Small business can change the world (and this is how) with Mamawest
Key takeaways
Fi spoke to her client, friend and hairdresser (trifecta!) Sheridan Rose Shaw from Mamawest. We spoke about
What she’s doing as an employer and disrupting the hair industry.
To make a difference in the community, you need to be profitable.
How being a woman in recovery from addiction makes Sheridan a force to be reckoned with.
It’s an amazing conversation, which we hope you enjoy.
Audio
Transcript
Fiona Johnston 00:00
Hello, it's fi again, in your feed this Monday evening, and I'm about to invite the lovely Sheridan from Mama west to join me as we talk about how small business can change. Go Hi, Carolyn new lefty. Welcome. Hi, Steve strategy. How you doing? I'm good. How are you?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 00:39
I'm good. Thank you. Beautiful.
Fiona Johnston 00:41
Oh, thanks. I'm fanning myself because I'm racing around like a mad woman. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. You are gorgeous to our Thank you.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 00:53
I just stopped on my special date tonight.
Fiona Johnston 00:56
Love it, you always look great. And you can say your lovely mural in the background too?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 01:04
Oh, yes. Yes.
Fiona Johnston 01:09
All right. So it's lovely to see some faces joining us. So that's very cool. Thanks for being here. I'm going to start with a brief acknowledgement of country. So we're both on the same land at the moment, which is the the lands of the orangery, people of the Kulin nations. And I think we would both join together in acknowledging them as the traditional owners and custodians of the land and water that we are on. I love the way that place and country holds such a special part of indigenous culture. And I want to acknowledge the traditional, sorry, the elders of those communities, and the deep the deep wisdom that lives in elders past and present. And yeah, anyone who's joining us today who might be a First Nations community member to so beautiful. Thank you. So yeah, let's kick off this conversation. Would you like to tell people a little bit about Yeah, how did you get here? Why did you start mama Weston? How did you get to where you are right now?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 02:14
Oh, what a loaded question to start with. Okay, everyone. Well, look, my name is Sheridan brochure. I'm the Creative Director of mama West, which is a hair salon in the inner west of Footscray, which was born two years ago, in the midst of the global pandemic, I had a crazy desire to change change the landscape of hairdressing and small business by creating a collaborative co working hub slash hair salon. I've been a hairdresser for 16 years and I've had my own business now for six. Two of those is mama West journey years. We just turned two last week and I was in business as a sole trader for four years before we expanded and grew into my tea mighty force in the West. Love it.
Fiona Johnston 03:06
Love that. And we're connected together in a few ways. So you are my hairdresser and I'm sorry, it's not looking at its best today, but I've tried my best I like
Sheridan Rose Shaw 03:15
it. It doesn't matter.
Fiona Johnston 03:19
Yeah, I know this is how you know you're a member less client, you've got a colorful fringe or so yeah, Sheridan's my hairdresser, and I have also been a part of your journey as one of your business mentors.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 03:34
30 Yes,
Fiona Johnston 03:35
that's how we're connected. So yeah, I'd love to know a bit about I mean, I know that there is so much purpose and drive and you know, desire to be a force for good in your business. So tell me a little bit about the impact that you're trying to make through mama West? And how has that kind of, you know, moved and change across those last two years?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 04:00
Yeah, so I guess the in the forefront of my mind and heart is the value of community. Community is my number one purpose I have come from community that literally saved me and loved me back to life. And as a result of kind of finding a community that helped me get clean and sober. I really on a cellular level understood the difference that it makes having a group of people around you that can help you throughout your life. So I am really drawn to the energy of the inner west and West Footscray and it literally spoke to me through COVID and I knew I was going to open up the hair salon, and it was going to be nowhere else but within this community for a few reasons because I love it but but first and foremost, I saw a gap in this particular area. They weren't There's probably one premium hair salon in the inner west. And compared to let's say, Fitzroy, there might be, you know, 1020. So I was really trying to fill a gap and add value to to the inner west and create a space that people had more time with their families on weekends, didn't have to spend an hour getting to the hair salon an hour back, and all those kinds of things. So, so that's kind of was the driving force. But then the collaborative part came with it too. And I ended up getting a space double the size of what I needed for myself crazy, still three COVID. Because I wanted to work with other women, I wanted to empower other women, and I really adopted the philosophy of the hairdressing network, renting a chair. So instead of renting a chair to another hairdresser, because we've got quite a strong sell on culture at MAMA West, I wanted to be able to rent a space or hold space. For other women in business, especially through COVID. It was a really tricky, difficult time and two of the women in business had downsized from shot France and come on board with Mama west. So it was a way to hold space and just kind of also lower risk for other women in business that could, you know, all the risks was kind of on me, you know, rents in my name, I can carry the rent worst case scenario. But it was just a lower risk opportunity to for women, for women to follow their desires and their heart purpose and mission.
