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Thursday, August 27, 2020

Focus on Craft and Business | Tyler Price, Austin Kade Academy

Tyler Price
What sets Austin Kade Academy apart from other beauty schools is its focus on education around beauty techniques in addition to learning how to run a business. Since most technicians are sole proprietors, learning business principles can be the key to their success. Tyler Price, and his wife, Allison, realized this when they started the school in 2008 and have been following that vision ever since.

Tyler has recently partnered with previous graduates who were looking to do more and opened Lyle Amado, a barbershop, and soon, Lash and Body Lounge, both located in Ammon. “These are graduates who want more, they are doing a lot of the heavy lifting. I bring the marketing and business development,” Tyler said. Working within any of Tyler's spaces comes with strings that he likes to refer to as discipline. Part of the rental of the space includes a monthly coaching session with Tyler where he helps them develop their business. “There's some love in that. They appreciate the fact that I hold them to the fire a little bit,” he said.

Tyler demonstrates a great passion for the beauty industry, and during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown earlier this year he took a vocal stance to get this industry back to work. “The kids were dying. This is how they make their living,” Tyler said. Most individuals in the industry didn't qualify for government programs offered to offset the losses. Understanding that the beauty industry was second only to healthcare facilities in sanitation procedures he was confident that business could continue with minimal risk. He opened his doors when others kept theirs shut despite the staged criteria provided by the state.



His boldness in this area was not appreciated by everyone in the industry and with other small businesses. “The saddest part for me was, first off, our governor acting like he could take our license. He scared everybody. I was vocal and told him to come and take my license. He couldn't and he knew he couldn't.” Tyler was reported to the state and local authorities but there was nothing enforceable that they chose to do. Tyler stands behind all of the protective measures they took and is proud that he was able to get his team back to work even during a time of fear and unknown future. “We will never close our doors ever again,” Tyler said.

With his experience, he is now working with the Small Business Development Center in Idaho Falls and is helping businesses to deal with COVID related issues or general business growth and development challenges. “There are resources we can direct businesses to,” Tyler said.

Tyler has an interest in local business owners and individuals who are doing interesting things and so he decided to combine his love of VW bugs with getting to know local people and started doing interviews while in the bug. Tyler drives around town and asks questions of his guests. There's also a '57 bug in Lyle Amado for everyone to enjoy.

Family has always been important in Tyler's life and he found great inspiration from his own father who acquired and sold businesses while being an accountant. “He was, in my opinion, a brilliant business mind and he was pretty gutsy. We learned a lot from him,” he said. Tyler's partner in business is his wife, Allison. “It's been hard but great at the same time. In the grand scheme of things she's the talent and I'm just the guy that talks really loud and obnoxiously at times,” Tyler explained.

For those considering self-employment, he says, “Start now.” Like many guests before him, Tyler advises to go for your dreams and utilize the resources around you to do it the best way possible. “Don't wait. So many say ‘I'll to this when'. Time is always ticking,” he said. He sees people who wait and they are no further ahead.

Tyler recently started growing micro-greens and creating grow tables. He said he recognizes a business opportunity with them, but not for him.

Information

If you are interested in learning more about Austin Kade Academy you can find them at https://austinkade.com/.

Learn more about Lyle Amado at https://lyleamado.com/.

To watch his interviews in a bug follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tyler.price.526.