Article
Female entrepreneur changing the face of the car industry
What's it like being a woman leader in a male-dominated industry?
Christina Mahoney is sort of like the human version of a good hair day—talking to her makes you feel inspired, confident, and ready to take on the world. It’s a fitting description for a small business owner who is running a thriving salon and spa in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Christina’s vision for District Hair is to provide a welcoming environment with a family vibe that focuses on a high level of service, impeccable technical ability, and an emphasis on learning and education. And judging by the 161 five-star reviews on the salon’s Facebook page, she’s obviously doing something right. Not to mention that after being open for just over a year, she’s already expanded the salon’s physical space and is currently staffed to capacity in terms of what her space can accommodate.
“I have over 20 years of experience as a hair stylist. I was working at hair shows across the country and teaching all over Newfoundland,” says Christina. “I had a steady clientele but I was maxed out in terms of what I could earn, or the amount of clients I could have. My job was fueling my passion, but I found it hard being away from my family so much. I wanted to create an opportunity for myself that would keep me interested in the industry, but keep closer to my family.”
Christina applied and qualified for three small business loans, but she still needed to secure funding from a financial institution. That’s where Reddy Kilowatt Credit Union stepped in to help make her dream a reality.
“I was already a credit union member for personal banking, so when it came time to get a commercial line of credit it was really a no-brainer,” says Christina. “Without having Reddy Kilowatt in my corner, I wouldn’t have been able to open.”
Christina is inspired by the feeling that comes from making somebody’s day better and brighter. And with District Hair, she has a platform to bring that feeling and experience to her team, as well as her customers.
As for the future? Christina has dreams of opening a second location so she can continue to bring her energy and good hair days to even more Newfoundlanders. Hair’s to that!