Fiona Johnston 06:38
I love that. So, yeah, everything is really built on the foundation of community. And then you really look to find how can I bring more community into this business? And how can I make my business, this kind of hub for other female business owners, but you've also had really quite a big impact on your team. So do you want to tell me a bit about, you know, what you're doing as an employer and kind of disrupting the hairdressing industry a little I love
Sheridan Rose Shaw 07:07
that disrupt that, that is made to a tee. So I guess I used to be a total rebel back in my heyday, and really went off the rails. But now my life really is about disrupting but in a positive light and rebellion in a really positive light using my voice for the greater good. Calling a spade a spade, and the truth be told, you know, minimum wage for a hairdresser is $24. We are a dying trade. Currently, we are struggling Well, look, Mama West is not struggling in finding employment, I need to really be really careful on how I talk, because we are experiencing some of the the issues that our industry are facing. Because I believe we're trying to do things outside of the wheel, we're trying to do things different. And that means paying above award wage for all of my senior hairdressers. Actually putting the time and energy into training apprentices. That is also another philosophy, philosophy and value that I was really that was really drawn into me through community was mentorship, like I was mentored throughout my life on how to live, you know, how do I live my life. And now I'm able to pass on all of that wisdom, to my apprentices with my 16 years industry knowledge and experience, and the collective knowledge and experience of all the seniors that live under the roof of mama West. I think we all think we all feel the same way. And I think we've been able to attract a real lively bunch of hairdressers that are equally as passionate about the industry equally as passionate about giving back, kind of living in that same, um, holistic way of thinking. And, yeah, I've, I've been very fortunate to, I guess, be living out my purpose. And that is, you know, making a difference in not just the communities lives, but my team's lives. We don't work Saturdays anymore, which was a huge ruptor and I can see a lot of other salons in the local area following suit, because we're trying to make our industry attractive to the next generation. Because we are a trade and you know, it's pretty hot to go to uni and maybe not so hot to become a hairdresser. But I can hand on heart say that my life and my career. I'm in a real pinch me stage of life and that this is an amazing career. One that you can make money and you've just got to find the right people that want to get behind you and not take you for a ride. So that's that's how I would describe my business philosophy with with team and then yeah,
Fiona Johnston 09:56
I love it. And I'm so glad you mentioned the Saturdays Because I think, you know, disrupting an industry or a way of doing things can be as simple. Although I know it's not necessarily easy, but it can be as simple as saying, hey, let's try not working on a Saturday anymore. And that allows you to embed that idea of sort of community and family, which is a maybe your team want to be part of their communities during the weekend as well. So
Sheridan Rose Shaw 10:22
I love that play. Yeah. And I can see that the impact that it has made on my team, and I think it would be very difficult for them to ever work a Saturday, a day in their life again, so it creates a really, you know, I put the needs of my team first before the clients. And I just think we as business owners, Wait, who are we without our team, we really need to acknowledge and recognize the work that they're doing behind the businesses. It's a way if we are building nonetheless, it's not I owe me, me, me, it's a way. And we're so much stronger when we actually hear the needs of the people around us and actually implement an action because as a leader, it is my responsibility to be doing all of those things and creating, creating changes and hearing, hearing the wisdom that I'm getting for receiving.
