South Valley Businesssource Center Assists Northridge Beauty Salon With A $30,000 Loan To Reopen And Adapts To Covid-19 Business Operations

Editor’s Note: This Success Story was written prior to the July 13 order to re-close hair salons as part of the city, county, and states measures to decrease potential spread of COVID19

The story of Cecy’s Beauty Salon is the best example of perseverance and hope. Cecilia says that even though she’s owned her beauty salon for 9 years now, her journey still feels like a dream. “I’ve had happy moments, and sad moments,” she said. “I’ve received so much help from so many people, I have no way to thank life for all the beautiful gifts it has given me.”

Cecilia explains that ever since she landed the unexpected opportunity of owning her salon, all the challenges she has faced have had solutions, including a financial setback that was almost impossible to overcome.

However, the most recent challenge, (which she admits has hurt her the most) is the COVID-19 pandemic. She expressed that when she was forced to close back in March, she had a moment of darkness and non-stop tears. It was hard to see her beauty salon, her second home, quiet and empty.

It was after a phone call from a client that reminded her that the pandemic was just one more obstacle. She regained her confidence and suddenly thought of reaching out to her Business Coach Luis Luna from the South Valley BusinessSource Center. Luis Luna had helped her obtain a loan in 2017 from East West Bank after a car had crashed into her location.

Luis was able to provide Cecilia with different funding options available for small business owners and recommended she to apply for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Los Angeles City Emergency Microloan Program. He informed her of the documents she needed to gather and explained the process of submitting the applications.

Thankfully, Cecilia has been awarded $30k from the SBA’s EIDL and is now open for business again.

She has adapted her beauty salon to the “new normal” and is practicing the safety guidelines ordered by the County and City of Los Angeles. Her priority right now is to protect the health of her clients and staff and has supplied herself with quality disinfectants to sanitize all surface areas.

She has set strict rules and requires everyone who enters her salon to wear masks. She checks each person’s temperature at the front door, sprays the areas where each person stands, requires clients to place their personal belongings inside a plastic bag, (which she seals tightly) and even has clients fill out a survey regarding COVID-19 symptoms.

Cecy’s Beauty Salon is located at 18908 Roscoe Blvd in Northridge, CA and can be reached at (818) 998-0105