A Cut Above the Rest

For as long as she can remember, Stephanie Cofer has been interested in being a hairstylist and perhaps one day, owning her own salon. In 1998, when her uncle, Mike Sheldon, opened Hair & Body Image Salon in Kingston, Tennessee, it only furthered her interest in this field.

“Since it was started by my uncle and I kind of grew up there, I thought of it as my ‘hair-a-tage,’” Cofer said. 

Sheldon later sold the salon in 2001, and in 2008, Cofer took ownership. She applied for and secured a BERO microloan later that year and received funds in early 2009.

“I used the money to buy the contents of the salon, supplies to work with, and had a little left over to use as working capital,” Cofer said. “From the process, I learned what it takes to truly make your business successful, the benefits of setting short and long term goals, and how to accomplish them.”

Structured as a booth rental establishment with sub-contracted space, Cofer began in 2008 with two other stylists and by 2012, she gained three more. Currently, Hair & Body Image Salon has expanded to house 12 stylists, including Cofer. From her start in 2008, Cofer has relocated the salon twice in order to accommodate the additional growth.

Today, Cofer remains as passionate as she was more than 15 years ago. “My clients are No. 1, and it’s an amazing feeling when you are able to help another stylist achieve success.”

Cofer plans to add two more shampoo bowls, a spray tan booth and an additional stylist in the near future.

Hair & Body Image Salon is located at 321 E. Race St. in Kingston, Tennessee. To learn more about the salon, visit www.hairandbodyimage.com.