GoKawiilHGTV's Kim Myles bought Bethlehem salon Gadzooks, kept it unchanged for six months
Kim Myles, former HGTV Design Star winner, and her husband Scott bought the 35-year-old Gadzooks salon in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a year ago. Her first decision was to avoid operational changes for six months while only updating the interior, listening to staff and retaining existing customers before gradually introducing new offerings. The salon now provides benefits uncommon in the industry, including 401(k)s, maternity leave and mental health leave, and the owners plan to convert it to an employee-owned company.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The approach illustrates a strategy some entrepreneurs use when acquiring established local businesses: preserving trust and continuity before introducing change, which can reduce the risk of alienating loyal customers. Myles' decision not to work as a stylist herself reflects a broader business principle cited by Entrepreneur editor Jason Feifer, that a business reliant on its owner's daily labor is effectively a job rather than a scalable enterprise. The planned shift to employee ownership suggests an effort to ensure the business's longevity beyond its current owners, though the outcome of that plan remains to be seen.
- Kim Myles and husband Scott bought Gadzooks salon in Bethlehem, PA, a year ago.
- She avoided changes for six months, focusing on listening and only refreshing the interior.
- The salon offers 401(k)s and leave benefits, with plans to become employee-owned.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Jason Feifer, 2026-10-27
Published there as: “HGTV Star Kim Myles Bought a 35-Year-Old Salon. Here’s Why Her First Business Move Was to ‘Change Nothing’ — And How It Paid Off.”
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