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Three brothers and a hair salon |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 05 July 2006 |
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Kazim Tercan grew up in Turkey, but he was born an international hairstylist. Coming from a family of doctors and engineers, he feared disappointing his parents.
“I finally told my dad I wasn’t happy and was into art,” Kazim said.
He set off to cosmetology school and was soon studying under some of the best hairstylists in Europe. But the stylist who first inspired him was his older sister.
“My sister was a hairstylist and she baby-sat me in the salon. I swept the floors for 25 cents,” Tercan said.
He remembers gazing up in awe at outrageously big hairdos that were still sticky with spray.
Kazim’s younger brothers, Ergun Tercan and Murat Tercan, followed suit and soon enough the three brothers opened their own salon in Fort Collins. Tuana Hair Design at 818 S. College Ave. offers a variety of European inspired services including cuts, colors, extensions, straightening, updos, threading and lash extensions.
Given the brothers’ extensive experience, passing on their education to others has been important to them.
“I learned from the best and so did my brothers,” Kazim said. “We train our employees and don’t just let someone with a license cut hair. They train with us for nine months.”
Every Monday Kazim conducts training using live models because a mannequin won’t scream when you pull her hair.
“We want to make sure they are going to represent us,” Kazim said.
He is excited to see his employees complete the training and will soon be welcoming some of them onto the floor.
The brothers plan to open another salon on 15th Street in Denver within the next month.
“We are spending so much money on the salon in Denver, but we are going to make that place awesome,” Kazim said.
The three brothers share their passion for their business, with their ultimate goal to make people feel better about themselves.
“It’s about much more than just cutting hair,” Kazim said.
VITAL STATS
Name: Kazim Tercan
Company: Tuana Hair Design, 818 S. College Ave.
Title: Owner
How long have you worked there? Five years
IN HIS WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
Challenges are always there, of course. I worked in big cities in Europe where people are really high maintenance and love to spend money. They are very fashionable. They get their hair done once a week and get dressed up all the time. I’m used to seeing people look good all the time. In Fort Collins, people are a little behind, but our customers are starting to look really good.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
We love it. We are passionate about it. Picky customers we actually like because they are particular. They want to come to us because they care about their look. It’s our passion to make somebody feel like they look good today. I want to make customers happy. Hair is the most important thing about the body, that’s what we believe. It makes you feel good about yourself and look good. It’s not just to cut hair.
Things that impress you?
People who value their appearance and image. I love that. I like that people value what you are doing.
Things that don’t.
People who don’t care. I had a customer come in who went to some salon for five years and didn’t remember what the salon name was. That’s what doesn’t impress me. It shows she doesn’t care and will let anybody cut her hair.
How do young/new employees get ahead?
Education, education, education. We teach classes once a week with live models.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
It was my dream. I think we are achieving more. I came to this country with nothing 10 years ago. My brothers have been my right hand and left hand. They are my partners. We are an awesome team. Big people have goals. Little people have egos. We have goals. Achieving your goals is the best thing.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I would be an artist. I like art. I wouldn’t work behind a desk. I go to art shows. I love music. I would be involved in music.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
This guy was a legend in the hair business. He’s a genius of hairstyling in Turkey. I sent in my resume and he didn’t call me. I said, ‘How can I meet this guy?’ I had to have an appointment to see him. I went to talk to him and said I wanted to work there. He said he didn’t need anybody to work for him. I took a broom and started sweeping the floor, cleaning the tables, cleaning the towels and asking customers if they needed anything. They were looking at me like, ‘What is he doing?’ He stopped everything and was watching me. He asked me what I was doing, and I said I wanted to work there. He hired me.
Smartest?
Being as hairdresser, opening up this place and having the passion for it.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Being a hairstylist in Europe. It’s a lifestyle in Europe. You are like a movie star. That has prepared me.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
I worked in real estate and did some other things. I worked in Cheyenne when I first moved here. I was so bored, I couldn’t cut hair because I didn’t have my license. I worked in a restaurant for five months because I didn’t have a choice. I am a person who has to do things. I can’t sit at home.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Everything I have right now, I owe this industry. I love this industry. I love the mental payoff, how it makes me feel in the morning. It makes me feel better about myself. Making people happy, that’s the deal.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
I don’t like the idea of boss. I’m the spokesperson, but we all share. It takes teamwork. We are like a soccer team. I’m the older one. I’m the spokesperson. I started two years before my brothers, but they have the same educations and backgrounds.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Go to hair shows and events. Spend time with family, go on motorcycle rides, hiking, skiing and biking. It’s fun stuff. When we have time, it’s nice to do those things. We also do charity work.
Pets?
I have fish.
Family?
I’m married. My brothers are single.
Favorite TV shows?
I don’t watch TV much.
Movies?
I love to go to the movies. “Lord of the Rings.”
Books?
I don’t read much in English, but I read a lot in my language. My favorite is “My Name is Red.” I like books that teach me things in life and give a different view.
Where do you play?
I love traveling. I was just in New York. I like seeing new things.
Go out to eat?
I like to try ethnic food. Here everything is the same. It’s Americanized. I like Jay’s Bistro. We go there a lot. There are a lot of cool places in Denver.
Favorite spot?
Mediterranean side of Turkey. I go there every year to recharge my battery.
What do you do during your breaks?
We like to work out if we can.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Cut hair. I would still cut hair for free and teach others.
Any interesting anecdotes?
There’s an old saying in Turkey: There are two candles. One candle has fire and the other one doesn’t. You touch them together. The second gets fire and the first one doesn’t loose anything. By giving something to others, you don’t lose anything.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
I want to open a school, a hair academy, to teach more. It’s still something we could do but not right now. We are really big on education.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
www.tuanahairdesign.com
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