There is a common belief that head and heart do not agree. There are few instances when this is as far from the truth as it is at Paul Mitchell. The soul of a company that was born to support the success of hairdressers and provide luxury hair care at an affordable price goes well beyond the salon.
When one walks into Alta Moda Salon at The Rim (the newest salon inspired by Paul Mitchell), aside from the elegance and sensibly fashioned modern finish, one immediately senses the Paul Mitchell soul and the philosophy that has brought the company so much success over the years.
It is evident that Cyndi Garza, Alta Moda Salon’s proud owner, has in her words, “grown up” under the wing of Paul Mitchell Co-Founder and CEO John Paul DeJoria. When asked about the success of Alta Moda, Garza of course mentions putting in lots of hard work, but attributes most of her success to the lessons she learned from DeJoria’s example along the way. In a story that goes from being homeless to becoming a billionaire, DeJoria is uniquely qualified to speak and teach about life from a rather unique perspective.
“[DeJoria] is a very good, giving person,” Garza affirmed. “Paul Mitchell is about the people behind the bottle … He truly believes in the company philosophy of success unshared is failure … He taught us that in order to grow, you have to give back.” Garza’s own credentials are quite impressive. She began very young as an educator and worked her way up by helping DeJoria launch the product in Mexico, and worked her way through to Central and South America and all over the world. However, when we sat down to discuss the opening of the new salon at The Rim, Garza spent a majority of the interview talking about how she was not only honored to be associated with the company professionally, but was perhaps more honored to call herself a personal friend of DeJoria and his wife, Eloise Broady, who she says are two of the kindest people she has ever encountered. That deep respect for each other is obvious. The night of the grand opening, DeJoria and Broady personally drove down from one of their homes in Austin to celebrate their friend.
When asked to comment on how thrilling it was for those in attendance to see him in person, DeJoria very humbly admitted, “The reason I’m here is for Cyndi Garza – to support her… She is one of our top educators … She opened this fabulous salon – her second … We want to acknowledge how special she is. We like celebrating people who have been supporting us no matter what it takes.” Broady echoed, “We’ve been friends for decades, and I think Cyndi is so amazing, unconditional, beautiful and proof that you can do it all and be successful right here in South Texas.” Garza has a grand vision for her future, but maintains a very basic system of values, which she feels translates into strong relationships and successful business practices. “I have traveled all over the world, worked with industry celebrities [and toured] with the best hairdressers in the world,” she said, “and yet I still think best thing is when you can make people feel good about themselves regardless of where they come from or what they are doing in their lives.”
Garza realizes this personal touch – one that is consistent with the teaching and pay-it-forward mentality of Paul Mitchell – is something that can set her salon apart from others. “Small businesses are hurting,” she said. “People are shopping for bargains more than ever. Service can make the difference, and we are committed to making people feel extra special.” NSIDE Publications congratulates Cyndi Garza. She is living proof that even in business, the head, the heart and the soul do agree sometimes, and it makes all the difference in the world.
For more information on Alta Moda Salons, visit www.altamodasalons.com.
Alta Moda Salon @ The Rim
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Ste. 128
San Antonio, Texas 78257
210-561-8824
Alta Moda Salon @ The Quarry
7322 Jones Maltsberger Road, Ste. 214
San Antonio, Texas 78209
210-824-4440
