How expert business advice helped a hair salon build a foundation for growth
Growing up in Brandon, Manitoba, Sara Sansom was an entrepreneur at heart. As a child, she dreamed big, often imagining ideas she believed could change the world. Those ambitions stayed with her, eventually guiding her westward to Revelstoke in 2011.
After a couple years working at a local spa, Sansom decided to open her own salon, a place where she could bring her own ideas and vision to life. That dream became Birch & Lace Hair Company.
From the outset, Birch & Lace stood out. Sansom introduced business practices that reflected her values: hospitality, sustainability, and support for her staff and community. While the freedom to create her own path was exhilarating, she soon realized something was missing.
“I wasn’t initially focused on making a profit,” Sansom admits. “I just wanted to do what made me happy—and that’s exactly what I did. But after I had a baby, everything shifted.”
Motherhood gave Sara the motivation to start working on creating a sustainable income as a business owner. Sansom attended a leadership webinar through Columbia Basin Trust’s Basin Business Advisors program. She was also waiting for another session on business finances that would prove even more pivotal.
“I spent three or four years learning how to run a business on my own. The financial side—budgeting, forecasting, even basic accounting—was all new to me,” she explains.
Through those webinars, Sansom learned more about how the Basin Business Advisors program could help her grow. She applied and was quickly accepted. Her one-on-one consultations began soon after.
“The program has been amazing. The best part was the personal accountability it required,” said Sansom. “My business coaches focused on helping me understand tools outside my industry. We worked closely on my finances, and they taught me how to use technical sheets to stay organized and on top of the salon’s accounting.”
Birch & Lace now has 17 employees after recently hiring four new staff members. With new confidence in managing the financial side of her business, Sansom is preparing for her next big move: launching the Birch & Lace Academy in September 2025, a training hub for aspiring beauty professionals.
Sansom credits the Basin Business Advisors program with helping her strengthen her business foundation, particularly in financial planning and operations, key skills that have supported her growth and decision-making as an employer and entrepreneur.
Her story highlights what’s possible when purpose-driven leadership is backed by practical tools and regional support. With the Birch & Lace Academy on the horizon, Sansom is not only growing her business, but helping build the future of the beauty industry right here in the Basin.
The Basin Business Advisors program supports entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship and expert advice to strengthen economic capacity and growth in the region. Learn more at bbaprogram.ca.
