Friday, December 13, 2024

Big city trends, small town charm

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Liz Clumpner and Angie Schiesl found the perfect spot for their new hair salon.


Last June 15, they opened Big City Trendz Salon at E1247 County Trunk Q in Waupaca's Chain O' Lakes area.


"We had been driving around in King," Schiesl said. "We were heading to the Wheelhouse for dinner. I said, 'There's a for rent sign.'"


The sign was in a building that had been a coffee shop.


"Six weeks later, we opened," Clumpner said.


Initially, their plan was to open a salon in April 2012, but when they found the space on the Chain, they could not pass up the opportunity.


Schiesl, who grew up in Door County, says King reminds her of Door County.


For Clumpner, it was the chance to open a business in her hometown.


"The beginning of my career, I worked in Appleton. I decided to move back when I had a family," she said.


The color specialist has been doing hair for 13 years.


"I grew up doing my family's hair," she said. "Then, I went to school. It's something I love to do. I love making people look good."


Schiesl says she always had an interest in doing hair.


"I was a model in a hair show, and after spending the day with Bed Head and American Crew educators, they encouraged me to go," she said. "Once I went to school, I knew I wanted my own business."


Schiesl now has close to 11 years of experience.


"I consider myself a master stylist," she said. "Besides hair, I do manicures, pedicures." She currently lives in Kimberly, with hopes to relocate to the Waupaca area with her family.


The two women were working together in Appleton when they decided to become business partners.


They looked at places throughout the area before deciding to turn the former coffee shop into a hair salon. They added fresh coats of paint to the walls, as well as lighting, plumbing and a mix of pieces like old bureaus to be used in the business.


Their full-service salon also offers shellacking and waxing. In 2012, Clumpner's sister, Becky Claussen will begin renting space from them.


She is a massage therapist, who has been working in Oshkosh for more than five years.


Also renting space at Big City Trendz Salon is hair stylist Lorilyn Fosters.


Both are members of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce; Schiesl is an ambassador.


"We want to become more involved in the community," Schiesl said.


She was an educator for the American Cancer Society's "Look Good Feel Better" program and also gave free haircuts at the Harbor House, a domestic abuse program in Appleton.


With a non-profit organization working to open Jurnie's Shelter, a domestic abuse shelter that would be located in Waupaca County, Schiesl would like to do haircuts there once it opens and hopes other salons will also consider doing so.


"I always have some kind of cause," she said. "It really helps with their (the women's) self confidence."


Big City Trendz is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.


New customers that visit their website at bigcitytrendz.com can receive a $5 coupon. The businesswomen are also running a special for Christmas - a $35 gift certificate for the price of $25.


They can be reached at Big City Trendz at 715-942-2438.


Their product lines include Redken, Moroccanoil, American Crew and Bed Head.


Both Clumpner and Schiesl say they like making people feel good about themselves.


"People walk differently when they feel good," Clumpner said.


Schiesl said, "We see a lot of people who come here because they need a change, something new."


Current hair trends include layers and subtle color, and they offer hair services for the entire family.

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