In Brittany Geedres senior year of high school, her mother told her she had better go to college. With that, she decided to head to St. Cloud to attend cosmetology school.
"When I considered cosmetology, I thought, 'Well this is quick and easy' so I did it and I love it," she said.
After wrapping up two years of school, Geerdes worked at salons and at other part time jobs while she got on her feet.
"I worked at a few hair places and some odds and ends jobs to pay bills," she said.
Following corporate standards and working for other people was something Geerdes didn't want to do with her life. This led her into the idea to open her own business.
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"I didn't like working under anyone," she said. "There was just so many people above me and half of what I made, they took. There were no benefits -- I didn't like it."
In August 2007, Britt's Salon was open and ready for business with Geerdes as the sole owner and operator.
Because she has been a lifelong resident of Blackduck, getting her business established wasn't an issue.
"I have all my Blackduck customers, I have people come from surrounding area -- Kelliher, Northome, Washkish and I even get people from Bemidji that still drive up to me," she said.
As the only stylist for her business, Geerdes said she enjoys working alone.
"I like being by myself," she said. "It is really nice. There isn't a lot of worries."
Starting a business so young wasn't a worry she had.
"At the time I started, the salon, I was in my early 20's and I thought 'if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out'," she said. "I would have been young enough to start over."
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Owning her own business has more perks that challenges. Geerdes explained that keeping up with everything can get to be hectic, but overall, having free reign and being her own boss is extremely rewarding.
She laughed that for not liking being told what to do, she still does every day.
"I guess every person who comes in here tells me what to do," she said.
Britt's Salon can be found on Main Street in Blackduck, right across from Trail's End restaurant.
