Shining Through: the Journey to Radiant Salon & Boutique

Megan Schindler | Co-owner of Radiant Salon & Boutique

No matter how hard the journey may be, trusting the process and learning to shine through every trial and tribulation that presents itself can lead you to something better than you originally imagined, and for Megan Schindler, Radiant Salon & Boutique is proof of the something better. Before the journey leading to opening and co-owning a salon with her mom Tracie Webb and her friend Kelly Lock, Megan admits that even though she grew up in the salon watching her mom do hair, she never saw a future for herself in cosmetology.

“I started shampooing clients and helping out around the salon when I was 12 or 13, but I wanted to carve out my own path,” Megan recalls. “For a long time, I thought that if I pursued a career in hair, I’d just be following in my mom’s footsteps. That changed when I had the chance to explore other avenues, and to my surprise, I found a passion for hair I didn’t know I had.”

After dropping out of college twice, Megan turned to her mother for an apprenticeship. From the moment she picked up a color brush, something clicked. She discovered a natural talent for hair coloring and styling that she had never expected. Under her mother’s mentorship, she quickly honed her skills, and what she once resisted became her true calling.

"From the first time I picked up a color brush I was like: Oh my God, this feels right. It's kind of fun! And I was good at it. I wasn't anticipating being good at it! And I just kind of fell in love."

Megan initially invested in a salon under a different name with a former boss as a business partner. Unfortunately, the partnership soured, leaving her entangled in financial and legal issues, and facing a daunting five-year lease on her own.

That's when Megan's mother, Tracie, stepped in to help her turn the tide. Along with her friend Kelly Lock and Kelly’s husband, who had been the contractor for the original salon's construction, they became Megan's new business partners. Kelly and her husband offered their support just when Megan needed it most, bringing fresh hope to the venture.

“I'd never done this before. So I had no idea what I'm doing, and all of a sudden I'm in the driver's seat. So it was all hands on deck, the more the merrier! I firmly believe that everything happened the way it was supposed to. To be where we are now, it's a blessing."

Even with a strong team, the road to opening Radiant Salon & Boutique wasn’t without its challenges. The construction process was grueling, with work halting for four months due to financial constraints. A tight 150-day timeline stretched by an additional 90 days, as they faced obstacles like knocking down walls and dealing with plumbing issues. Yet, through perseverance and the support of volunteers, they managed to complete the build-out on time.

Reflecting on those difficult months, Megan describes them as "probably the hardest of my entire life," mentally, physically, and emotionally. But it was this journey that inspired the salon’s name, "Radiant." Megan wanted a name and logo that symbolized her path to opening the salon—something that, despite all the challenges, still shines brightly.

She was inspired by the idea of a sun or sunrise, representing the salon's journey which was also mirrored in her personal growth. "I feel like I saw the logo before I saw the name, like in my mind. And that's what I kept saying when we were trying to come up with a name. I just see a sun, a sunrise, like new life."

Radiant Salon & Boutique’s mission is simple yet profound: to help every customer shine and feel beautiful. Megan envisioned a space where people could escape the stresses of life and leave feeling better than when they arrived. “Between the salon and the boutique, it’s a one stop shopping—a full beauty experience.”

"I wanted people to see the journey that I went through to get here and that at the end of the day, I can still shine. We are going to be radiant, through all of the trials and tribulations, we are going to shine. And I want the community to see that and to feel where it came from."

The interior design, a collaboration between Megan and Kelly, reflects this vision. They created a "modern meets bohemian meets industrial" aesthetic, with bright, feminine touches like pink, balanced by more masculine, industrial elements. The result is a unique, cohesive space that feels different from a typical salon and meshes perfectly with their surroundings: a unique mixed-use development that combines residential, commercial, and green spaces.

As someone who’s lived her entire life in Monroe, Megan chose Minerva Beauty as their salon equipment supplier without a second thought. Minerva’s flexibility during the construction phase was crucial, particularly when Megan needed to change the delivery address. Recalling the experience, Megan said, “So I will tell you, Minerva was amazing, especially with my situation because I had to put it on hold. I think they held it for me for longer than what they said they would. And then with the change of address because we still weren't open—I was like, please don't ship there. My contractor’s gonna be really mad at me if I put all this stuff on the floor! And I called them was like, can you please deliver to my home address? I know I'm gonna sound like a crazy person. And they were amazing.”

She described the Minerva showroom as "Like, swoon," likening the experience to “building a dream house, but better.”

Some of her favorite pieces include the Akamu Styling Stations in Black with ample storage—a must for Megan. "Not all salon stations are created equal, and apparently I accumulate a lot of junk, so I like the amount of storage."

Another favorite is the Avant Shampoo System, which her customers compare to lying on a pillow. "Every single client has made a comment about that. They're like: 'I could sleep here, my head's not dangling'. They're amazing bowls, they actually relieve the tension off the back of the head, and it's healthier."

Located in Wire Park, a revitalized industrial landmark transformed into a thriving area for living, shopping, dining, and working in Watkinsville, GA, Radiant Salon & Boutique benefits from the area's vibrant community of local businesses. "The more people that post, share, and tag us, the more visibility we get," Megan notes, appreciating the marketing support that comes from being part of such a dynamic environment.

For Megan, being a salon owner is deeply rewarding. "It’s nice to be the boss that I’ve always wanted," she says with a smile—but it’s more than that. She’s passionate about giving her team the opportunity to develop both as stylists and individuals so they can all grow together.

"I want to give people the opportunity to learn and to grow who they are as a stylist and as a person, because I'm still learning and that's something that I'm very transparent about with everyone that works there. You know, you can't grow if I don't grow. So if I give you constructive criticism, I expect that in return."

As for Tracie, her biggest reward as part of Radiant Salon & Boutique is having the opportunity to watch her daughter become her own person. “This is not my dream. I just enjoy watching her do this and how well she's doing it. And she is such a wonderful mixture of her father and I because she's got the calm side. I'm not that person. I am the polar opposite of that! I've enjoyed watching her process, that makes my heart grow."

Education is a cornerstone of Radiant Salon’s philosophy. They continue their training with Redken products and are working toward Redken Black level status, which offers extensive free education throughout the year. Megan and Kelly are focused on ensuring their team has the resources they need to thrive. Her team includes quite a few top-tier stylists, “letting us lead us.”

Radiant Salon & Boutique is more than just a place to get your hair done; it's a testament to resilience, passion, and the belief that, no matter how tough the journey, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

"If I could give anybody advice in any walk of life, any direction of life, just pray. And trust the process. It was really hard for me to do at some points. But we just kept going. Mostly because I had no other choice. But I trusted my family, my friends, my support, and just trusted the process. Hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. But it's better than I could have ever imagined it. If it were too easy, I wouldn't appreciate it as much as I do."