From Desk Job to Dream Job: Creating Vibe Salon

Kim Finley’s journey to becoming a salon owner wasn’t straightforward. In fact, her path was anything but linear. At 21, she found herself in culinary school, a decision she now finds amusing. Drawn by her love for food and the idea of owning a catering business, she quickly realized that the demanding nature of the restaurant industry didn’t align with her desire for a family-oriented life.

Kim Finley | Owner of Vibe Salon

After working in the restaurant industry, Kim knew she needed a change. She had always promised her father, who had passed away when she was just fifteen, that she would go to college and earn her degree.

With that promise in mind, she returned to school and earned a business degree with a focus on accounting. While she excelled in her studies and developed a deep appreciation for numbers, something still felt missing.

"I've always loved hair," Kim recalls. Throughout high school, she often found herself cutting and using a highlighting cap to create highlights in her friends’ hair. Despite her love for hair, she often felt pressured to follow a more traditional path, choosing culinary school and then accounting over her true passion.

After earning her degree, Kim joined her family’s business, working alongside her mother. However, she soon discovered that the daily grind of sitting behind a desk wasn’t for her. She longed for a career that blended her creative and analytical sides. It wasn’t long before she realized that the beauty industry, with its constant interaction with people and ever-changing trends, was where she truly belonged.

“I used to play with people’s hair all the time and cut my friends' hair throughout high school. It just made sense.”

Kim took a leap of faith and enrolled in cosmetology school, finding a part-time job as an assistant at Donna Means Salon DM3 while she studied. The vibrant atmosphere and the joy of making people feel good solidified her decision. After ten years of working at DM3, Kim knew it was time to forge her own path.

The blend of business acumen and creative expression that salon ownership requires was a perfect fit for Kim. Although she still enjoys cooking, she has no regrets about leaving the restaurant industry behind. The beauty of working in a salon, she says, is the constant variety—no two days or clients are ever the same.

From the outset of her cosmetology career, Kim knew she eventually wanted to open her own salon. As a mother of two—now thirteen and seven years old—she waited until her children were older before taking the plunge. “Once you open your own business, it’s like a second marriage,” she explains. “Even when I’m off, I’m not really off. There’s always something to do.”

“I think a lot of people don’t realize the commitment you’re making when you open your own business, and how everything at the end of the day is put on you.”

Kim’s journey to salon ownership began with a conversation. During a one-on-one meeting with Donna Means, Kim mentioned her long-held dream of opening her own place. Donna encouraged her to pursue it, and that’s when the ball started rolling.

Initially, Kim was supposed to open her salon in a different location, but the space fell through. Although this setback delayed her plans, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The space she eventually found exceeded her expectations. “This space is everything I could have imagined,” she says. “If I could have built a building from scratch, it would have looked just like this.”

Kim is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. When she first stepped into what would become Vibe Salon, she knew it was the perfect fit. Her husband, who played a crucial role in the buildout, helped bring her vision to life, and continues to work behind the scenes, contributing in ways people don’t realize.

Before becoming Vibe Salon, the space was a wine bar that served small plates and charcuterie. Where shampoo bowls now sit, meat was once sold like a butcher shop. Transforming the space into a salon presented challenges, from securing an LLC and business license to navigating sales and use taxes. Budgeting was a new and daunting task for Kim, but her background in business proved invaluable.

Kim’s vision for Vibe Salon was inspired more by a spa than a traditional salon. She wanted a place where clients could escape the hectic pace of everyday life and experience tranquility from the moment they walked in the door.

“I feel like our lives are so hectic. So when you walk in here, I want it to be spa-like. I want people to feel relaxed from the time they walk in until the time they leave.”

The salon itself is a blend of bold colors and neutral tones, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Kim has no intention of expanding beyond a boutique-sized operation. She believes that in today’s overstimulated world, clients appreciate a calm, intimate environment.

When it came to outfitting her salon, Kim turned to Minerva Beauty. The proximity of their showroom allowed her to personally select every piece of equipment, ensuring that it met her high standards for both functionality and aesthetics. “Y’all were helpful from beginning to end,” Kim says of her experience with Minerva.

Comfort was a top priority for Kim. She made sure the styling chairs were accommodating for everyone, including her husband, who helped test them out. “He’s a big guy,” she laughs, “but he fit comfortably in the chairs.” Ensuring that her clients feel comfortable, especially during longer services like extensions, was crucial for her.

“I’m short. So I love those chairs because they actually go down an extra inch if you remove the collar piece.”

Kim chose Minerva’s Designer Series for her styling stations, appreciating the customizable options and the depth of the drawers, which provide ample space for all her tools. The sleek yet comfortable Venturi salon styling chairs were another favorite, with their cushioned armrests offering the perfect blend of style and comfort.

At Vibe Salon, Kim wants her clients to feel pampered and relaxed, describing the experience as “a home away from home.” She has carefully curated a team that shares her values of creating a welcoming, down-to-earth environment. Building her team slowly, Kim focused on finding individuals who aligned with her vision of providing laid-back luxury.

“I’ve tried to create a workspace for everyone to love. We all get along really well, and I feel like you pick up on that when you walk in.”

As a salon owner, Kim finds joy in watching her team grow and in giving back to her community. Although her busy schedule doesn’t always allow for as much teaching and mentoring as she’d like, she values the opportunity to share her knowledge and help others succeed.

For those considering opening their own salon, Kim offers simple but powerful advice: “Just go for it and don’t be scared.” She acknowledges that the fear of failure is real, but believes it’s a challenge worth facing. She also recommends pursuing small business education, like the programs offered by the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center, which helped her navigate the complexities of salon ownership.

Choosing the name for her salon was one of the most challenging aspects of the process. “I didn’t want it to sound cheesy,” she explains. The name “Vibe” came to her during a conversation with a friend about music. “What’s your vibe?” her friend asked, and in that moment, Kim knew she had found the perfect name. It encapsulated everything she wanted her salon to be: a place where clients could experience laid-back luxury.

Reflecting on her journey, Kim feels a deep sense of fulfillment. Vibe Salon is more than just a business; it’s the realization of a lifelong dream. And for Kim, the most rewarding part is seeing her vision come to life every day.