Ally: 2010 LJ Girl Interview

Sean Giles, District Manager for Lady Jane’s, caught up with a very excited Allison Murphy to get a good look at the incredible girl who will represent Lady Jane’s in 2010:

Name: Allison Murphy
Position: Stylist
Location: Shelby Twp, MI
Age: 23

SG: Ally, first off, congratulations on being named the 2010 LJ Girl!

AM: Thank you! I’m so excited! I’m definitely honored to have been picked, but I know I’ll do a great job as well. LJ is a great company to work for and represent, so I’m just glad I get a chance to be that face of Lady Jane’s.

SG: What initially attracted you to Lady Jane’s?

AM: I have always preferred cutting men’s hair over women’s, and the guys are great to be around every day. But LJ also didn’t appear to be just another guy focused salon… there was definitely something different about the Lady Jane’s atmosphere. Once I got into the salon (Shelby Township, MI), I learned how great it was, and it just clicked.

SG: What’s your favorite thing about Lady Jane’s now?

AM: My coworkers, the company, and the clientele: they are all amazing to work with/for. LJ is so much fun, and provides me a great opportunity. Also, the corporate structure has a great vision and direction for the company, so it’s great to not only be a part of Lady Jane’s right now, but also to be the face of the company.

SG: What are your ambitions?

AM: I want to work for the company (LJ) for a long time. I see myself moving up within the next few years, hopefully to a teaching or training position similar to what I did before. I feel that’s where my strengths lie, and where I could best help Lady Jane’s.

SG: Now a little more about you as a person: Who do you look up to as a role model/hero?

AM: My mom and Jennifer Love Hewitt, she’s the best!

SG: Favorite music?

AM: Pop and Top 40...I like to move and have a good time (laughing)

SG: Favorite Nickname?

AM: ALLY CAT! Also, Kitten and Al.

SG: Favorite Sports team?

AM: The Detroit Tigers… I love to watch them. But I’ve always been a long distance runner. 4 years Varsity in high school, baby!

SG: What’s your philosophy on life?

AM: Life is challenging, but I always appreciate the challenge. It’s never so hard you can’t overcome it. I’m a glass half full girl. I like to bring that mentality into every day and situation. It helps make me and the others around me better.

SG: What are your biggest fears?

AM: Growing up to fast! … Um… and that’s it. I’m not really scared of much.

SG: What’s your favorite product for the LJ clients to use?

AM: The American Crew Defining Paste. I suggest it for a number of my clients because it can add a lot of texture and thicken a bit. It’s very versatile and can be used on a lot of hair for a lot of styles.

SG: Why do you think you’ll be great as the LJ Girl?

AM: I think I have everything that the LJ girl should be: the right mentality, background, personality, and love of the company. Also, I know all of my coworkers, family, and the corporate staff support me, which is huge. I want to represent the company the right way for the right reasons. I’m just glad Lady Jane’s chose me.

SG: And finally, what’s your :10 second Lady Jane’s pitch?

AM: You will never go anywhere else. It’s the best haircut experience a guy can ever have. And, besides, you get to hang out with me!

SG: Thanks Ally! And good luck, you’re going to be Wicked Awesome as the 2010 LJ Girl.

Every team needs a “Franchise Player”, a go-to leader who goes above and beyond for the team, a star among stars, and a player identity for the entire team. Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men is no exception. For Lady Jane’s, that person is the LJ GIRL. This year and leading into 2010, LJ has selected their first ever L J GIRL, Allison Murphy, from the Shelby Township, MI salon. A Superstar both on the salon floor and off, Ally is the “perfect choice for our inaugural LJ Girl”, says owner Chad Johnson. Ally has the shy smile and the warm, fun personality that ensures she will do a phenomenal job as the LJ Girl...

