Small business owners Melissa Coulter and Jody Griggs this year celebrate 10 years in business ownership. We look back at Touch of Utopia’s growth under their direction.

With Melissa’s background in makeup artistry and a burgeoning career in the building industry, and Jody in HR and office management, these two women weren’t the obvious buyers for an existing hair salon in Landsborough Street, North Ward, 10 years ago.

The salon was in a good location, albeit a tired building, with one busy stylist. Melissa saw potential, and wanted to flex the business skills she had acquired during her years in corporate roles such as the position she is in now at Master Builders North Queensland Regional Office.

“Coming from a different industry gives me the perspective of looking at the business from the outside, and allows me to work on the business instead of in it.” 

Enjoying her full-time job and with no plans to leave the building industry, Melissa says buying the business “started out as a bit of a hobby” with her managing the business side, and Jody handling HR and accounts. Ten years later, and the business has a new location at Central (where it has been for four years) and has grown from one to 14 stylists to meet the demand of a thriving customer base.

Melissa believes coming from a different industry, and not working in the day-to-day of the business, has in some ways been an advantage. “Coming from a different industry gives me the perspective of looking at the business from the outside, and allows me to work on the business instead of in it,” she offers. “It also gives my staff the opportunity to grow within themselves and take ownership of their roles.”

Of course, no business can grow without good staff, and Melissa is the first to shout the praise of her people.

“At the beginning, I didn’t have a lot of knowledge of the hair industry – I had to gain that quickly! The person who helped me do that was my manager of eight years, Belinda Coco. She taught me the hairdressing side, while I taught her the business side. We were a fantastic team, a bit like yin and yang. Belinda also trained our current manager Kate Hastie to become the captain of the ship.” (Belinda has since relocated to New Zealand where she manages a hospitality business with her partner.)

“Finding the right people is important, and I’ve been able to do that quite well,” says Melissa. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that Touch of Utopia stylists aren’t required to work every Saturday, as is customary in the hair industry. 

“Quality of life is a very important aspect and staying connected with our partners and family is imperative,” emphasises Melissa. Or, perhaps it’s that Melissa flies in guest artists to train and inspire her team from around the country.

What does the future hold for Touch of Utopia? “Our goal is to continue to provide fantastic service and to do it consistently with our amazing team; and provide the best opportunities to our staff in both training and experiences. Every business wants to do that, I believe,” says Melissa.

“Jody and I are grateful to our families for supporting us through growing a small business – every small business owner knows that you invest a lot of time. And, obviously to the Townsville community as well for really getting behind us.”