Studio 712: Where Small-Town Style Meets Family-Friendly Service

Four Stylists Create a New Home for Hair and Beauty in Downtown Harlan

When Trish Kiesel and her colleagues decided to open Studio 712 in January 2024, they weren't just starting a new salon—they were creating a space where their vision for community impact and client care could truly flourish. Located in the heart of downtown Harlan at 506 Market Street (in what locals might remember as the former gun shop), this full-service salon has quickly become a vibrant part of the local business community.

A Vision for Independence and Community Impact

For Trish, the journey to owning her own salon began after graduating from Harlan Community High School in 2007. "My best friend's mom did hair, so we kind of ran around town and were in and out of her salon. That kind of got me inspired," Trish explains. After completing her education at Capitol Cosmetology School in Omaha, she returned to Harlan, working first at Schear Magic and later spending 12 years at Secret Serenity.

Alongside fellow stylists Stannis Hoffmann, Brooke Nelson, and Ali Croghan, Trish ultimately felt pulled to create something that would allow them greater freedom to support causes close to their hearts. "We can give to where we want to give," says Trish, highlighting how important it was for the team to have the independence to contribute to the community in ways that aligned with their personal values.

The transition from employee to owner happened remarkably quickly. "About two to three weeks," Trish notes when asked how long it took them to get established after deciding to strike out on their own. A connection with a local building owner led them to their current location on Market Street, and they've been making it their home ever since.

A Team United by Experience and Friendship

Each stylist brings their own unique background and expertise to Studio 712. Stannis Hoffmann, originally from Colorado with 27 years of experience, met her husband at the Denver stock show before relocating to Iowa 15 years ago. Despite the move, her dedication to her clients was so strong that she continued traveling back to Colorado monthly to serve her established clientele there.

Brooke Nelson, who also spent time building her career in Colorado under "some amazing stylists," returned to her Harlan roots and found herself drawn to the supportive environment the Studio 712 team offered. "If you're going to show up to work every day, you might as well show up to people that just love and care for you too and want you to grow," she explains.

Ali Croghan, who grew up in the Harlan area and graduated from Harlan Community High School, has been styling hair since 2013. After working at several local salons including Head to Toe and the Body Shop, she joined forces with Trish and Stannis when they opened Studio 712. "When we were all talking about what life needed to be for the next step, I decided that being on my own was kind of where I needed to be," Ali says.

A Full-Service Approach with Family at the Center

Studio 712 truly lives up to its description as a full-service salon. The team offers haircuts for men, women, and children, along with a comprehensive range of beauty services including perms, hair coloring, highlights, extensions, facials, pedicures, manicures, two-week polish, dip manicures, and waxing. They also carry professional product lines including Surface, Kenra, Paul Mitchell, Joico, and Redken.

What sets Studio 712 apart is their collaborative, flexible approach to client service. "We collaborate together if one of us can't figure something out or if one of us can't do it, one of us can," explains Trish. "We're very much a team. We work on color formulas together, we work on services together, whatever it takes to get people in when they need to be in."

Their family-friendly environment is especially notable. "We do three haircuts at one time for kids to help parents get them in. We turn the TV on to whatever the kids want to watch while the mom's trying to get their hair done," Trish shares with a laugh. "We will bend over backwards, shove them with sugar, whatever we need to do to get them to cooperate with mom."

Building Relationships That Last

What becomes clear when speaking with the Studio 712 team is how deeply they value the relationships they build with their clients. "You become very close with most of your clients," Stannis notes. "It's definitely the personal aspect of things," adds Ali. "I would have to say just the relationships that you create throughout the process of doing someone's hair for years. I mean, you see most of them 12 times a year. You see them once a month. So just growing with that person and that person also growing with you."

This mutual loyalty is something they all appreciate about working in a small town. While city salons might see clients quickly move on if they can't get an appointment on a specific day, "here, people will wait for you for a day or two or a week or whatever to get in to you," Trish explains.

The stylists also value how their clients understand their humanity. When winter storms approach, clients often encourage them to stay safe rather than risk driving in dangerous conditions—a consideration the team deeply appreciates as they commute from surrounding communities like Dunlap, Westphalia, and Avoca.

For Brooke, one of the most rewarding aspects of their work is being there for clients during difficult times: "Everyone always goes through something. It's just nice to know people can trust us, come in, feel comfortable, and let us care for them when they don't know how to do that by themselves."

Looking Forward

Since opening in January, Studio 712 has continued to grow, adding a fourth stylist about six months ago. The team takes pride in offering a wide variety of services and creating an environment where both clients and stylists can thrive.

"We couldn't do our job without our community supporting us every day, putting food on our table, putting clients in our chair," Trish emphasizes. That appreciation for community support is something they're eager to reciprocate through their business.

Visit Studio 712 at 506 Market Street in downtown Harlan (across from Shelby County State Bank). To book an appointment or learn more, call 712-235-4247. Find them on Facebook at Studio 712 or email hstudio712@hotmail.com. Walk-ins are welcome when stylists are available—and if they can't take you immediately, they'll work with you to coordinate a time that works.