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Gast Builds, Grows De Pere Salon on Inspiration

Published January 22, 2019

Modern, vintage, glam, quality, bravery, creative, educated, leaders, passionate, innovative, trendy, unique, exclusive, fun, community involved, and big-city feel boutique.

These might just be words, but for Kimberlee Gast, owner of K Sera Salon in De Pere, they are the foundation of her business plan. In a simple binder filled with pages of black construction paper, she clipped and collected words of inspiration as she planned her business.

“I am a visual person,” Gast said. “I created an inspiration binder with the things that inspired me and that I felt a calling to, whether it was words or the type of atmosphere I wanted. It was my inspiration board.”

With this notebook, K Sera Salon became a reality as a uniquely designed business. From a mismatch of shampoo bowls to the floor space itself, Gast wanted the salon to be an experience.

“This is different than just coming in, getting your hair cut, and leaving,” Gast said.

“You are offered something to drink, a hot towel and massage, and we touch up your makeup. I want people to feel welcome, relaxed, inspired and in a place where they can be themselves.”

Her quest for excellence has continued since opening in 2012 and buying the building in 2016.

Gast has a commitment to downtown, and was one of five finalists in this year’s Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s annual Main Street Makeover Contest.

Although she didn’t win, she thinks that traditional downtowns are vital to the overall health of a community.

“Traditional implies typical, familiar, historic and recognizable. With those words in mind, I would describe a traditional district as one that has existed in a downtown of other area for decades.

“They serve as an anchor or mirror to the past as well as a template for future development.

“Business districts may change over time in terms of the specific businesses or cultural features that they contain, but they always retain a strong sense of history, culture and community identity,” Gast said.

Her love for the traditional made her purchase of the 1888 Steckart building a perfect fit. She has her business at street level and her home in the space above.

“I love being downtown close to the other shops and local businesses,” she added. “I did a lot of the renovations with my dad. Growing up, he owned a business and we lived there.”

With his business experience, Gast said her dad has been a mentor. In addition, she said that De Pere has a contingent of female entrepreneurs and they learn from and support each other. They promote the area by participating in Definitely De Pere events and cross promotions.

“We’ve done city events, put on classes, and held girls’ night out events,” Gast said. “It is great that there is a strong group of women owners down here who want to collaborate to make coming here a great experience.”

As the store owners learn together, Gast hones her plans for the future. As noted in her Main Street Makeover Contest application, she would like to grow the retail space and create a 15minute hairstyling bar and beauty boutique to provide a new service.

The quick hair and makeup service would be similar to a hair blowout bar that is found in larger urban areas and would give clients the opportunity to stop in before a night out or special event.

She also wants to add products like hair tools to her current high-end line and to make it more visible within the space.

“I like to come up with different ideas and think outside of the box,” she said. “I have an easygoing personality, but I am also a risk taker and passionate about what I do. When I do something, I put everything into it. I am constantly learning and growing and getting better.”

Learning is a foundational part of her business, and she emphasizes training with her staff of four stylists and one aesthetician. They watch Instagram for new trends for their trendier clientele.

Gast is in a place she had never expected when she graduated in business and worked in retail management.

Although she said she always loved the idea of doing hair, she wasn’t encouraged to follow that career path. When she could no longer deny her dream, she put the earlier experience to good use, went to beauty school, and eventually started her own business.

As for others considering a similar path, she would tell them to start a notebook, fill it with words of inspiration and go for it.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.

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Green Bay Press-Gazette

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