Fun Fact!
Silo Salon is North Dakota’s one and only Aveda hair salon!
Services include Hair colors, cuts and extensions, as well as waxing, nails, facials and more!
Did You Know?
AVEDA salons offer high-quality, plant-based, hair products that are up to 99% naturally derived.
Every business starts as an idea. These ideas come to life with the efforts made by entrepreneurs willing to take risks and grow their ideas into fully-formed business ventures. From startup innovators to salon founders, every person has a unique passion that they merged with the business landscape. While we couldn’t talk to every inspiring entrepreneur in the Bis-Man area, we talked to some of the many to hear about their unique journey on the road to success.
Matt & Frank, Hair Stylists & Owners – Silo Salon
Silo Salon is a hair salon that provides cosmetology services, including hair cutting and coloring services, to the Bismarck-Mandan community. Having been in operation for the past nine years, Matt and Alexa Frank, Co-Owners of Silo Salon, have embedded themselves deep within the community and made a name for themselves through their perseverance and growth.
1. What was your journey like for you to get to the position you’re at today?
Matt: It was a long journey! I had a wellestablished full-time job as a graphic designer but felt I had the calling to be more involved in our community. My wife and I had just purchased a salon while I was still working full-time. It wasn’t soon after that Alexa and I had decided it was the right move for me to attend school and be full-time in our new business adventure. There were many sleepless nights paired with the idea of building a great future for our family by establishing a positive presence in our community.
Alexa: After I graduated from cosmetology school I began working at Fabyoulous Salon & Spa as a stylist. The owner at the time decided she wanted to sell it, so my husband and I purchased it the year we got married. The year after, another salon in town went up for sale so we decided to expand and purchase that. When we became pregnant with our first child, we decided having two locations would be too much so we combined the two into Silo Salon.
2. Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?
Matt: During the period of switching careers I had to go back to cosmetology school and learn how to cut, color and style hair. I had to lean heavily on my faith to be able to learn a total opposite career change and that our family finances would be stable during this time. Even though it was a scary time, there were many great conversations with peers and other like-minded individuals that will always be in my mind.
Alexa: How supportive my parents were will always stick with me. I can’t believe they would let me purchase a business at such a young age and not only that but to help me financially and emotionally with it. I truly could not have done it without them.
3. What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start your own business?
Matt: The hardest part was having to see and rely on my wife to provide for our financial stability during the time I was attending cosmetology school. It was also hard to calculate the risk and if we would actually be financially blessed with our business or not. Navigating a business loan was also difficult as not many banks are willing to give a loan to invest in a salon business since it’s a service industry.
Alexa: I think just figuring out all of the steps you needed to take with the state to get it all started and also learning how to become a leader.
4. What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Silo Salon?
Matt: There were more difficult days than fun days. Plenty of long hours and many hard mistakes were made during the first few years. It’s one thing to go to school for a business degree but it’s a different thing to actually own and run a business. It can’t be taught and it’s only learned through experience. However, as the years went on and we gained more and more experience, things became easier and more fun!
Alexa: I literally did not stop working when I first started the business. I did pretty much every role at first but now I have been able to step back and focus on the parts of being a business owner that I am actually good at.
With years of experience at Fabyoulous Spa & Salon, Alexa Frank is ready to help with all of your hair needs, just look at this work!
5. What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?
Matt: I have no regrets and I wouldn’t change anything. There are so many paths or options that can be done to start a business. Understanding this, it becomes more of a question of which route to take.
Alexa: I don’t think I would change anything because even though we have had many challenges, I believe they helped to get us to the point that we are at now. I’ve learned so much over the years.
What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?
Matt: Try to find mentors and learn from them for the first couple of years. Follow and shadow them.
Alexa: You truly need to have a passion for the business you go into. Don’t go into it because you think you’re going to get rich. You don’t ever really get a day off when you are a business owner, so it’s a huge dedication. You have to consider how it will affect your home life because it is hard sometimes to separate work from personal time.
6. What else would you like to add regarding your personal experience in taking this risk?
Matt: Owning a business definitely changes the dynamics of your family. Setting boundaries with your own business is a must so it doesn’t disrupt your own family life and is very hard to juggle. Definitely have mentors and peers that can help you navigate these issues. However, there are a lot of positives such as creative freedom and financial rewards that come with having a hard-working attitude.
Alexa: I was very young when I purchased the first salon and had no idea what I was doing. I am so thankful for a supportive family and community who helped me figure it out.
7. What made you decide that the BisMan area would be a great place to start a business?
Matt: It’s a tight-knit community along with all of our family and friends who still live here. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do life!
Alexa: I grew up in the Bismarck area and know that it is a very supportive community that loves small businesses!
8. What made you decide that the BisMan area would be a great place to start a business?
Matt: It’s a tight-knit community along with all of our family and friends who still live here. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do life!
Alexa: I grew up in the Bismarck area and know that it is a very supportive community that loves small businesses!
9. What do most people not know about Silo Salon?
Matt: Most people think we are a franchise since we are associated with Aveda, but we are locally owned (by my wife Alexa and I) and we pride ourselves on being a commissioned salon, not a booth rental.
Alexa: We are a commission-based salon (not booth rental) and we have such a tight-knit team. We love being there through our team’s ups and downs to help support and encourage them.
10. What is something you wish more people knew about Silo Salon?
Matt: It didn’t happen overnight as it takes a lot of time and patience. Having the ability to understand that bumps are going to happen along the way but to be able to learn from them is also necessary.
Alexa: A lot of people think we are owned by corporate Aveda and don’t realize that we are a locally owned business.
What is a day in your life like for you now?
Matt: I started out working 40 hours behind the chair and then another 10-15 hours handling all the behind-the-scenes of a business. Now I’m about 20 hours behind the chair and do 20-25 hours of working on the business.
Alexa: I am still behind the chair most of the time so I work on clients all day and do work on the business in between that. I am also a mom of two toddlers so they keep me quite busy as well.
What’s one thing the local business community could do to help Silo Salon?
Matt: Come and get your hair done by us!
Alexa: Spread the word about the good services you’ve received from us!
Are you looking to expand Silo Salon? If so, how?
Matt and Alexa: Yes! At some point, we would love to own our own building and not be renting/leasing.
Get In Touch
(701) 751-7374
silosalon.com
610 Kirkwood Mall Bismarck, ND 58504