist at The Nest Salon in Brea, California, Orozco has spent 14 years cultivating a reputation for dimensional brunettes, precision haircutting and authentic relationships that have fueled her career.
Erin Mills believes beauty professionals deserve more than a successful career. A hairstylist turned multi-salon owner, Mills has spent 17 years growing her business while helping her team create lasting impact.
For Mish Jolie (@meltedbymish), success isn't measured by how busy you are, it's measured by how fulfilled you feel. The Connecticut-based stylist, educator and MODERN SALON 100 honoree has built a career around balayage, lived-in brunettes and razor cutting.