By Sue Moore
Headlines Hair Design is a family affair, says owner Tracie Kline. Even if the cosmetologists who rent space here aren’t family, we treat each other like family, according to Kline. It really does take a village, says the 1977 Vicksburg High School grad.
Members of her immediate family are definitely involved in the shop, even though they don’t do hair. Her father purchased Bulldog Tanning & Fitness from Barb Sheward in 2007. The salon area was gutted and remodeled with room for five chairs. “I wanted to run my own business, even though I had worked for 15 years in Portage as a stylist. I knew how I wanted it to be for the people who worked with me. We are a family that gets along well with decisions discussed and made jointly. We share clients if someone is booked. This operation is so far from a bunch of catty women as they are all about wanting this business to succeed.
Her parents Joe and Joyce Catolica and in-laws Jack and Kay Kline have been so supportive she says, helping her to make it happen in every sense of the word. Her cousin Jean Mastenbrook, helps in the Fitness Center, Her niece Alex Holladay works one night there and her daughter Megan does paper work and the staffs the Fitness Center. Other close friends help too. They include Carol Wilson, Sue Harper-Grieger, and Debbie Green.
“You can get a good haircut anywhere,” Kline says. “It’s important to spend a little time to figure out what bothers a person about their hair, helping the customer communicate what they want.” The model for the business is, each person rents their booth by the week, buys their own personal products and Kline purchases the commonly used items such as water, coffee, towels, salt, printing, heat, light and electricity.
The cosmetologists who rent from Kline include Julie Johnson (her right hand person), Stephanie Christensen (with her for 7 years), Shanna Page (a Vicksburg High School social studies teacher) Lindsey Williams (a new stylist), Mary Ann Evans and Teresa Blanchard. Patricia Hetrick is the certified massage therapist for the group.