Great Cuts Hair & Tanning Salon

      -  December 2007 Merchant of the Month -

 

by Carol Hibbard

 

Great Cuts Hair & Tanning Salon was founded by Renee Lea Lee and began operations on January 30, 1994. Great Cuts is presently located at 1030 Broadway Street in Hamilton, IL, where Renee is the owner, stylist, and manager of the salon. Renee earned her Cosmetology degree in February, 1993, from Bill Hill's College of Cosmetology, located in Ft. Madison, IA.

"When we first opened, our shop was at 1612 Keokuk Street, Hamilton, in the J & J Laundromat building which we rented from Jake and Joyce Jacobs. Odie Padodie's is in business there today." While there, the business successfully grew from only two stylists to six stylists available at one time.

"The stylists all played a lot of musical chairs for several months and worked long hours in the first two years of business. It became evident it was necessary to expand. Luckily, the Jacob's allowed us to build an addition to the salon. At that time we added tanning to our services with our Sunquest Wolff tanning beds." Instantly, the tanning was a hit and Renee wished she could have just a little more room once again.

Again, Great Cuts seemed to run out of working space and parking was limited for their clients. When the expansion occurred in the J & J Laundromat, rent also went up. Renee states, "In 1997, I began to think about relocating to somewhere nearer the business district. A few months later we purchased the property that currently houses Great Cuts." Great Cuts has been at the Broadway location for almost eleven years now. In January, they will celebrate 14 years of business in Hamilton.

On July 24, 1997, Cari Johnson joined the staff at Great Cuts and over the past summer, celebrated her 10 years of service. Along with Cari's stylist responsibilities, she is also the Assistant Manager. Cari graduated from Dayton's School of Hair Design, Keokuk, IA, in 1997.

Outside of the salon, Cari enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys playing sports with her daughter, Brooklyn. Cari, her husband, Bob, and daughter love to vacation together at destinations such as: Hawaii, Jamaica, New York and Florida. And, just as any girl, Cari "loves to shop! It's an addiction!"

Lindsay Richardson began as a stylist with Great Cuts in 2004. She is a 1997 graduate from Bill Hill's College of Cosmetology in Ft. Madison, IA, and specializes in cuts, coloring, foiling and waxing. Lindsay works full-time at the Hamilton Quarry but is available for appointments throughout the week after 4:30p.m. To make an appointment with her, feel free to call her cell phone at 309-337-0349. You may also call the salon to see when she may be available. When not in the salon, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her boyfriend Jason and his children, family and friends. She also likes to bowl and spend time on the lake or river.

Renee's mother, Jean Richardson is the Operations Manager and as she says, "Jean pretty much keeps us all in line and sees that the business is running smoothly." Jean is also the business custodian and receptionist. She is married to Jim Richardson of Hamilton and has two other children, Stacy Pardall of West Point, IA, and Erik of Hamilton.

Renee is married to Jerome Lee of Hamilton and they have two children, Shannon and James Gorham. Renee is also available for appointments in the evening hours as she works full-time at Capps, Ancelet, Clark & Rasmussen Law Offices in Carthage, IL, as bookkeeper and Albert V. Ancelet's secretary. When not at one office or the other, Renee enjoys spending time with her family camping and fishing, attending Kansas City Chiefs games and is an avid fan of the Hendricks Motor Sports NASCAR team. She also enjoys time with her dogs, Xena, Chief, and Roxie. Renee keeps busy volunteering in the Hamilton community and serves as the President of the Hamilton Merchants Association.

Services at Great Cuts include, but are not limited to: tanning, color, hi-lites, perms, precision cuts, wedding party and prom updos, and waxing. We also have Chi Irons, featuring the limited edition Glacier Ice. In addition. products from almost every professional retail line are available. You will find such quality products as Kenra, Redkin, Matrix, BioSilk, Vavoom, Beg Sexy. Bedhead and Joico. Great Cuts also carries a full line of tanning products. "If we don't have it in stock, but they make it, we can get it for you."

Hours of operation are Monday & Thursday 9-5, Tuesday & Friday 10-5, and Saturdays 9-1. In the off tanning season, August through January, Great Cuts is closed on Wednesdays. Lee adds, "In the high tanning season. which is February through July, we are open six days a week and extend our hours by opening earlier and staying open as late as 8 or 9 p.m. to accommodate our customers. Stop in and try our 2 brand new Alpha Sun 30VL Tanning Beds. We are running the following winter Tanning Specials for the months of December and January:

10 Tans $25.00 (reg. price $30.00)   20 Tans $40.00 (reg. price $48.00)  30 Tans $50.00 (reg. price $58.00)

1 Month Unlimited $30.00 (reg. price $35.00)  2 Months Unlimited $55.00 (reg. price $60.00)

Walk-ins are always welcome, but hair appointments are encouraged during the day. You may also walk-in for a tanning appointment during the off season. For more information about the salon, call Great Cuts at 217-847-2506, or email them at gr8cuts@adams.net .

Thank you, Great Cuts Hair & Tanning Salon Team! Hamilton is proud to have your friendly staff and services available in our community!

Please stop by and congratulate the staff at Great Cuts. our December Merchant of the Month!