Story and photos by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 28, 2006

Customers who step into JKNY Hair Solutions may already recognize Karen Swearengen and Julie Harris, the owners and operators. They’ve moved up the road in the Town of Niagara and into their own shop in a new business.

JKNY is similar to other salons, with one major advantage.

“We offer everything that the other salons offer, we’re just more affordable,” Harris said.

“We worked together at a different salon, a corporate salon, and decided to branch out on our own,” Swearengen said of their move up the road. JKNY Hair Solutions is located at 2027 Military Road. One might call the address a Prime area to do business.

“It’s a great location, right across from the (Prime) Outlet Mall, with a lot of traffic and close to where we were before, so we could keep our clientele,” Swearengen said.

Some of the clientele include those who work in the armed forces base and recruitment offices nearby, and for them, JKNY offers reduced prices on military cuts.

“We have a lot of clients from the base,” Swearengen explained. “So we wanted to let them to know that we could do that. It’s not just a salon. We do specialize in cutting, men and women and children. You’re just not going to pay what you would pay in a normal salon.”

This is the first go-round as owners and operators of a business for Swearengen and Harris, and an exciting time for both. The duo will receive help in their new venture as the latest new members of the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association. Jennifer Cooper, president of the TNBPA, said her organization will offer the entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with other local businesses. JKNY Hair Solutions is already on the TNBPA Web site.

“If they own their own business, they’re going to do what it takes to make it work. We definitely wish them all the success in the world,” Cooper said.

JKNY Hair Solutions is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. They’re closed Sunday and Monday. The salon’s phone number is 297-1465.