ABOUT US

Carmona's Salon and Day Spa
609 E. Amador
Las Cruces, NM
(505) 523-5736

Article courtesy of heart magazine
heart | winter 2007 | www.heartmagazine.info
Edited by Kelly Jameson | Photography by Bill Faulkner

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Having lived in Las Cruces since the day I was born, I can tell you that few businesses have stood the test of time here in the Mesilla Valley. With growth comes change, and though some businesses reach the end of their "life cycle" and close, there is one local salon that at one time everyone knew as just "Tencha's". Today, Tencha's is Carmona's Salon & Day Spa, and is operated and managed by Tencha's children, Sandra and Marco.

Having learned from one of the best, Sandra took the education she absorbed from her mother and headed off to find higher education, only to return to take over the family business and, with her brother, spearhead the evolution of a local legacy. The following is her story, in her own words.

-Kelly Jameson

My mom, Tencha Carmona, was one of ten children. Four of the ten were girls, and three of those four became cosmetologists. In all, there are 13 cosmetologists in our family! One of these is my brother, Marco Carmona. Born in Aguas Calientes, Mexico, my mom began her studies in cosmetology when she was 13. After finishing school, she worked her first 3 years as a cosmetologist in a well-known Revlon salon. At 18, she moved to Las Cruces where she worked at Carmine's Salon on Solano Street, and later at the JC Penney's salon. In 1972, already 20 years into her career, she transformed her garage at home into a four-station salon, and Tencha's Hair Salon was born. Ten years later, she bought her first commercial building on Amador Avenue and began remodeling it, room by room, into a salon.

A few years later, I graduated from Las Cruces High School. Unsure of my career path, I enrolled in a local cosmetology school to become a nail technician while attending NMSU.
After five years, I met up with an old high school friend, Chris Mount, with whom I fell madly in love. We married, and moved to Albuquerque.
Initially, I felt my career was headed towards Occupational Therapy, but I also worked at a fine salon where I met a young woman named Joy. To this day, she probably doesn't know that a conversation I had with her changed my life. She was a graduate of the Aveda Institute de Bellas Artes and her words sparked an interest in completing my licensure in cosmetology. Before I knew it, I was attending the Aveda Institute, where a network of some of the most influential people I ever met inspired me to follow my dreams.

In sharing my strong passion for the salon industry, my mom found my suggestions for restructuring her internal operating systems and remodeling the salon exciting, but exhausting. My mom's response was, "Why don't you and Chris move back to Las Cruces? Then YOU can make your dream a reality!" Chris and I were back in Las Cruces by February 1999.

Whether one is in the business of changing tires, selling stocks or cutting hair, it is necessary to create a solid business structure. In the three years that followed, my brother, who was already licensed and working as a hair designer with my mom, joined me in making internal changes. As my business partner, Marco was instrumental in re-engineering our operating systems, embracing our new business culture and developing skill training. Although we were seasoned in the cosmetology industry, we sought further education in leadership and business development. We wanted to create a business that would succeed when we took Tencha's to the next level.

Business practice in our industry has become as creative and diverse as the hair designers behind the chairs. One of the weaknesses in the salon industry is the absence of the defined operating systems, which frequently results in the lack of consistency and accountability. We believe that internal operating systems have a direct impact on customer service. Marco and I chose to create a salon that was team-oriented and focused on the guest. We believe the guests' total experience is top priority.

After defining our business standard, we focused on the remodel of our building. A lot of thought and careful planning went into redesigning our space, which took a year and a half to complete. By October of 2002, we had transformed our mother's business again. We wanted our new name to reflect our unity as a family-owned business, as well as introduce our spa. Carmona's seemed the natural choice.

Today, Mom is still very much a part of the business, working one day a week or by appointment. She is very dedicated and extremely talented in hair design, waxing and permanent make-up. Sharing the word of God has also always been her life. She now embraces that passion as a full-time pastor of Camino Nuevo Church.

Our guests often ask how Marco, my mom and I are able to work together. After working in the family business for over 18 years, I know the secret to a successful family business lies in the mechanics. Although establishing an appropriate operating system was fundamental, remaining a tight-knit family is what keeps us together.

Life outside of the salon? Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love dogs, especially my own dogs. More than anything else, I enjoy peaceful evenings at home with Chris and our three "kids": Sadie, Shelby and Marlee. Before managing the salon, I spent a lot of time coaching dance and choreographing dance routines, another passion Marco and I share.

Looking back, I give credit to my parents who put everything they had into raising Marco and me, a task by which they held themselves accountable to God. They allowed us to think for ourselves and make our own decisions, yet they guided our path. Mom has been such an awesome mentor for the business. Everything she ever instilled in me has not only been spoken, but also demonstrated by her own lifestyle and actions. Two words that come to mind when I think back on the advice she gave me about running the business are "consistency" and "patience", but when it comes to setting a standard for life, Mom is all about excellence and integrity.