Longtime employee buys half of Trendsetters
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
It’s been a busy few months at Trendsetters Salon, so you can forgive former owner Linda LeClaire for not announcing the news earlier.
LeClaire and employee Tammy Henning closed on the sale of LeClaire’s half of Trendsetters at the end of March, marking the end of an era during which LeClaire and Kelly Willkomm owned the business.
LeClaire and Willkomm were partners in Trendsetters from its opening in November of 1984, but LeClaire has been wondering what to do about her share of the business now for a good while.
“I’m a bit older than Kelly,” LeClaire said. “Over the last couple of years, I started to wonder, ‘What am I going to do?”
At a Redken sales conference in Las Vegas in January, LeClaire and Henning discussed the possibility of a sale. Henning has worked for the business “almost as long as we’ve been open,” LeClaire explained.
“We were all talking,” said LeClaire, adding that she’d like to sell her half but keep working.
“When we got back, she asked, ‘Are you serious?” LeClaire recalled. The sale went forth from there, and Henning closed on the sale of half the business at the end of March.
Since the sale became final, LeClaire said she’s been busy training Henning in her new role, and kind of lost track of announcing the news. But with clients coming in and asking, now is time.
LeClaire is still at the business full-time as a stylist, and intends to be there for the near future.
“I’m going to keep working for quite a while, I hope,” LeClaire said.
Willkomm is pleased with how the transition has gone as well.
“It’s going great,” Willlkomm said. “She knew our business practices and how we operate our salon.
“(She) transitioned very easily,” added Willkomm.
Henning said, for her part, it was good timing.
“I’ve been there 28 years,” she said. “They’ve got a very successful business. I’ve been there a long time, and I know what I’m working with.”
Henning said the transition has been smooth.
“We have an amazing staff, and they’re easy to work with,” Henning said, and she added that she’s enjoying the change.
In fact, she and Willkomm have been at a business conference this week, which is giving Henning a chance to see every aspect of the business.
“It’s been nice for me to see the other side of it all,” she said.
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