Fiona Johnston 11:14
I love that. And you mentioned earlier that you know, you're having a great time in your career, and you feel that you're making money, you're employing people, you're being a mentor, which is a really natural role for you. So it doesn't necessarily have to be when you worked with me. But what has learning about money and finance and the sort of business side of hairdressing and running a business? How has that helped you to be able to kind of amplify that idea of community?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 11:48
Well, why is a woman once said to me, to make a difference in the community, you need to be profitable. And that is the wise words of Fiona from peach business who I'm speaking to right, the second, I actually heard you on a podcast, say that. And that was the moment that changed everything because I am a woman that really values being of service and giving back. And I can go the other way, you know, where I give, give give too much. But if I'm not putting the needs of my business, at the center front, I am not going to have the money to pay my team, I'm not going to have the money to pay the rent, I'm not going to even have the money to donate or have or follow through with. And first and foremost, I'm not going to have the money to live for myself. So without my livelihood and without running the needs of the business. And that means being responsible with my finances. I'm not going to exist in five years. And this is not a short term, money making machine like I know my purpose, and I know where I'm going. And I want to be here in the next 10 to 20 years having these conversations but on a larger scale. So that means that I need to understand life finances, I need to understand that we're not going to shoot myself in the foot, I need to understand that the revenue that's coming in is not all of my money. It's it's a number of people's monies. It's the my landlords, it's the tax man. It's my team. It's the operating expenses, like the stock, and the electricity and the power. And all of that actually adds up and why I'm so grateful to be on your platform today. fee and having this conversation is because you know, I know that there's it's a bit of a tricky time. At the moment, you know that our word is a really scary word right now. And I'm scared. I've seen a dip. And I've seen a downturn in what's happening. And I know I've just kind of got a hold on through that. But we really need to be educating communities into the people like myself, Yes, we need to be a profitable business to live on. But we are not putting profit at the center first profit is this is the last point of my business model. And it actually ends up being a very small percentage of what you might think at the end of your hairdressing bill or service. It's like, you know, it's, I would love to be able to break that down one day and actually communicate how that this is a love job and that, yes, we need to be profitable to make a difference in the community and to keep living on for all of those reasons that I just said, but I'm a heart I work really, really, really hard. And I need to there needs to be some kind of energy exchange to realize that this is worth because it's hard, it's lonely. It's you know, it's there's there's hours and months and weeks and so much prep that goes into having a business and building a platform and building a profile and a name for yourself. Like, it's, it's the hardest slog I've ever seen the hottest, most magical slug I've ever experienced. So, yeah,
Fiona Johnston 15:27
I love that so much. Even my dog was loving it and love it, loving it. Yeah, no, I love that. And I think that'll make a really big difference for others to hear that because, you know, I think there's an understanding business owners understanding other business owners, right. And you know, when I go to your salon, even if I didn't know your business in another way, I would be able to look at you know, there's always things happening, these kinds of customer experience doesn't just happen, there's a whole process going on behind the scenes, and all of these things, you know, this idea of money being a value exchange, it's not just about you know, I'll cut your hair or our style your hair, it's about, I'll be there, you know, to greet you, I'll make sure that you've got a lovely cup of tea to have with you, I'll make sure my space is clean and tidy and feels good to be in. And I'm sure that if it looks like you're having a bad day or a bit of a tough time, then I'll you know, I'll find time to kind of give you a hug or whatever, there's, you know, there's lots of different energy exchanges that are happening within the delivery of a service. And I think, um, yeah, people are scared at the moment about what's happening with the economy. And I think really, the only thing that you can do as a business owner is just keep leaning into how am I being of service? And how can I be of service in a deeper way that's going to, you know, see, show my customers or my clients or my audience, that I'm here for the long term. And you might be tough this year, but I'm still going to be here to take care of you over, you know, over the next five or 10 years, if that's your business, so yeah, absolutely. So when you think about, you know, this idea of business as a force for good or, you know, making positive change in your business. Are there other businesses that inspire you, like, have you noticed any other brands that you've come across in your time that just made you think, wow, I, I just really love how they show up or how they do things.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 17:36
