When the doors of a new business open, customers see the finished product. What they don’t always see are the long hours, sacrifices and work that came before the first customer ever walked through the door. Behind the fresh paint, new equipment and glowing “OPEN” sign is often a story that began long before opening day, a story of planning, persistence and more than a few late nights.
For Bristow natives Destini and Tyler Schiller, opening the doors to Bronze 66 on Aug.1, was about much more than starting a new business. It was a chance to build something of their own in the community they grew up in and to bring their children along for the journey. The road to opening day required plenty of long hours and hard work. However, for this dedicated family, it was also an experience filled with excitement, pride and the satisfaction of watching something that they worked for come to life.
Together, they transformed an existing downtown building into a licensed 24/7 self-service tanning salon; with even their children pitching into paint, clean and help prepare their new space for opening day! For the family, the renovation became an opportunity not only to build something new of their own in the town where they grew up, but also to let their children experience firsthand the hard work that goes into turning an idea into reality.
When they began thinking about opening a new business, family was always at the center of their idea.
Destini and Tyler had a simple goal: to build a business that could provide for their family without taking them away from the moments that mattered the most.Their new tanning salon offered a way to do that while also bringing something convenient to the community they call home. Customers can tan on their own schedules while the family has the flexibility to continue making their children and time a priority.
Since opening, Destini said one of the most rewarding parts has been seeing the positive response from the people in the community. As they settle into life as new business owners, she and Tyler are continuing to learn along the way, looking for ways to make things run as smoothly as possible while giving customers the best experience they can.
That commitment has also meant continuing their own education. Both have taken additional training and obtained addition licenses to make sure they are knowledgeable about the tanning industry and able to provide customers with a safe, informed and positive experience. For Destini, much of the focus comes back to the people who walk through their doors, making the process easy and efficient while also continuing to find ways to better serve their customers.
The finished salon may be what the community sees today, but what it took to get there means just as much. They didn’t just open the doors to a new business, they showed others what can come from working hard for something you believe in.
In the end, they hope their children take away a lesson bigger than the business itself. You don’t wait for the life you want; you work for it. Sometimes it is built one long day, one coat of paint and one small step at a time.
Now open in downtown Bristow, Bronze 66 is one of the latest additions to the community’s locally owned businesses. After months of renovation, planning and preparation, the Schiller family is ready to see where their new venture takes them. They hope the salon will become a convenient option for the community they have always called home.