From stretching every dollar to opening two salons on Boston’s Newbury Street, Shellee Mendes created a story of resilience and community even when the path felt uncertain.
Key Points
- Shellee Mendes, owner of Salon Monet in Boston, turned a childhood passion for hairstyling into a thriving small business with two full-service salons on Newbury Street.
- Her journey from transitional housing and single motherhood to entrepreneurship shows how resilience, practical business skills and community support can help small business owners grow.
- Salon Monet’s growth was shaped by Shellee’s accounting background, salon experience and focus on strong relationships with employees, clients, mentors and community partners.
- As a longtime TD small business client, Shellee says her local TD banking relationships have helped support Salon Monet’s growth, cash flow needs and future plans.
- Today, Shellee gives back to Boston-area organizations that once supported her family and shares lessons from her journey with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Shellee Mendes still remembers those early days filled with uncertainty and difficult choices as she took her first steps towards owning a business. Like many small business owners, she had to stretch every dollar. For her, that meant worrying about rent, daycare for her two young children and making it through the week.
Today, clients climb the stairs to Shellee’s two full-service hair salon locations on Boston’s iconic Newbury Street, where she has built a thriving business, loyal team and reputation that has attracted celebrity clients including Oprah Winfrey and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
In 2000, Shellee was a single mother working in accounting and bookkeeping at a financial company. Despite having a corporate job with benefits, she struggled to cover rent and basic expenses and was living in transitional housing.
"I realized I had spent 10 years in a career that couldn't give my family the life I wanted," she said.
So, Shellee decided to pursue a childhood passion that began with styling her dolls’ hair. On a lunch break, she applied for a weekend and evening job at a Newbury Street salon, was hired that day and changed her life.
She immersed herself in salon life as a receptionist, assistant stylist and manager, gaining technical skills and a firsthand view of how successful businesses run. Her accounting background also proved invaluable.
“A lot of businesses fail because bookkeeping isn’t done correctly,” she said. “Working with numbers prepared me to run my own business.”
Building resilience through challenging times
After three years in top Boston salons, a client and mentor encouraged Shellee to open her own business. She had long envisioned a salon named Salon Monet, inspired by a Claude Monet exhibition at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.
Launching on Newbury Street seemed almost out of reach. But when the right location opened in 2003, Shellee took the leap, later adding a second salon down the block in 2019. Salon Monet has grown from a solo operation to 20 employees across two salons.
Her clientele now spans all walks of life, including celebrities and powerful executives.
But success did not spare Shellee hardship. After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Newbury Street foot traffic nearly vanished, and pandemic closures later threatened both salons.
“There were times I thought I might lose everything,” she said. “But I kept moving forward.”
Shellee adjusted promotions, took business classes, managed expenses and strengthened employee and client relationships. Those decisions helped her weather difficult times, build a stronger business and position Salon Monet for future growth
Building a business through relationships
One of Salon Monet’s greatest strengths is its people. While turnover is common in the industry, many employees have stayed for 20 years or more, a loyalty Shellee credits to respect and culture.
Through dinners, theater outings and milestone celebrations, Shellee invests in a culture where people want to stay.
Community ties matter too. Shellee serves on boards of organizations that once helped her family, including Quincy Community Action Program and the Boys and Girls Club.
"The community helped me," she said. "Now I am on the other side of it."
Shellee also shares her story with women facing similar challenges.
"I know what it's like when your back is against the wall and two kids are looking at you," she said. "I knew it could not be the end of my story, and I want to share that with others."
Supporting growth through trusted banking relationships
Building a successful business also requires trusted financial relationships that can help owners manage day-to-day needs while planning for future opportunities.
Shellee has been a TD business client for more than a decade, using accounts, financing and local guidance to support Salon Monet’s growth and cash flow needs.
Her TD team includes Alexandria DelRomero Hughes, Senior Small Business Banker; Sally Medeiros, Business Banker; and Felix De Bona, Copley Store Manager, TD Bank U.S.
"The people at TD feel like family," Shellee said. "I've known them for so long, and they've always been there when I needed them."
Alexandria has seen Shellee’s dedication across her business.
"Shellee combines passion with a strong business mindset," said Alexandria. "She has navigated challenges with resilience while staying true to the people and values that have guided her from the beginning."
Shellee plans to keep working with TD as Salon Monet grows, with future ideas that include a Martha’s Vineyard location and new natural hair and scalp care lines, along with continuing to grow her Hair Extension line.
“Twenty-five years ago, I brought hair extensions to Newbury Street before they were a trend,” she said. “While many now use bonded and adhesive methods, I’ve stayed with my signature thread technique.”
But her greatest legacy may be less the business she's built than the entrepreneurs she encourages.
"I had a dream, and I could have kept talking about it or chased it," she said.
By chasing that dream and building the skills to sustain it, Shellee changed her life and created opportunities for others through the business, relationships and community she continues to support.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What challenges did Shellee Mendes face before becoming a business owner?
Before opening Salon Monet, Shellee was a single mother living in transitional housing and struggling to cover everyday expenses while raising two young children.
How did Salon Monet grow ?
Shellee combined her salon experience, accounting background and strong relationships with employees, clients and mentors to grow Salon Monet from one employee to two full-service salons.
What helped Salon Monet survive difficult times?
Shellee stayed focused on practical steps, including managing expenses, adjusting promotions, continuing to build her business skills and maintaining strong relationships with employees, clients and community supporters.
How does Shellee Mendes work with TD?
Shellee has worked with TD for more than a decade through business accounts, financing and guidance from her local TD team as she manages Salon Monet’s growth, cash flow needs and future plans.
How does Salon Monet's owner help her community thrive?
Shellee serves on boards of directors for local nonprofits and shares her story to encourage others facing challenges.