Angela Wilk is the owner of Executive Hairstyling in the Stein Mart building on the Southbank.
HOW LONG IN BUSINESS?
Wilk’s mother began the operation in 1991 but turned the business over to her when she retired last month. The pair had worked together at the shop for two years. “The plan was for me to take the business over. After a year or two, she figured I was ready to take over her clients.”
WHY FOLLOW IN MOM’S FOOTSTEPS?
“I decided I needed to do something. She told me about the business and I liked the idea of being my own boss.”
WHAT CUSTOMERS
DO YOU SERVE?
“It’s mostly businessmen and some women, but mostly men. They like it because they get their necks shaved like with an old barber. You can’t get that much anymore. I get Prudential, Aetna, Suddath and Bank of America people. Some people ride the Skyway. A lot of businesses are moving out to Southpoint. They were working down here and they still come back. Men like it because they can get done in 15 minutes and go back to work. They don’t want to chit-chat.”
WHAT SERVICES DO
YOU PROVIDE?
“I do cuts, some color and highlights.”
WHERE DID YOU LEARN
TO CUT HAIR?
Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
WHAT OTHER WORK HAVE YOU DONE?
“I was a housewife for a little while but mainly I did bank work before this. I worked at the State Employees Credit Union. Here, I don’t have to wear dress suits and pantyhose. It’s not for me to be stuck behind a desk.”
WHAT’S REWARDING ABOUT THE PROFESSION?
“You meet a lot of different personalities. I like it; it keeps it interesting. I help people feel good. If you look good, you feel good.”
WHAT’S CHALLENGING
FOR YOU?
“Adjusting to all the different personalities you run into. You’ve got one extreme to the other, from blue collar workers to CEOs. You have to be able to talk with them on their level so they feel comfortable.”
WHY STAY AT YOUR CURRENT LOCATION?
“Being downtown helps with scheduling because it’s professional people I deal with. Downtown, you get business people and they’re all the same people. They get their hair done on a regular basis and stay neat. The people make it better. Plus, I don’t work on weekends and I’m closed on Wednesdays.” She does take late appointments on Tuesday and Thursday.
WILL DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AFFECT YOUR CLIENT BASE?
“Jacksonville in general is a business town. There’s so many business people, they [downtown residents] can’t overtake it into a residential neighborhood. If they know I’m here, live down here and it’s convenient, I think they would come. But I think it will be a long time before they get anything built. You’ve got to be a certain kind of person to live down here. Most people want to get away [from work]. It might give me a couple more customers but I don’t think it will affect my business.”
HORSE SENSE
A Jacksonville native, Wilk currently resides on the Northside with her two horses, Chance and Scooter. “They’re my kids. Right now I’m teaching my boyfriend’s daughter to ride.” She competes in barrel races at rodeos. Her dream is to bring home the grand prize from the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
DOWN-HOME FAVORITES
“Pure Country” with George Strait tops her list of best movies and Cracker Barrel is her preferred dining spot. When she’s home, Wilk enjoys reading inspirational self-help books or watching “Forensic Files” on CourtTV.
— by Monica Chamness