Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is The Ten Spot CEO Kristen Wood, whose small chain of beauty bars in Toronto has major ambitions to become the Starbucks of the beauty spa world. Oh, and in case you missed it, The Ten Spot and Notable.ca want you to get nailed. And we want you to bring along seven of your friends…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I created The Ten Spot, a small chain of beauty bars out of Toronto. As CEO, my focus is on expansion, including franchise sales. I’m very hands-on with developing any new protocols and procedures for the spa, as well as developing and executing all branding, marketing and graphic design work.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I started my company in 2006 at the age of 24. I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I was always on the lookout for an untapped but sustainable niche in the marketplace from which to launch and grow a company.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part of what I do is that I do what I love. I love making up my business as I go. I love doing design work, I love interacting with my awesome team. I rarely ever feel like I’m ‘working’.
The most challenging part is having ‘tough talks’. I hate conflict, and unfortunately when you work with people you inevitably have to have to some difficult conversations. That, and reading legal documents. With franchising there are endless legal documents to review and I find it boring but they are so important, so you can’t just skim them. I find I have to make a coffee and get in the right head space to read them.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
Sometimes I’ll realize that my son has said ‘mommy’ three times in row before I look up from a text or email. When that happens, it’s a good reminder that I need to turn work off and focus on being with him fully.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully the same place I am now, just with more locations and more money!
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
There are always countless challenges, some big, some small, some business and some personal. The thing is to just keep moving forward. I just try to keep my head down and keep doing what I’m doing.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
The vision I want to achieve is more location-based than monetary. I want to have 500 spas up and running, each delivering the same high standards. In other words, I want to be the Starbucks of the beauty spa world.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
I think it was the opening our first franchised location – Roncesvalles. That was huge to have a location opened by someone else with my brand name on it.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
1000% just do it, whatever it is. You want to start a business or ask for a promotion? You just have to do it. Your best case scenario is that you get what you want. Your worst case is that you are where you are now.
Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
I’m a Terroni lover through and through!
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
With my son. He’s two and a half and I’m just so in love with him. We usually go for fun walks and nature trails.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
New York. I love just pounding the pavement for hours and hours. Something about it just sparks inspiration and ambition in me and I get so amped up!
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Gangsters Paradise by Coolio. Not that it’s my theme song per se, I’d just like it to be playing the in background of a lot of my life’s moments since it’s so badass.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
Well, I do also run a product line called GET NAILED, which is our line of polish, lotions and scrubs. But I think if I weren’t running The Ten Spot, I’d do something totally different. As I mentioned, I love design and so making some sort of product with cool packaging, a nifty website and online store would most likely be what I’d gravitate to.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
The Ten Spot supports a variety of charitable causes; personally I give to Amnesty International. I have a hard time with injustice, so that’s something I prefer to give to.
What to you is notable?
Setting a good example for my son is notable to me right now. I want him to be happy and to feel that he can do anything he wants. That, and goat cheese.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Android, baby!
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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