It’s time to meet Kandice Venable, owner and hairstylist of Haven Salon & Boutique in Ganado, located on the corner of Putnam Avenue. She opened on the first of February.
Venable, originally from Oklahoma, moved to South Texas in 2009, and moved to Ganado a year ago to help take care of her grandchild, which happens to be Edna Fire Department’s Austin Gloor’s baby. She also moved her second store location to Ganado from the Birdpost Marketplace in Calallen.
A chamber member, Venable said she tries to post on Facebook and occasionally on Instagram.
“I’ve worked in the hair business since 1997,” she said. “My boutique, I try to offer different things that others don’t. It’s so easy to go to market and everybody buys the same shirts, so I try to pick things, some basic pieces and other things I’d buy for myself. I can also get anything plus-size.”
Colorful pieces can be found in her boutique, but also different black and white pieces, which is what Venable seems to wear for herself on occasion.
“I needed more room for the clothes I was selling, and my husband convinced me to put a chair in for overflow from the other salon. Plus, I want to build new client relationships here,” she said.
It’s evident Venable has collected a loyal fan-base, which speaks to her eye for detail and staying in the know for not only new products, but the tried and true ones. Venable cuts for men, kids, women, and she also does coloring.
“I also carry hair supplies, and I can get any salon professional products anybody wants or needs,” she said. “I will be carrying Rowe Casa Organics, which supplies items for your face, hair, even vitamins.”
Haven Salon & Boutique is closed on Sundays and Tuesdays, on every other day, it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., although Venable said she’s no stranger to coming in early or staying late for her clients. One can also stop by on Wednesday to see her new employee, Kelsey Koester.
“It was hard for me to relocate, I’m really loyal to my people so it was really hard for me to leave,” she said. “It’s the hardest part for me when you’re a hairstylist, have to relocate, and lose customers that have become family.”
Here’s hoping Jackson County will welcome her in like the family everyone is.
