Welcome message from Latonya.My name is Latonya Saunderson, founder and co-owner of The Weave Shop (TWS). Welcome to our new website!
For our first time readers, let me tell you a little about myself and how The Weave Shop started. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and my family moved to Michigan when I was 4 years old. Growing up near Detroit, home of Motown, I naturally developed an interest in the music industry. Pursuing a career in the industry, I later moved to Atlanta where I discovered my true calling, working for a hair salon in the Atlanta area. Feeling so inspired, I decided to open my own salon. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs made starting a business easy for me: my brother Kevin Saunderson, a music legend, is one of the founding triumvirate of techno music; my mother Geraldine Withers is a financial services regional vice president; and my father, now deceased, was a restaurateur and an owner of multiple real estate properties.
With an undeniable passion for hair care and the beauty industry and by building upon a successful idea, the "express weave service," The Weave Shop (TWS) was born. Being a licensed cosmetologist since 1994, I wanted to provide clients with a reasonable and cost effective way to enjoy a great style - to look great for less! There is no reason to pay hundreds of dollars for extensions, at The Weave Shop the base price for our service is just $50.
After opening the doors in a small office space (400 sq ft), with myself styling and a braider, I outgrew the space within four months and moved to a larger location in the Atlanta area. With the opening of my first storefront in Decatur, GA, my brother Kevin and his wife Sharmeela embraced my vision and TWS's potential and became business partners. Kevin is President of the franchise entity. Sharmeela is the Creative Director of the company, while I still develop the hairstyle process. This dynamic combination and joining of minds helped to transform TWS into a family owned business. Understanding the need to pass on my entrepreneurial skills to my daughter, Ijaaz Saunderson, an inspiring model and hairstylist in her own right, I brought her into the business, serving the joint role of model and hairstylist: she is one of the faces of TWS and a top stylist.
Another face of TWS is my sister Michelle, making TWS truly a family owned and operated business. Currently, in addition to the seven locations in Georgia with one opening soon, there are four locations in New Jersey, five open in Michigan, one in Chicago, Illinois with one opening soon and one opening soon in Charlotte, North Carolina. I want The Weave Shop to be all over the country.
With celebrity endorsements from VH1's Basketball Wives reality star Jennifer Williams, Atlanta's own Risky (winner of Charm School) and Sarah Stokes (Making of the Band season 2), in addition to the Musical group OMG, The Weave Shop is the fastest growing hair extension salon in the United States. Ambitious, goal oriented, a vibrant personality and warm spirit, is what makes me, Latonya Saunderson the leader in my field today.
