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In January of 2020, Nia Pettitt inaugurated the doors of the Curl Bar, a curly hair salon, located in London. Nia's idea for the salon was not just about making customers feel attractive, but providing an environment for each client to feel embraced and celebrated.

Bring a brick and mortar business to life

Opening a curly hair salon was always a goal of Nia's. "I frequently traveled across America for my hair to be done because it was never easy to find a salon in London, let alone that in the UK," she says. "I set out to design an experience that was comfortable at ease, calm, and reflected visually what I would've dreamed of as a child." Customers responded to that vision: When they opened the doors at The Curl Bar, appointments quickly filled up.

"Your life will change as you begin to establish an enterprise. Check if you're prepared for the change." Nia advises aspiring business owners. It was impossible to predict how much change would soon arrive for Nia and the Curl Bar: Only three months following its launch, the restaurant had to shut down temporarily due to COVID-19 shutdowns across the UK. Even a definite stop in operation didn't stop Nia from moving down.

"I didn't have a formula to grow the business and certainly not in the event of a outbreak," she says. "I simply view every moment as a lesson to be learned from." When The Curl Bar was closed, Nia shifted her focus online, connecting to her stylists and her customers on social media until The salon could fully reopen.