I didn't come from the hairdressing industry, but I was very much on the outer. And I was looking outside of the industry to be inspired. And my huge inspiration was Kate from Good day club. She was honestly probably my only inspiration. And the reason why at that time because she she was just, it felt authentic, her language and communication across her platform was really amazing. The way that they the creative force behind the business and seeing the magic that they were doing with furniture and even the way that they communicated on their website was just so desirable. So I ended up working with Kate from Good day club to design the fit out of mama West. And what I realized I needed that her help because I could see myself in her and I needed that help expressing myself and mom was is literally an explosion of my insides on the outside and it's colorful, it's it's it's just so vibrant. It's it's like a no salon looks like our salon. And now that I am a part of our industry. I am collaborating and connecting with other women in business and there's a couple actually in this room right now that do think and feel the same way. And they do have that same passion and inspiration for the industry and making a difference and in having their own teams and and it is my generation then they're kind of next generation that's kind of moving through that's been through some pretty toxic situations that want to make a change and make a difference. So yeah, that's that's that's kind of like where I now I am very inspired by by some people in my industry, but I'm more a part of it. I was on the outer when I first started and now I'm really a part of it because I realized I wanted to make a difference in the local community. And then whether I like it or not, I am a part of this hairdressing industry. And if I want to make a change, it's probably better to be a really strong part of it and being at the center stage. So you've got that platform to be able to use your voice and say your truth and inspire other hair salons to To do the same, and I really think that we have definitely been able to do all of those things so
Fiona Johnston 20:06
well, yeah. Yeah, I think it's just the beautiful coincidence that Kate from Good day Club is a good friend and client and an inspiration of mine as well. And I think there's something that's, that joins the three of us together, and it's awesome. I think it's that really deep. You know, whether or not we believe in the same things isn't necessarily. I mean, we do believe in the same things. But I think all three were deep, real people. And I think that there's a lot of space for people like us in the small business world to Yeah, kind of step back a little and carve out a platform for ourselves like you've done.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 20:50
Yeah. Because it's refreshing for people to hear. And there's been so many salon owners that have reached out to me because I was a no one. I was a no board day. And they're just like, how, like, how have you finalized for hairdressing industry awards? Like, how have you done this? How have you gotten the media attention, people thought that I had contacts, but all of this stuff has just happened real, it's been my heart that has been leading me this whole entire time, and I'm tuned in, and I am tapped on. And I'm trusting my instincts, I'm listening to my inner being and my inner knowing and my instincts that is literally driving me and leading the way. So it's, it's so important to share from your heart because people people want to know who they're buying from, are they buying from someone that doesn't doesn't care about their team that is paying the minimum award, because profit is the center first of their business, or other on my buying from someone that actually is living their hearts mission and dream. And I've shared the journey with everyone from start to finish, and, you know, hopefully never finished. But I just think it's so important to bring our communities on the journey, because it's not an easy journey. And the more I use my voice, and communicate what's going on, all the struggles, I am then empowering another person to do the same. And as Brene, Brown says, vulnerability, we need more vulnerable leaders. And I get to them, you know, demonstrate to my team, that they can be vulnerable with me, you know, it's this, it's just this, this, you know, force for good, it just keeps keeps giving, and I've had other people in my team open up to me about stuff that's going on for them that I don't think they would ever have been able to acknowledge if they weren't in this space. And they weren't able to recognize, you know, the power, the power of what's going on inside their body and the impact that, that, you know, anxiety and feelings can have on our own mental health. And it's about creating a safe space for people to be to find me approachable. So if I can be vulnerable and honest and authentic, you know, we're creating a safe space for others.
