MINT UNISEX SALON

Finding the right place for your hair and beauty services in Kathmandu valley can be a hassle. In this competitive industry, multiple salon businesses exist, ranging from community-based barber shops to high-end salon chains for you to choose from. If you are looking for a positive and uplifting experience while pampering yourself, Mint Unisex Salon is the answer. Mint Unisex Salon, located in the heart of Jhamsikhel, established in 2020, is committed to providing hygienic, fresh, and quality service to all its clients. The salon has a crème de la crème of experts for each of your hair care needs, a specialty that the salon is proud of. To keep it that way, Mint won't let any trainee or interns even touch your hair because they believe that your hair needs the best available care, and the employees have experience of a minimum of 5 years. Most salons in the valley treated through call or text or visit the salon. A representative will try to know you and your needs. After understanding your condition and problem, the representative proposes the available solution and options for your needs. The salon provides unbiased consultation service, the right path, and the best price possible. After you receive your beauty service, Mint advises you on how to take proper care of your hair/nails and also takes feedback from you so that it can provide better service in the future. Compared to the price of most of the salons out there, Mint is a little steep for most of its targeted customers, but this salon promises to give its customers an experience worth every penny spent there. Mint salon provides a wide range of services, from hair care and color to nails, pedicure-manicure, facials, and other beauty services. But what makes it different from other businesses in the industry is the focus on hygiene and cleanliness, the expertise of highly experienced employees, and the focus on creating a warm, welcoming environment for all their clients. Ujen, the owner of Mint Salon, enjoys starting different businesses. Currently, the entrepreneur owns Mint salon and Mint audio studio with her husband. Despite her several roles, Ujen has been gracefully balancing the various aspects of her life. Inspired by her Canadian friends, she follows the western approach of hustling on the weekdays and taking the weekends off. Since Ujen has been on her professional journey with her multiple businesses, we realized it is worth knowing her experience and insights in startups and entrepreneurship.

1. Every individual has their strengths and weaknesses. In this entrepreneurial journey, are there any strengths that boosted you?

Similarly, are there any weaknesses that you think have held you back?

Weakness doesn't pinpoint to just one.

I have so many flaws. For instance, I am not a perfectionist.I'm a little messy. But I am a multitasker who likes to work fast. I have completed 4-5 projects in a single time frame. While this is a strength of mine, I have also realized that sometimes I lose quality which is one of my most significant weaknesses.

2. Indian work culture is different from that in Nepal. Growing up in South India, how did the environment influence your personal development?

Unlike the entrepreneurial trend in Nepal, India highly emphasizes a 9 to 5 job. I was more attracted to the 9 to 5 work culture and climbing the corporate ladder in the earlier days. I used to be burnt out from work. The tight, inflexible deadlines there have implanted the work-fast culture in me. I find blending the Indian work influence with the Nepali culture of entrepreneurship to be much more productive.

3. As an entrepreneur with multiple businesses, when does one know their business is self-sustaining?

The entrepreneur should embed the core values and business ethics set to staff. The manager is your representative for the business, so hire and train someone who reflects your vision, is highly trustworthy and dependable, and can steward your employees and business operations. Employees should be kept happy with the feeling of the company as their own family.

4. The digital marketing concept is relatively new to the Nepali business world. Marketing is still considered an expense rather than an investment in the bigger picture. How important do you think marketing is to any business?

Six years ago, I worked in a digital marketing firm in India where the market had already understood the importance of digital marketing. In contrast, Nepal should emphasize digital marketing more. At that time, the Indian market had already understood the importance of digital marketing. I have found that there needs to be a specific budget allocation for marketing in Nepal.Similarly, digital marketing agencies need to provide creative content as well. Some of the youth-owned businesses have incorporated digital marketing well. By creating innovative and influential content, we can see many businesses booming from the TikTok platform. Businesses and digital marketing companies should step up their game when it comes to marketing efforts.

5. What do you suggest and share with upcoming entrepreneurs for their startups from your experience?

If you want to start a startup, earning money should be something other than your business's ultimate goal; you need to have a solid value to guide it. Wait to build a startup, but try working a 9-5 job for some time. This will help your personality development and help you gain professional experience for your upcoming business. While working, joining a startup is more beneficial as you look closely at a company's sections, from marketing to sales to finances to customer relations and human resources, and interact with top management and the CEO. Similarly, market research is a crucial point for any business. Knowing that entrepreneurship is a journey and shouldn't be ended with only one company but rather seek self-growth in multiple sectors is a guide to starting one's entrepreneurial journey on the right foot. Whether looking for that natural look or trying something unique and bespoke, Mint provides the freshness you desire. As a customer in Mint, you don't have to worry about the damages or drawbacks of beauty care, as the professionals here create an experience personally tailored for you.

- By Smarika Thapa and Prithviraj Singh Bogati Editorial Team