Bessie Ramsey shares her journey to becoming the salon owner
The Monroe Avenue Salon is located in Corvallis Oregon. First established in 2006, and originally owned by Becky Knutson. Providing services ranging from hair styling and cuts, coloring, hair extensions, waxing, nails, and facials. This salon was then purchased by Bessie Ramsey in 2010. To her, this is a place where dreams come true. Where dreams she never dared to dream for herself or even imagined, become reality.
Where were you born?
I was born in Juno, Alaska, I spent the first two months of my life in the hospital. I am the baby of six on my mothers side that I grew up with. Being the youngest, typically you develop an attitude of, I can do what they(siblings) can do. You gain that confidence.
Where did you grow up? And what high school did you go to? Did you go to college after high school?
I grew up in Albany, and I went to West Albany Highschool. I graduated from high school a year early. I took one college class but besides that I did not go to college.
What courses in life do you think have brought you to where you are right now?
Honestly? Just having the traumatic childhood I had. It made me feel the need to create security for myself.
What things do you think in your life have made you to be the person you are today? Can you describe to me why and how those things have affected you?
When I was about ten, my mom went through a deep depression and kind of checked out and started hoarding. So our house turned into an episode of “Hoarders Buried Alive”. My older siblings had at the time grown up and moved out. So I stepped into the position that I think my older siblings were in, which was cooking, cleaning, laundry, trying to keep the house together, at a really young age.
I was very driven to be able to move out as soon as I was 18. To have security and a safe place for myself. So I started a paper route when I was ten, and then I started working at a pizza place when I was 14. I started saving money, and I got a storage unit when I was 16 to
start getting the things I needed for an apartment. So that when I moved out, I wouldn't ever have to move back in. So again, that place of security that I didn't have, I was really planning and preparing to create that for myself. That really toned the skills for multitasking, planning for the future, being able to handle a lot, stress tolerance. Growing up in a big family, really developed that stress tolerance.
Then, I got pregnant when I was 17. Which wasn’t planned. I started working two full time jobs to provide as a single mom. And then I realized I wasn't giving her the security that I never had, because I was never around. She was always with her grandparents.
I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 22. I got really hypervigilant about creating security for my daughter. The security I didn't have. So I started stripping. Which really goes against my morals and who I am. But that at the time, it was what was available for me to kind of get ahead, without having to work multiple jobs. It was the only option I saw then, to be able to be a mom, to be in my child's life, and to have enough income to get ahead. So I did that for two and a half years.
I later found out I was misdiagnosed with Lupus. I went up to OHSU and saw a specialist. By now I had all this money saved up and bought a manufactured home when I was 23. This was my first home I ever bought.
I then decided to go to beauty school. I don't know that I would have done that if I had not been misdiagnosed. It was really from this place of fear and scarcity that pushed me to make these huge life changes. I started doing hair.
How did you become the owner of the salon?
Then about a year into being an independent contractor at the salon I worked at. I was offered an opportunity to co-own it. Which was not something I dreamed of or aspired to do. I was always a natural born leader, but I haven't liked that position. Probably because I was pushed into that at a very young age. I co-owned and then I bought the existing owner out, she left the industry a year into it. I have now been the owner for ten years.
When I started building Monroe Avenue Salon. It wasn’t anything I dreamed for myself or really wanted at first. Again through all this time, I was trying to create security and trying to create more time with my children. I found that hair extensions were a higher price service, so I became an educator for hair extensions.
^ Image above: The front of the Monroe Avenue Salon.
Are you married? How many children do you have now? Any pets?
Yes, I am married to Lonnie Ramsey. Now I have a family of 11 kids and a family dog.
What happened when COVID hit?
When COVID hit, I got a seven week paid vacation. Which is unheard of for my industry. I was in heaven during that time, I was at home with my kids. Then we had to go back to work, and my heart was hurting because I really just have this desire to be with my kids. It's more time that I want with my family.
What goals do you have?
It all culminated to this one moment where I realized I should just start my own hair
extension company. I have all the skills that it takes, and to do it well. And this idea actually came to me during quarantine. Currently the hair extension business is now in pre-launch stage. So ultimately, my goal would be to be able to make $400,000 a year, to build a successful hair extension business and most importantly, to spend more time with my family.
What advice would you give to someone else?
Be very honest with yourself with what your skill set is, look at the evidence of your life, and if you are successful in those areas.
At A Glance
Bessie Ramsey
Occupation: Owner and hair dresser at Monroe Avenue Salon,
Address: 1545 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis OR, 97330
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm
Age: 35
Spouse: Yes
Hometown: Albany Oregon
Family: Married, 11 children, and a family dog
Education: Highschool, and beauty school.
Years: 10 years as the owner