Buffalo Boss Babe: Charlene Minx
Today’s Buffalo Boss Babe is Charlene Minx the owner behind the amazing Salon de Coquette & Haircuts For Those In Need & Pipeworx By Minx Plumbing. Learn more about Charlene below!
What made you start or brought you where you are today ? Tell us your Story. What makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe?
So this is a long one! Three years ago my husband needed back surgery and was out of work for 6 months. Mind you he had to have surgery a month before our wedding, so i was working as much as possible to keep us a float. When he got the OK to go back to work in January 2017, we started a plumbing business servicing the Amherst area. We worked on this together for the last 2 years. Taylor is a master plumber and worked in the field and I did all the paperwork, marketing, and anything that needed to get done besides plumbing. I did this outside of my hairstylist job and research technician job. Side Note* I've been working in salon for 17 years non-stop but also worked as research technician from 2012-2018 on weekday mornings. In fall of 2017 my husband and I were talking and we wanted to do more good for our Buffalo community. So we teamed up with Buffalo's Good Neighbors and became the veggie crew. We would purchase and distribute vegetables for 80-100 people in need on Sundays. Well this got really expensive so I started thinking, what can I do for our friends that's not so costly. So in May 2018 I started Haircuts For Those In Need, where myself and any other barber or cosmetologist I can convince to volunteer give out free haircuts to anyone in need! We do this at the same time as food distribution. People in need come for food, and stay for a haircut and some confidence boosting! In the warmer months we are outside cutting hair in Fireman's Park on Ellicott St. & N. Division St. while Buffalo's Good Neighbors gives out food. In the colder months we team up with Friends of Night People on Hudson St. and cut hair upstairs during their meal hours. While myself and others cut hair, my husband Taylor assists by sweeping up, capping clients, and disinfecting our tools. Everything we use is disposable except our hair-cutting tools in order to reduce the spread of disease and each friend gets to keep their comb! So with all this going on and managing so much I decided I could run my own salon! I would have never had the confidence, support, and mentality to do all this without my husband and our plumbing business. Years ago I never had an interest in owning my own salon business, but with being part owner of Pipeworx By Minx Plumbing and managing the operations, I knew I could run a successful salon! So December 27, 2018 I opened the doors to Salon de Coquette! An all inclusive salon that charges by hair length and density, not gender. At Salon de coquette we want everyone to leave feeling like a cheeky little minx; confident, gorgeous, and vivacious! On May 10, 2019 we hosted our grand opening party and fund raised for our charity Haircuts For Those In Need! We raised over $2000 that night with basket raffles and a 50/50 drawing! The money raised is going to the expense of forming a 501 c3 non-profit and insurance costs. We are hoping to have a couple bake sales this summer to raise money for the additional costs of insurance and supplies for the year! Since I started this charity my husband and I paid for everything we needed for it, and it is such a joy to have the community rally around this awesome confidence boosting charity and help cover the costs of what we need to serve our community. So yeah, our life is a little hectic and we don't have time for much else, but the joy all this brings me is out of this world. There is no better feeling then serving others and making them feel good about themselves!
photo - Rick Warne Photography
What does being a Buffalo Boss Babe mean to you?
Being a Buffalo Boss Babe means to me someone who works hard to serve her community. I think women are great at multitasking and that's exactly what it takes to run a business and be a Boss Babe! Buffalo is the city of good neighbors and I strive everyday in business and in charity to keep those good vibes going!
Who are your favorite people to follow ?
There are so many inspirational people out there! Someone I met recently who is the definition of Buffalo Boss Babe is Evelyn Kessler. She's an amazing women who started a charity International Child Advancement. Her story is one of a kind! I follow so many local and famous hairstylists, other charitable organizations, other businesses, and anybody who has a positive presence.
What are your favorite things to do in the area ? Buffalo and greater WNY
I love animals and I love eating! We have 5 rescue animals, 3 cats and 2 dogs. When we're not hanging out with them we are checking out the latest Buffalo restaurants along with our usual favorites, catching a movie at the Transit Drive-In, and visiting the Buffalo Zoo.
Tell us about your favorite collaboration or dream collaborations ?
Personally, I would love to do runway hair! I had a taste of it at International Child Advancements fashion show fundraiser and it was an absolute blast! High energy, changing styles for each walk, and just a great vibe! For my salon I would like to collaborate with other local hairstylists to teach at each others salons are hair skills were strongest in. This industry is changing, it is no longer a competition between salons, but a chance to build one another up and make us all better at our craft! For my charity my dream is to have more licensed cosmetologist and barber volunteers!!! It is so needed! I have a lot of interest, but only a very small fraction actually show up to volunteer and cut hair. My dream is to have a steady amount of volunteers so I don't have to stress if we will have enough volunteers to cut everyone's hair. For our plumbing business that I co-own with my husband, I would love more connections with contractors servicing the Amherst area.
photo - Rick Warne Photography
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
Jane Goodall. I've admired her, her work with animals, and her giving personality since I was a little girl.
What are your hopes, dreams, goals. Big or small?
My goals are to continue to grow my businesses and charity and be successful in each and every thing I do. It's a lot to manage so I'm hoping one day to bring in enough money through our businesses to hire an assistant to help manage everything I got going! My dream is to travel more, adopt animals, and to have a family someday.
photo - Rick Warne photography
Tell us about your family?
Our family is outrun by 4 legged critters! My amazing husband is Taylor Minx, without him and his support I couldn't do what I am able to do. Pumkin is our 10 year old diva hound mix, Jackpot is our 6 year old 3-legged pittie mix that is like a bull in a china shop, Dinah is our 12 year old cat with a quirky personality, Evee is our 8 year old cat that runs this joint, and Lester is our 5 year old little man cat who is super sweet and crazy! One day we hope to have a kid or two of our own, and once we are a little more settled in life we would like to foster children. I have an amazingly supportive helpful father Mike, a sweet step-mom Erica, and a loving mother JoAnne. I have a ton of supportive aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents! My husband mother Lesa, and step-dad Shad our local and are a great support system as well! The rest of my husbands family resides in his home state California, and is the most loving and supportive people! I am very blessed to have such great family and friends in my life to support all my endeavors.
FEEL GOOD FAVORITES
Food:
Tacos!
Color:
Orange
Super Power:
Building confidence in others
Animal :
All of them!
Season of the year:
Summer
Favorite thing about Buffalo:
The people and food!
Follow Charlene on social media: @salondecoquette & @haircutsforthoseinneed & @pipeworxbyminx
