I just got back from an incredible weekend at Convergence, the industry show hosted by the legendary Ted Gibson. It was a high-energy environment filled with some of the most talented stars in our industry. While the weekend was overwhelmingly positive, I ran into “One Bad Apple” that really got me thinking about the state of our industry this morning.
If you’ve ever taught a class, you know the type. The stylist who constantly interrupts and challenges the teacher, not to learn, but to be heard. This stylist walked up to our Jack Winn Pro booth and told me a story about another stylist in her town—someone she described as “incredible,” “nice,” and “so talented.”
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This talented stylist had shared Jack Winn Pro with her. But her response? “Why would I want to use the same color she’s using?”
Then came the brag. She told me her rep from a major beauty supply told her she ordered more color than anyone else in the state of Texas. Whether that’s true or not, she was clearly a busy stylist. But as we talked, I realized the irony: She was a small business owner bragging about her loyalty to a massive, publicly-traded mega-brand.
The Archaic Formula Trap
It’s funny to me when a busy stylist brags about using a color line owned by a giant corporation—a line that hasn’t changed its formula in years. These “Big Brands” often use archaic, cheap-to-produce ingredients, wrapped in a high-budget marketing story that is sold around the stylist’s back.
When you buy from these mega-brands, you aren’t supporting a craft. You are increasing shareholder value for a company that doesn’t even know your name. At Jack Winn Pro, we took a different path. We decided to spend those millions of marketing dollars on better ingredients—pharmaceutical-grade chemistry that actually heals the hair. We decided to put the power back into the hands of the small business owner.
The Power of the Ambassador
This leads me to the real stars of the weekend. I want to say a massive Thank You to Ali, Susan, and Angela. These three incredible Jack Winn Pro Ambassadors came to Convergence to connect with stylists and share their passion.
Here is the thing the “Big Brands” will never understand: Ali, Susan, and Angela aren’t corporate employees. They are talented stylists who chose to spend their own money to be at that show. They were there to meet people and grow their own teams because they believe in the Jack Winn Pro mission.
I’m sorry they had to deal with the “one bad apple” at the booth, but the hundreds of other stylists they connected with made it all worth it. They are the heartbeat of this community.
Why Do You Choose the Big Brand?
I want to ask you a serious question: Do you choose that “Big Brand” because they seem “cool”? Do you choose them because you want to make their shareholders richer? I know it’s not because the product is better.
I suspect it’s because it’s all you know. Change is uncomfortable. But when an incredible stylist like Ali, Susan, or Angela shares Jack Winn Pro with you, they are inviting you into a partnership.
- Yes, they earn a commission. And they should. Why wouldn’t you want to see a fellow small business owner—the “nice girl in town” who is killing it behind the chair—succeed?
- Yes, the ingredients are better. We don’t answer to a board of directors; we answer to you. Our dollars go into the tube, not into a Super Bowl ad.
Be Open-Minded. Partner with Jack Winn Pro.
The next time a peer shares Jack Winn Pro with you, I hope you’ll choose to be open-minded. Order a few tubes. Give it a try. You’ll be supporting another small business owner, and you’ll finally be using a product that respects your talent.
Stop building their empire. Start building yours.
Partner with us at JackWinnPro.com and see the difference that independent, stylist-owned chemistry can make.
— Jack Winn, CEO of Jack Winn Pro