Matt Tronson, Business owner

Like what you've read? Share the love!

Resident of West Footscray

Local business owner of STUDIO WARHOL

My name is Matt Tronson. My last name is of French descent and I was born in Bacchus Marsh. I’ve always lived in the Western suburbs and grew up in Werribee. Recently, my family has begun looking into Ancestry.com to find out more about our family history as we have no records. Our family only goes back three generations in Australia.

I’ve only lived in West Footscray for a year. Prior to that, I was in Yarraville for eight years. I started working as an apprentice at the age of 15 in the premises where Cobb Lane café currently occupies. The hairdresser salon was previously called Fresh Haircutters. My Mum Lisa opened the hairdresser back in January 2003. In 2010, Mum decided to expand the business, bought out the name and renamed it Salon Fresh. She relocated to the current location in Wembley Avenue, Yarraville.

Mum bought the entire shop in Wembley Avenue under her name, my sister Jaimi, myself and Mum’s good friend Daisy. We were all in it and have worked together for many years. Jaimi has since expanded to Port Melbourne and her salon is called Jaimi && Co Hair Extensions.

I decided to open my own salon several years ago as Salon Fresh had expanded so much. It was packed to the rafters. We needed another venue and opened Studio Warhol in February. I have always wanted to get back to Anderson Street. I love Salon Fresh, as it is state-of-the-art, but the community feel in Anderson Street is what I really wanted.

I spent two years looking and waiting for an opportunity to come up. Some opportunities came up along Ballarat Street but I passed on it. Once, I even looked as far as the shops around D-Lux Car Wash along Williamstown Road but there was no parking there. When this shop was advertised for rent, I jumped at it. I did not know how well business was going to be.

Studio Warhol came about as I thought it would be funny to name a salon after Andy Warhol. He was obsessed with vanity and image, and with this profession being entirely based on vanity and image, it was appropriate. I think it’s a cool name. I’ve always loved his style and the era he lived in. He could make anything look interesting.

A lot of hairdressers aspire to do rich and famous people’s hair. I feel if I can do and give just everyday normal people what they want, that is a big satisfaction for me. You don’t need to be amazing and don’t need everyone to talk about you. My job is done if someone is satisfied with the work I have delivered.

I don’t have a particular demographic of clients. It’s more a frame of mind. Personality is a big part of my job; if I feel comfortable with the person I will do great work. If the person is nervous, that would make me nervous too. I have women who are in their 80s, and kids as young as 13. As long as they are comfortable with me, I can do anyone’s hair.

I have been collecting socks for many years. It’s a fun sort of thing for me. Socks can be purchased anywhere and at any price.

I was kicked out of school when I was 15. I was in a Catholic school and it didn’t sit with my beliefs. I was more interested in chatting with friends than school work. Mum was like “You are not staying at home! You are coming in and washing some hair.” I was made for work, not education. I remember going to Biba Academy of Hairdressing in Fitzroy. Fitzroy was a very big eye-opener for me. I received my education in a different way; it’s like a ‘life lesson.’

It’s hard balancing my personal and professional life. Sacrificing your personal life for your own business and putting your heart and soul into it means to go for a drink. Most 24-year-olds want to go for a drink, which I still do in moderation!

I have Sundays and Mondays off. I like Mondays as it’s so quiet everywhere as everyone is back at work, while Sunday is just a fun night to go out.

I would like to grow Studio Warhol and even look at setting up a male barber. There is still a market for the young, cool sort of barber which are opening up everywhere. I just need to get on it. I cannot do what I want to do because someone is doing it. I am doing it because I want to do it better than they are.

Like what you've read? Share the love!