Fiona Johnston 23:18
I love that. And, you know, I too love Brene Brown. And I think it's interesting, the idea of vulnerability, and I think vulnerability is contagious in a way. And yeah, if someone is vulnerable with you, it opens up a new channel in your friendship or your relationship that, you know, allows another sort of conversation or a thread to come. And people have this idea that you know, because Brene Brown has kind of brought this word vulnerability into a more mainstream environment, people think that, I don't know, being vulnerable is easy, and maybe vulnerability is just sharing, you know, slopping it. That's anyone actually ability to be really challenging,
Sheridan Rose Shaw 24:06
tough. Yeah, and there's an after burn, like every vulnerability share I've ever had on my Instagram feed is an after burn. And it's like there's this pause and then I'll get a moment of like, response where someone's like, thank you so much for sharing that and I'm like, you know, like, because it's not easy. It's not easy to show up to your community and acknowledge that you're struggling it's it's not easy to ask for help but I guess I've been role model this throughout my recovery and life that it I just have one primary purpose and that is to stay honest and pick up the goddamn phone if something's going on. Otherwise, I'm in some strife. So
Fiona Johnston 24:52
yeah. How do you think? I hope it's okay that I asked this I think it will be how does your pursuit of sobriety. How does that contribute people role as a business owner and your ability to really Yes, stay present in your business?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 25:09
huge, a huge because I'm not going home and drowning my sorrows. And I will tell you a little story about something that happened last week, and I'm probably going to get a bit emotional. Yeah, it just made me really grateful to be a woman that's in recovery. Because what that has done for me is I am a woman, first and foremost in recovery. But But what that's given me is I'm a woman that's in the world that's taking responsibility for my life, my behavior, my actions, so that empowers me as a business owner, to always be looking at how am I contributing to the problem that I might see. So what's my part in things and the other day, we were in a situation where we had no towels? And we are herstellen? We need towels. And I was like, Where are the towels and the cows weren't? Tumble drying. We've had an issue with our drive for a little while, sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. And I kind of was like, snapped at two of my apprentices. And I was like, we need the cows. Like, come on,
Fiona Johnston 26:20
let's wear those.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 26:22
Yeah, because I'm with a client at the moment, I've got a delegate, and I felt my tone. It didn't feel comfortable for me afterwards. And I went and had a chat with both of my apprentices afterwards. And I just said, Look, I'm really sorry about the way that I reacted in that moment, I was really stressed that we had no towels, I can see that I'm contributing to this problem, because we have a dryer that isn't properly working. So it's like, you know, and then we don't sweep that shit under the carpet, we have conversations about it, we address it, and we get closer. And I show them that I might, from time to time, react, because I'm a human being. And I will always react from time from time to time. But more importantly, I'm someone that can then go back and heal a situation and, and acknowledge the way that I've reacted. And I walked away that night, and I drove home. And I felt closer to both of my apprentices after that. And that's who I get to be in business. I'm not going home driving away thinking my fucking apprentices, you know, you know what I mean? Like, like, in resentment, anger, or fear, or so that's a that's, there's a lot of stigma around addiction. And that's why I'm so passionate about sharing my truth and sharing my story about being a woman in recovery, because it actually makes me a force to be reckoned with. Because I know, right and wrong, I've got a gut instinct that I'm not medicating with any drugs or alcohol. After a hard week, I have to sit with the truth of of life. And I have to feel it, and I have to go through it no matter how hard it is. So I get to process things in a way that I mean, not everybody gets the opportunity to do because I'm forced to. But everything comes from from sitting through discomfort for me, and, you know, life isn't a comfortable gig, you know, it's, it's, its peaks and its troughs, and its peaks and its troughs. And, you know, I've just gone from a trough to a total peak in my life at the moment and, you know, in at seven o'clock, who knows where it's going to keep going from there. So, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's, honestly, I'm so grateful to be who I am. And I'm so grateful to be 10 years sober, and I'm so grateful to be able to share my story to hopefully inspire someone else to potentially be able to do the same with their life.