LJ Girl

But what exactly is the LJ girl? What does she do? “The LJ Girl is, foremost, an ambassador for Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men and a face for the company at the salon level”, stated Tim McCollum, President/COO of LJ. “The LJ Girl needs to embody the best of Lady Jane’s: great haircuts, educating clients on their hair and what cut, style and product will make them look the best, a Wicked Awesome personality, and a dedication and fervor to helping Lady Jane’s be as big and as great as it possibly can be. Ally does all of these things and is an all-around superstar, beyond just being a great person. It was a difficult decision, but I feel we selected the best person possible for the inaugural LJ Girl”.

Johnson also gave great praise to Allison, stating, “not only does Ally go above and beyond what we ask of her, both in terms of great haircuts and educating clients with product, but she also brings a phenomenal attitude and motivation to her work and her salon EVERY DAY. Not everyone can be 100% every day, year round, but Ally is 120%, and it reflects in her performance. That is why Ally is our LJ Girl, she embodies everything good about the LJ brand.”

As for the task of the LJ Girl, Ally will become the female counterpart in a number of upcoming radio and TV commercials for Lady Jane’s in 2010. Alongside Chad Johnson, she will have her work cut out for her promoting the Lady Jane’s brand, but with a shy smile, she confidently suggested that she’s “up to the task”. Beyond appearing in Lady Jane’s commercials, Ally will also be tasked with being the face of LJ at a number of events, such as Detroit Tiger’s games, Detroit Lion’s games, as well as any other professional sporting events, print ads, new store openings, and other exciting Lady Jane’s ventures.

Ally: Past and Present

Allison Murphy’s career at Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men began in March, 2006 when she applied for a stylist position at the Shelby Township, MI location. From then on, Ally quickly became a great asset to the company, winning over the guys, being a good influence on the other stylists, and doing the little things to make her and the Shelby Township location great. Chad Johnson and Corporate Office Manager, Jennifer Golas, noticed her talents and skill immediately.

“Ally was always great, she took to it(being a Lady Jane’s Stylist) quickly, and her natural demeanor, kindness, and down-to-earth personality made her great with the guys, as well as her coworkers. The great job she was doing made her a role model within the store, and we wanted our new stylists to mirror Ally as closely as possible. That’s why for an extended period from early 2007 through the end of 2008, we had many of our new hires train with Ally right in the Shelby Township salon”, explained Golas.

Ally displayed a natural ability in training the new stylists and passing along her knowledge, tricks, and approach to LJ. With her teaching skills, she trained and mentored countless new stylists in the aforementioned time span, allowing them to blossom into great stylists, and displaying another valuable skill she possessed for Lady Jane’s.

With Ally turning into a full blown superstar for LJ, Chad saw her potential to represent Lady Jane’s beyond just her store. In 2007, Johnson selected her to appear in their :30 second TV commercial featuring a barber cutting off a gentleman’s ear (see the Video Tab). Ally wasn’t done there, and expressed interest in further representing Lady Jane’s on a larger scale. With this in mind, Ally was given the lead role in the 2009 Detroit Tiger’s Jumbotron ad, the perfect showcase for her ability to promote the Lady Jane’s brand and act as a “face” for LJ at the store level. Ally’s kindness, professionalism, and natural talent, shown through in the jumbotron ad, and she was quickly noticed, both at games, and in the salon.

“Clients noticed, and it was a little embarrassing at first, but also flattering. I could tell that the message at the games was going over well with the guys, and I was glad I represented the company well, especially in that big of a venue”, explained Ally.

Chad also used her in 2009 to promote Lady Jane’s sister company, LUV pedicures as well, given her natural talents, but knew a larger role could exist for Ally as well. With her background within LJ, her intoxicating personality, and an unwavering dedication to making herself and Lady Jane’s better, Ally was the perfect choice to represent Lady Jane’s as the 2010 LJ Girl.

Beyond LJ Girl

What’s in store for Ally during her tenure as LJ Girl and beyond? It remains to be seen. Two things are for sure: Ally will continue to be one of LJ’s top stylists and an incredible ambassador for Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men, and she will enjoy every second she spends representing as the LJ Girl.

Check back periodically for updates on Ally and what she’s doing as the LJ Girl. Also check out her interview to the left.