Starting anything new can be an overwhelming experience for most. Questions like, who, what, where, and why can become the loudest voices in our minds when faced with a new challenge or life changing decision. Then there are the others of us who move forward boldly, unafraid of what life may throw their way. To start and maintain one successful business is no small feat, but this local entrepreneur has managed to open and maintain two of them over the years.
Starting from humble beginnings, AJ Woodruff, an entrepreneur from Port Huron, has used her determination and passion to carve out a space in the entrepreneurial world. Born in Sandusky, Michigan, Woodruff, along with her two brothers and sister, started out her early years helping out on the family farm. After a split in her previous marriage, Woodruff found herself living in Marysville with her current husband and four children.
“I needed to work so I started working as a waitress. I also started going to school as an x-ray technician. I absolutely hated it, and the only reason I went for that was because my mother said I could get a job anywhere and that I would always have money, but she didn’t realize I would be paid by the hour and it wasn't enough money to really live,” says Woodruff.
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The Standard… No Gas is located at 1522 Military St. in Port Huron.
After making up her mind that she just wasn't cut out for that line of work, Woodruff then made a decision that would set her on a path that would change her life's goals.
“I decided I just had to quit, but I didn't have a plan. So I went to the academy (Hairacy, currently Paul Mitchell) only because the sign said you could have a certificate in 11 months, so I figured I’d give that a shot for a short time until I figured out what I really wanted to do,” says Woodruff.
Since she was a child, Woodruff has always wanted to be an artist. This passion for creativity shines bright at her
The Standard… No Gas salon in Port Huron. The decor is filled with eccentric pieces and art crafted by Woodruff herself. What stands out most when entering the salon is the brass monocle-wearing rabbit that seems to greet guests at the door.
“I always wanted to be an artist, but now I realize years later that God had a plan for me to be here. I love my job, I love people, and I like taking care of people,” she says. “I am an artist. I just do art on hair, and not on paper.”
Woodruff opened her first hair salon,
The Changing Room, in Marysville in 1993. Her first endeavor into the entrepreneurial world had quite an interesting beginning.
“I was at a restaurant one day and the owner came up and asked me if I wanted to own my own business. At the time I was driving 46 minutes away to work, so this offer seemed great at the time. I jumped at the chance, and it turns out the guy who sold me the building was a very bad person with ill intent,” Woodruff says. “So, after many issues dealing with him, I was offered help out of the situation by a good friend of mine at the time, Mr. O’Connor. He would go on to show me how to do this or that as a business owner, as well as teach me things about life, as he was filled with many great ideas.”
Woodruff believes that helping each other is key to success in life, and likes to credit her good friend Nora Condland with hers. What started out as a hairdresser-client relationship has blossomed into a true friendship.
“When I decided I wanted to do Standard… No Gas, I wasn't really sure of how I was going to do it,” she says. “So I asked Nora if she wanted to be a part of that. She ended up helping me purchase the gas station and then my husband and I put an additional $100K into it, and that's how it came into reality.”
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FUN FACT: AJ (center) likes going fast on her husband’s VMax 1700 motorcycle.This compassion and service to others is something that Woodruff provides to her three new employees at The Standard, as well.
“I really want them to learn from me, and to do very well. I want them to know they have to put money away, because 76 percent of cosmetologists are broke when they retire. I want them to take charge of their career and manage it wisely,” says Woodruff.
Some of the services provided at The Standard include barber-styling, such as beard trims, facial shaves, masks, massages, and more. On the salon side, they offer cuts, coloring, makeup, hair extensions, and other salon services.
One of the services that sets them apart from other traditional salons in the area is the blowout bar, which allows for individuals to come in and get a well-rounded style for the evening, suited towards wedding parties, girls nights out, and other special functions. It includes a hairstyle, a bit of makeup, and a touch-up of nail polish; being that they are not a nail technician shop, the service with nails is limited.
“I want Standard… No Gas to be a destination and not just coming to get your haircut. I want it to be loving here, to promote feeling happy and safe. And with the staff we have currently, I’m sure we won’t disappoint,” says Woodruff.
The Standard… No Gas is located at 1522 Military St. in Port Huron.