Meet Sarah Gillis | Licensed Cosmetologist & Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Gillis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what’s your definition for success?
Success is not parallel. In a face paced world, with social media continually growing forefront, we as a society consciously & subconsciously compare our four walls & successes to what we are consuming. With that, I think it is easy to lose sight of what our own personal desires are & what truly matters to us. Not all success is extravagant; it’s not always big or groundbreaking. For me, as I have aged, my definition of success has changed & truthfully, simplified. To be successful is to feel “free.” To go to a job that you genuinely love every day, surrounded by co-workers that have become best friends, & to have a peaceful home that is secluded from the growing outside noise of the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Having graduated from Douglas J. Aveda Institute of Grand Rapids, MI, I am a Licensed Cosmetologist of 12 years. Three years ago this July, I opened the doors to what I call my safe space & haven, Paisley Sage Studio Salon & Spa. We are a day spa located in the heart of quaint, neighborly & upcoming Clare, MI.

Initial building renovations started in May 0f 2022. I was driving home from my current workplace one day & noticed a sign setting in a vacant window & decided to simply “make the call.” Little did I know, I would be familiar with the gentleman whose number was on the sign, “Grandpa Larry,” who I now give credit to for much of my success story. Larry Kleinhardt is a well-reputable staple piece in our community who has fought over time to protect the beauty & upward momentum for our town. Not being blood relation, Grandpa Larry is just that – supportive, encouraging & proud as a grandpa would be. I am forever thankful for his belief in me & my ideas, & together our devotion to making our community a better place; making it somewhere people desire to be, whether in passing or raising a family. Fortunately, I have experienced both.

In 2022, I found myself in a position & crossroads of “what do I truly want?” At the time, I was working at another salon part-time & was highly considering settling into an office job that would allow for stability & benefits as my husband & I were raising our one-year-old set of twins as well as our oldest son. All of which are 1.5 years apart. Ironically, about two weeks before I made the phone call to see what potential this vacant building could offer, I interviewed for a local office position. I knew my passion lied in this industry; however, it is not the easy route, which is why so many abandon it. It takes many years of sacrifice & “trusting the process.” It takes a great amount of give & little take when first starting out. It took me 5 years of working a full-time office job as well as doing hair nights & weekends to feel like I could see the potential in this career. Many days of doubt & question as to if it was the smartest path to lead. I am thankful for the sign in that window & truly believe in the fate of timing. It was that day that I decided, scared or not, it was time to go for it.

My husband on board, but logically reserved, supported my risk taking & has been a constant support. While I can, at times, lead with emotion, he is always there with logical reasoning when I most need it. Together, with the help of my family, we created a beautiful space beyond my imagination. We spent many evenings & weekends at the salon with our kids, letting them hands-on paint, becoming familiar with messes & hard work. During this time, dinner often consisted of picnics amongst the chaos of renovations. When it comes to my family, I am the only girl of four brothers & with that, I didn’t lack with the help of laboring when renovating my space; they were there to help lay flooring, paint the walls, paint murals & update electrical. This space is a true definition of family coming together to make a dream a reality.

A year into owning Paisley Sage Studio, I was allowed the opportunity to expand my business into the space directly next door & being an opportunist, I said “why not?!” Renovations for the new area began in May of 2023. At the same time, just two weeks prior, my husband & I began demolition & a complete renovation to our new home that we consider our forever home. I like to joke & say that my husband & I are overachievers & typically to do things in twos – whether it be having kids or renovations. We only know busy! We make a good team & I think that is evident & forefront to surviving the everyday chaos of raising children while working full-time.

During the entire process of branching out on my own, I continued to have the mindset that “as long as I have one other person with me, I’ll be okay.” I just had to start there with baby-steps & again, trust the process. When first opening my doors in July of 2022, I had Megan, a Licensed Nail Technician, who I had previously worked alongside with at another salon. Thankfully, she put her trust in me & supported my ideas. She was my first on board & is still with me today. Fast forward nearly three years, & now there are six incredible girls alongside me, trusting the brand & name on the front door.

Thankfully, leading up to this point in my career, I had worked at 7 different salons before settling into my now forever home in Paisley Sage. Because of the journey I lead getting to this point, I have been given the opportunity to make many connections & friendships while learning what I desired & qualities I wanted to stray away from when it came to my own salon atmosphere. All six girls that are part of Paisley Sage Studio Salon & Spa I had once worked with previously & was able to “hand pick,” or came highly recommended to me through mutual friends. It is a privilege, truly.

Today, I have three nail technicians, an esthetician, massage therapist, makeup artist & two of us that do all things hair. Together we are able to offer a day of multiple services in a single destination. Something that truly sets us apart & we hope to always be seen as just that – a destination.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Centrally located Clare, MI is a small town filled with rich history including the iconic Purple Gang. While there are deep historical roots, specifically surrounding the famous Doherty Hotel & Conference Center, Clare is just as much headed in a forward direction, having everything you are looking for in a classic day trip or weekend getaway.

As you enter through the south end of town, you will be immediately greeted with history. To greet you on your way through town you will find The Johnston Elevator, which has been supporting & providing our agriculturally rich community since 1953. Here during the summer, multiple vendors come together providing an extraordinary Artesian Market bringing so much life, beauty & color to the community.

Also, on the south end of town, you can find the Trap Door Speakeasy. Walking through the door is a true step back in time where you can find your server fitting the part in a flapper uniform, while listening to live music & enjoying an exceptional cocktail.

Walk upstairs, & in the same building, you can find yourself in an adorable coffee shop local to Clare, called 505 Cafe. It is a true gem to the community being family friendly, & the perfect spot to share a cup of hot coffee while catching up with a friend.

Cut across the street & you’ll find yourself at Four Leaf Brewery, known for their master craft brews that are made in-house & a famous “trivia night” often accompanied by local, live musicians.

Continue on & be sure to not blink & miss the long-standing Whitehouse Restaurant that truly slows you down & takes you back in time. If your belly could say thank you, it would be after leaving your visit here. You can’t help but smile walking away from their small eatery that seats very few & allows you to watch your food be cooked right there in front of you. A true hidden gem that offers the best breakfast & burgers in town!

Everywhere you look, you will be sure to find a small-business owner who had a dream & went for it. Clare provides multiple storefronts. From Western apparel to gift giving, flower shops, home decor & repurposed furniture. Endless clothing opportunities to give you an extra pep in your step!

Before you leave town, it’s an absolute must to visit the famous Cops & Donuts bakery to fill your dessert belly. Boxes of donuts flee their doors daily & they have a bountiful display window with fresh donuts made daily. Thankfully for me, where my storefront is located, just around the corner, I get free smells all day!

Make sure to pack your camera because located behind Cops & Donuts is the Art Alley that has bright painted murals that make for the perfect picture spot.

Clare has something for everyone!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have always been very honest in saying that no dream has ever seemed too big & no jump has ever been out of reach because of those that surround me. I grew up feeling an unwavering support from family, both immediate, distant & the friends that have grown to be family. Specifically, my dad is just as much of the backbone to my success as I can take credit for. He has exemplified hard work, devotion, & always providing for his family. He has shown the importance of doing what you love & despite the hardships that some days may present, having a hobby & profession all wrapped into one is a true gift. “Leaving things better left than how you found them” is something my dad has & continues to live by. I think that is something we could all stand to hear. Whether it be places, things or the people in our lives – may they genuinely feel better having been together, even if for just a short while.

Instagram: paisleysagellc

Image Credits
Cassidy Danae Photography