New Location, Same Great Hair Salon & Barbershop
Thanks to opening our new location, we’ve had a busy spring and summer at NG Salon and Tonsorial in Columbus, GA. Since it was founded in 2007 by Eric Norris, NG Salon and Tonsorial always leased a building. However, the 1995 graduate from Mable Bailey Fashion College School of Modeling and Cosmetology and the 2013 grad of Rivertown School of Beauty, Barber, Skincare and Nails, thought it was time for an upgrade.
“For me, there’s always an evolution to things,” Norris explained. “Leasing [in my opinion] is smart to start with, but once you do that for a while and start looking at things to strengthen the business, owning instead of renting was the first step for me.”
Just like NG Salon’s keratin treatments strengthen the hair of their clients, their business needed an extra infusion as well after COVID:
“I purchased the land in 2019 and had all of the plans and architectural work done; however, COVID did bring things to a stop and I had to put them on hold.” After his own battle with COVID landed him on a ventilator, Norris had a greater “sense of urgency” to pursue his goals for NG from before the pandemic.
At NG, It’s All About Family
You can also expect the same excellent service and sense of community at the new shop, with a more incredible feeling of pride.
“Obviously, my favorite thing about the shop is knowing that it is mine, and I’m investing in my and my family’s future– not someone else’s,” Norris explained.
Norris is joined at the Columbus Salon and Tonsorial by his wife, Tatum, and he enjoys working alongside family and clients who have become friends.
“You build great relationships in this industry and seeing them smile and happy with their new color or cut gives a great feeling of satisfaction,” Norris explained.
He’s quite satisfied with the new space as well.
“The space, the flow, and the layout are straightforward and efficient, making the transition through processes easy for the clients, as well as the stylists and barbers,” he said. He took the time and invested in the expertise of a salon design team to develop the layout of the new shop and see his vision for the new tonsorial come to fruition.
It was “definitely one of the smarter moves I’ve made in business,” Norris laughed. He also devoted tons of time up front to finding the “right” architect and contractor to research and design the mechanical aspects, such as lighting, plumbing, and HVAC system, to ensure everything would be best suited for the type of strains and stresses a hair salon and barbershop puts on the system. Once those requirements were met, he said the process was easy to maintain “business as usual” at the old location while spending minimal time checking the progress of the new building.
The same care and concern that goes into the premium products NG Salon and Tonsorial selects to stock their shelves with and use on their clients’ hair went into this building process, and Norris has a lot to be proud of and has learned a few lessons throughout this business milestone.
Right Mentors, Right Team
“If there is any lesson I could share, it would probably coincide with the old saying, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’” shared Norris.
“I feel like a lot of people are misguided by what they see on social media, which tends to make everything seem like a piece of cake [and that it] can be done overnight. It takes years of building the foundation of your business even to hold up the structure of moving and growing into the next ‘big thing.’”
He says it isn’t always that way, but more often than not, it is. He’s never been afraid of trying something new, be it a unique style or cut or asking for help.
“I’ve never been afraid to seek out council from people who have been where I want to go and finding the right mentors to help me achieve my goals, no matter what they are,” he explained. “Last but definitely not least, you have to have the right team. None of this would’ve been possible without the great team we have at NG!”
Enjoy the Traditional Tonsorial or Salon Experience
You can meet the fantastic team to meet and exceed your expectations for hair colors and cuts, hair extension services, keratin and conditioning treatments, tonsorial services, like shaves and cuts, and more. Check out their new shop at 8140 Fortson Road in Columbus, Georgia.
They’re open Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 am to 7 pm, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. Enjoy a traditional tonsorial shaving service, upgrade your summer balayage color, or stop by to peruse their premium products to keep your hair in excellent condition during this summer heat!
