Veronica Reyes Spindola contributed to this blog. Para la versión en español de esta historia, por favor oprima aqui.
Success can come at any age, in any stage of life, and William Castellanos is living proof of that.
Though he’s at what most people would consider “retirement age,” William’s passion for helping others feel beautiful has led him to open and run a successful salon since 2018.
After graduating from cosmetology school and relocating to Nebraska from Florida, William was ready to become a business owner, and spent nine months exploring the market in Columbus, Nebraska, to learn about the salon scene in his new community.
Now the owner of Sabrina Salon, LLC, William was able to take on this new role with financial assistance from the Center for Rural Affairs. Through that funding, he made the changes necessary to open his business and start his dream job.
“Once I obtained the loans, the transformation of my salon began,” he said. “The space had never been a hairdressing salon, therefore I had to create the right conditions that the business needed. When it was finished, I started to work hard.”
Center for Rural Affairs Latino Loan Specialist Veronica Reyes Spindola has worked with William since the beginning of his journey toward becoming a business owner.
“I assisted with the loan process, and I still work with him frequently for different business related things,” said Veronica. “William is a persistent person, and I admire him for that. He has very strong convictions and a lot of experience in his industry.”
At first, William worked full time by himself at Sabrina Salon. Later on, his business expanded to include five other stylists. Currently, he has two other employees working with him.
The stylists offer services such as haircuts for the whole family, hair styling, various hair coloring techniques, waxing, and more. And, even though it hasn’t always been easy, William loves what he does, and works hard to keep his salon running as smoothly as possible.
“Despite the difficulties in the country, I have managed to keep the business open,” William said. “The pandemic led us to close for about a month, so I had an economic downturn because there was no money coming in, but we had to continue paying rent and other bills and services.”
Through all the ups and downs of owning a business, William has kept a positive attitude and an open line of communication with Center staff, knowing he can count on their assistance if it’s needed.
“I am very thankful to the Center and all the help the staff has given me for the business,” he said. “They helped me stay open by offering technical assistance services, and my experience with them has been very positive. I have recommended the Center to other people who want to open a business because I think it is a good option to help someone fulfill their dream.”
At a glance
Sabrina Salon
William Castellanos
2417 23rd St., Columbus, Nebraska 68601
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
402.606.3002
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