Where do you go that’s yellow and white, fun and girly, plays rom-com movies and great music, gives you free wi-fi and iPhone chargers, and within an hour you walk out looking like a million bucks?
It’s called Drybar and I am now obsessed with it. And while it was hard to choose which Glambition Girl to feature for our first interview, Alli Webb blew me away. (Pun intended.)
She’s gone from driving around L.A. doing in-home blowouts in 2008 to starting up what is now the largest blowdry chain in the country. Drybar currently has 35 locations in 8 states that sources estimate will bring in $40 million this year.
No cuts. No color. Just blowouts. Who would have thunk it?
For $40 too—no matter what type or length of hair you have. Alli pioneered this category, and now there are other wanna-be drybars popping up everywhere. But nothing comes close. (Believe me, because yours truly has happened upon a few in cities where there was no Drybar to be found.)
And Alli’s become quite a celebrity entrepreneur herself. She’s on the most recent Fortune 40 Under 40 list (alongside the likes of Marissa Mayer and Mark Zuckerberg), has appeared on the Katie Couric show, and struck deals just last year with QVC and Sephora to sell her exclusive Drybar blowdry kits on TV (so you can play along at home).
Alli joined me on Glambition Radio and, among her amazing story and some great insights on going for the gusto, she shared her top three tips for success. Here they are, in Alli’s words…
Tip #1: Figure out what you don’t know
Alli says, “Surrounding yourself with people who are good at what you’re not, and making sure you’re partnering up with people who are smarter than you, who know more than you, who can really help you get your business to the next level. I think that’s a really big one that has helped me.”
Tip #2: Just because it already exists, doesn’t mean you can’t do it better
“If you’re sitting out there, and there’s something that you wish existed or it exists, but you wish it was better, don’t be afraid to make it better and to do it better. I always say, ‘We didn’t invent blowouts, but we just created a much better space and service to get them.’” —Alli Webb
Tip #3: You have to really love and be passionate about your business
Alli says, “You have to find something that you just really love and you’re really passionate about and have the chutzpah to keep going and keep that intensity up. The only way I think you can do that is really love what you do.”
We also talked about how she found her niche, how she deals with her competition, and her unique product branding. We covered a ton of information in this interview… stuff that you can really learn from and that will inspire you… so please listen to this episode of Glambition Radio by clicking the play button below. And if you want to hear my most recent episodes head over to iTunes to listen or subscribe for automatic updates.
And one last thing… I asked Alli, “What if PERMS come back?”
To hear her answer, you have to hear the show. 😉
Dry on!
Love and success,
(That’s me at the Scottsdale, Arizona DryBar, where you’ll find me at least once a week. :))
