Over the past few months, we have worked with 12 business owners from the West Philadelphia community to create websites for their businesses and give them the tools they need to succeed in the digital world. Now, with the launching of those websites, we want to highlight what these entrepreneurs do and how having a website has positively impacted their business. This week we are interviewing Monique Anderson, owner of Nadirah's Salon located at 3606 Lancaster Ave. You can check her site out at https://nadirahsalon.com/

Monique Anderson- Owner of Nadirah's Salon (3606 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104):

When and what made you start your business?

When I graduated from cosmetology school, I landed a job at a chain salon that no longer exists, it was called Soul Scissors. The manager at the time worked directly with the owner of the chain, and they were involved with a lot of international hair exhibits and shows-- I was used as a model. So, I got to see this whole different side of the world through something that I enjoyed doing and from there I never looked back. I then had the opportunity to become a stylist featured in magazines and traveled throughout Europe and the United States.

Why do you think it is important for your business to have a strong digital presence and how has your new website helped your business? 

I’ve been in the industry for a long time now and I’ve been successful by word of mouth for the past thirty six years. But that is not enough now, so I need your knowledge and expertise to help give myself a presence in the digital world. I know that I need to get updated with social media and things like that so I need to get my business in a part of that as well.

Name one place other than your business that you would recommend Drexel students go to within the West Philadelphia community.

So there’s two places I would recommend for students, the Herb Nook, he’s on Spruce Street, I believe between 37th and 38th streets. The owner’s name is Ron Norwood, he is amazing, it’s a holistic store where you could buy all kinds of healthy stuff. The other one is Doctor Cycles, it’s on the corner of 36th and Lancaster.