Name: Gia Comfort
Age: 27
Location: Dallas
Education: University of North Texas, Business/Marketing Major; Tony and Guy Academy Dallas, TX, Cosmetology
Job title: Beauty/Hair Extension Expert, producer, photographer and author
How She Got Her Gig: Gia’s career started while she was in college and working part time at her mother’s hair salon. “I was amazed at the amount of artistry and revenue that the stylists at the salon were producing. I have always had an interest in artistic expression but had never applied that to the beauty industry,” says Gia. She instantly knew that she wanted to get into the business full time. She enrolled in cosmetology school and opened her own salon upon graduation. Gia attributes much of her success to the business and marketing skills she learned in college.
What She Does: Gia owns not one, but three successful businesses: a hair salon, photography studio and a media company. Each of her businesses are an extension of the other and were born out of necessity. Gia became an early innovator of hair extensions and uses them frequently at her salon. But when she needed to present photos to potential clients, her options were dated and limited. She decided that she needed to be behind the camera and produce the photos herself and business venture number two was born—Gia & Co. Photography. “I’ve grown my photography services into providing clients all over the world with images for model portfolios and product campaigns," she says. Gia also picked up on the quick transfer of still photos to video. And with that she launched her third company, Gia & Co. Media. “The media company’s sole purpose is to refresh the material that is currently available to both consumers and to beauty professionals around the world. The focus is to provide up to date and relevant materials on new hair products and to demonstrate in a step by step high quality HD video series how to produce the results that so many salon clients have been asking for.”
Required Reading: Since Gia’s companies are aimed at showcasing the latest and greatest styles in the hair world she always needs to keep track of what the next big fad will be. “The celebrity gossip magazines are a HUGE way for me to keep up with current trends. Reading these weekly magazines allows me to view, translate, and put into motion the current style of celebrity hair and makeup trends in my own salon,” says Gia. She also reads BehindTheChair.com and Modern Salon Magazine.
Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed: Gia has met and worked with a lot of well-known professionals both in the beauty industry and the media world, but at the end of the day she attributes her satisfied clients with her success. “A happy client is a loud client, especially when they are telling someone about their good experiences and how pleased they are with the results,” she says
Delegating Duties: Balancing three companies isn’t always easy. Gia has had to learn how to prioritize and loosen her reigns. “I have failed miserably at delegating the small stuff to other people. I try to take on too many things and it come at the expense of my sanity at times.”
This Job's For You if: You're good at interacting with people, can take direction well and are willing to put in long hours. “Your business is only as good as your work. Put your best foot forward for every client, be consistent, and they will come back— and refer you their friends!”
