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FARGO — Tailor Made Barber Studio will be hitting the road this summer.
Co-owners Brendan and Leane LaFrance are set to open a mobile studio in July. The mobile studio will be housed inside a trailer and plans to make stops at several events and small towns across the region this summer.
Most notably, the “Hair or There by Tailor Made” studio will be making a pit stop at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minn., Leane shared with The Forum. Last year, Tailor Made became the first mobile salon to operate at the country music festival, she noted.
Brendan was quick to note that Leane deserved the credit for coming up with the concept of opening the mobile shop. While mobile shops had previously existed in other states, none were operating in this area, he said.
Leane said the move was made out of necessity. Before getting the trailer, cutting hair at any sort of event meant lugging heavy chairs, equipment and trucks back and forth. The objective is to “constantly stay ahead of the curve,” she said, meaning finding new ways to reach customers.
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The legal landscape for mobile shops varies on each side of the Red River. In Minnesota, mobile salons, which Hair or There will operate as, are permitted. A bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives is seeking to allow mobile barber shops as well. Meanwhile, North Dakota does not permit mobile shops, meaning the LaFrances cannot charge at their North Dakota events.
Inside, Hair or There features an eyelashes area staffed by two lash technicians as well as a pair of chairs for haircuts.
The change of scenery is also beneficial for barbers and stylists, who Leane said have enjoyed getting out of the shop from time to time. “We’re creative types. We can’t stand to be inside all the time,” she said. “That’s what really keeps the creative brain going for these guys.”
The mobile shop will be formally unveiled at Tailor Made’s summer kick-off event from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 26 at the Dilworth Community Center. In addition to visiting events such as WE Fest and Pride in the Park, the LaFrances are also planning to take the trailer out to small towns across the Red River Valley. That will save far-flung customers from making a trip to Fargo, they explained.
“We’re really looking forward to doing something new and doing something a lot of people haven’t done yet,” Brendan said.
For a full events calendar, check back to Tailor Made’s website at tailormadebarberstudio.com.
SBA to host webinar on opportunities for LGBTQI+ small business owners
In celebration of Pride Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a live webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. June 30 about increasing opportunities for LGBTQI+ small business owners.
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The discussion will focus on financial wellness and the importance of equity and opportunity to help uplift and support LGBTQI+-owned small businesses across the country. The panel will also discuss SBA initiatives and resources that support small business, LGBTQI+ entrepreneurs seeking to launch, and help for existing LGBTQI+-owned small businesses as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world.
To register, visit https://SBApridemonth.eventbrite.com .
New website connects business owners with financing resources
Dakota Business Lending has launched a new website The Vault dedicated to providing business owners with a digital library of small business programs and financing sources in North Dakota.
At
www.vaultnd.com
, users users can find resources such as:
- Financing options of all shapes and sizes
- COVID-19 and disaster relief programs
- Premium business assistance resources
- Tools to help propel start-ups or small businesses
The Vault includes over 145 funding programs from 50 providers from across the state. On the website, users answer a few short questions about their business and generate a list of financing programs custom tailored to their needs. Each financing program has a page dedicated to providing more details and contact information to connect with the specific provider. The comparison tool allows users to compare up to three programs and get a more detailed report sent to their inbox. As new financing tools become available, providers can submit a program to be added to the Vault via the website.