Fiona Johnston 29:05
Yeah, what I've witnessed as somebody who's in your corner, is that, yeah, I really do feel that your commitment to sobriety has, it really allows you to show up in a way that's different from other business owners I've seen and what I really love hearing you say is, or sharing the story that you messed up, you were out of alignment with who you were in that, you know, conversation, leaving, that there actually went in, in the words of Brene Brown, it's circled back and you hit relationship rather than leaving it on, you know, kind of unfinished and I think there's a lot in that for all of us to learn is the compensation doesn't have to end at that horrible bit. It can you go back to it later and be in alignment, what you really wanted, how you really wanted to show it Ah,
Sheridan Rose Shaw 30:00
yeah. And what I got from that conversation is one of my apprentices said that she felt like crying afterwards. And I was like, you know, that makes me want to cry. Because they they want to do good. And they want to play. And they weren't, they weren't purposely not washing the Taos like they don't want it, they love me just like I love them. And to know that that's how she felt from that moment. Like that, that's I needed to take some responsibility for that. And that, you know, by acknowledging her and imagine if we never had that conversation, I would never have known that that's how that she felt. And that makes me really sad. But because we are so close, and you know, we get to have these conversations and, and that that helps me sleep at night and feel good about the woman that I am. You know, I love
Fiona Johnston 30:56
that. Salon in Daraa says you're an inspiration Sharon, and the real raw self that makes you you is glorious.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 31:04
Thank you. She's another one doing some good work out there in the industry too. So it's nice. It's nice finding other salon owners that that are doing the same, same work.
Fiona Johnston 31:16
Now you have something really big happening tonight. So I'm going to wrap this up, give you time for a few breaths in between. Before we hit finish on this conversation, how can people connect with you? What's coming up? Is there anything you'd like to share with the people?
Sheridan Rose Shaw 31:36
Well, I guess I that's my little family in the background coming in, I guess I'm going to talk about the exciting announcement that is coming out at 7pm. Tonight, there's going to be a very special announcement, I just auditioned for the Australian fame team, which is an amazing program designed for the youth industry, using the industry and basically an opportunity to be mentored by some of the best hairdressers in the world and in Australia, so auditioned for that last Sunday, and we're finding out the results of the four that will be chosen out of the 15. So I'm really really, really excited about that. Otherwise you Yeah, so so keep watching this space, you probably if you want to keep on watching from here we'll be across the stories tonight. Regardless of the outcome. It's such such an amazing experience and opportunity to connect with other people in the industry. And you can find us at MAMA west on the Instagram you can follow my stories you'll be seeing my face a lot I love to share. And I love to give and I love to connect. So feel free to reach out if you have any feedback from this from this live or if you would like to get your hair done. We would love to have you we are not just a hair salon. It is quite the experience and it's something that's really hard to talk about like it really is an absolute experience here you will feel loved you feel cared for like no other. So yeah, thank you so much for your you're just such an icon doing these wonderful experiences through live and using your platform for the greater good. And I'm so grateful to have found you too. So.
Fiona Johnston 33:21
Well, thank you, Sharon. I can't wait to hear what happens. Seven. Thank you for being here and sharing your story. And yeah, I hope this has inspired somebody else to make perhaps a small change to make the community better. So good luck at seven.
Sheridan Rose Shaw 33:40
Thank you. Bye Good chat to you soon. Bye, everyone. Thanks for joining
Fiona Johnston and Sheridan Rose Shaw talk about how Small business can change the world.
