According to report entitled “Hair
Salon Owner Tells Customers, 'Pay What You Can Afford” by Huffington Post
and WGAL TV, “customers now leave what they wish in an unmarked envelope in a
box. Ennis does not open the envelopes until the end of the week to ensure the
payments remain anonymous.”
Ennis, tells WGAL that she noticed some of her loyal
customers had stopped coming in for regular salon services over the last three
years. They couldn't afford it, she says. "I look around and I see nothing
but hurting souls because the economy has put stress on moms," said Ennis.
Watch the WGAL story below;
The pay what you can afford price system is Ennis way of
helping to ease the economic hardship in her community. In the interview with
WGAL, Ennis said, "A lot of people are concerned I will lose my
shirt," but it's a leap of faith."
It is too early to tell whether the unusual price system
will work, but early indications are that many pay more than what was originally
on the old price list.
Ennis says this is not a gimmick and has nothing to do with competition.
She says she does not want to steal customers from other salons, she just wants
to do her part to help in difficult times.
Without a doubt, Karin Ennis has certainly found her moral heart
by doing what she believes to be the right thing for her community in spite of
many telling her she is crazy. Karen also has found new purpose through her business
in helping her community through tough economic times. Karen says it is pure
joy to see some of her old customers return and not have to worry about
breaking their family budget to get their hair done. To borrow a phrase from
Master Card, for Karen Ennis, that joy is priceless.
I was struck by a comment to the Huffington Post report on
Ennis, Julie99 says among other things, “There are many good people in the
world. Success is not measured by dollars, but what you can do for others. Hurray
for this woman.” Julie99 knows what she is talking about. Money is not the answer
to happiness and personal fulfillment. That comes from Passion and Purpose,
along with the other principals in the “Be Happi” model of Belief, Enthusiasm,
Heart, Attitude and Imagination. There is nothing wrong with money, but it will
not in and of itself make you happy or assure that you feel successful.
“Ending
near 40 years of service in hairdressing, I charged $5.00 a cut for adults and
$3.00 for kids. Some people doubled that in tips. If you required a service
more and could not afford, we did the bartering system. If they said they could
not afford a perm, I asked if they could bake a cake? We fed a lot of hungry
people on those cakes cookies or whatever. We traded service of raking leaves
and shoveling snow for some kids. Shoveling parking lot, fixing my auto for
part price and exchange for hair services. Once some lady brought two plants,
and another two old pantsuits, the best one was when one lady brought two live
chickens. I had egg farmer I quickly delivered them to. Cancer victims never
left empty headed, as, people would drop off old wigs and we fixed them up.
Nothing for me to run to a rummage sale before work to purchase boots or shoes
for the needy coming in. Not a fancy place, but where I also raised my
children. Christmas, I purchased trees that were selling out for a dollar, for
people who never had one, bought construction paper and old cards for their
kids to decorate, wrapped up things at my shop and dropped them off anonymously.
There are many good people in the world. Success is not measured by dollars, but
what you can do for others. .Hurray for this woman.”
For more on the principles of heart, passion, purpose and
the entire Don’t
Seek Success – Be Happi model, visit Amazon.com to read a preview of the book.
Be Great!
MB
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