Blo Strongsville Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Christina Serger knew she wanted to get out of the banking industry. She'd been working in the field for 15 years and wanted to make a change. She knew she wanted to open a business in her hometown — Strongsville. The idea for a blow dry bar...that was more a stroke of luck than a knowing decision.

"I kept seeing these blow dry bars everywhere I went," she told Patch. Her business trips took her all over the nation and she would see these blow dry companies everywhere. The businesses offered professional hair styling for women. There's no haircuts, no coloring. Just blowouts, curling, taming, styling and profiling.

There was one exception to the ubiquitousness of the businesses — there was no blow dry bar in Northeast Ohio, and certainly none in Strongsville, Serger said. "I thought this would be such a cool thing to open here," she said.

After exploring the concept and what it would take to open a blow dry bar, Serger settled on the Blo franchise. It offered affordable prices and targeted both working women, moms, teenagers and everyone in-between.

Why did she choose to open her company in Strongsville? Well, she lives here. She couldn't open a business anyplace.

"I wanted to be around the people I lived with," she said.

So she started looking for locations in the city. She settled on a small shopping plaza near the Greens and Target shopping area. The city's watchtower looms over her shop. She loves the location because Blo Strongsville can pull traffic from all over, including neighboring Middleburg Heights and Berea. And pull traffic they did.

"We had an insane first few weeks," she said. "We were really busy, almost out-of-control. Our stylists were booked every 45 minutes."

Nearly a year later, Sterger couldn't be happier. Her company is reaching out to residents at father-daughter dances, local carnivals, and more. They offer braiding stations at those events. It's a cheap way to build brand awareness.

With about 11 employees, including seven stylists, Blo Strongsville has seen steady growth each month since its opening. Now she wants to expand her customer base and let working women know her company can take care of them too.

"We're not competing with salons," she said. "We just want to give you an hour of your time back by styling your hair for you."

On September 22, Sterger's business will celebrate a year of giving each of their customers a gorgeous look and an extra hour (or two).

Blo Strongsville is located at 13325 Pearl Road.

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Photo from Chris Mosby, Patch