2009 Ichabod Crane/Questar III grad Melony Coons in her salon, Mairanda’s Cutting Edge in Valatie
Melony Coons never planned to become a hair stylist, or own her own business either. But that’s just what she’s doing in Kinderhook at Mairanda’s Cutting Edge.
Coons, a former Ichabod Crane Central School District student, graduated from Questar III’s Cosmetology program at Columbia-Greene Educational Center in Hudson in 2009. In 2012 she opened her own salon in Kinderhook and by 2013 she was ready to expand and moved into her current location on Old Post Road in the old Finnish Line Fitness Center.
She says she was never a big fan of school, but after her sisters enrolled in the cosmetology program at CGEC, she decided to sign up too.
That was the beginning of what would become an extremely successful business venture. After the salon moved to its current location, Coons says she did what would have been about 18 months’ worth of business at the old location in just five months.
When she opened the salon, she had about 700 square feet of space and only two other employees. Now, she’s got over 6,000 square feet and seven employees – three of which are Questar III cosmetology grads. The extra space will be put to good use too. She’s looking to expand again over the next few years.
“We’re working to renovate the space we have now and add eight more stations so we can hire more girls and take more clients,” Coons said.
She says each year, she hopes to come as close as she can to doubling sales.
Coons says the best part about owning her own salon is that there are no limitations to what she can do for a customer, which wasn’t the case at her last job working at a salon in Kinderhook before opening Mairanda’s.
“You were limited in what you could do, there were some things you just weren’t allowed to do,” she said. “Now, if there’s something a client wants that none of us know how to do, we get educated and learn to do it for them.”
Coons named the salon after her niece, and says the two are very close.
“She’s like my favorite person in the world. She’s like a daughter to me. People get confused though like sometimes they come in and say ‘can I speak to Mairanda, the owner? And I tell them I’m the owner and they’re surprised because I’m so young.”
She says you don’t have to have a ton of experience to be able to be successful and contribute. As evidenced by her hiring Questar III graduates, she says someone new the field can bring new things to the table.
“One of my girls is always learning about what’s next, what’s going to be the next big thing, and she’s always just like ‘can I do your hair today?” and some of the stuff she tries comes out really great.”
She also has a girl that comes in to volunteer from Columbia County ARC (COARC), something Coons says is beneficial for everyone involved.
“I love seeing her come in and she’s always excited to do whatever she can do that day.”
Coons says being a business owner has made a big impact on her free time. She usually puts in about 60 hours working 6 days a week.
“Working is really my hobby and my passion now. I love it.”
Mairanda’s Cutting Edge is open Monday through Saturday at 1445 Old Post Road in Valatie. For more information call the salon at (518) 758-6660 or visit their Facebook page.
