Beauty is one snip away at South Park Shops’ Shear Talent
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kim Hoffman styles Sandi Denti’s hair. Denti has been going to Shear Talent, which is own by Hoffman’s husband, Robert, for 30 years.
While the store’s location in the South Park Shops is “absolutely” one of the reasons she has been getting her hair done at Shear Talent, Denti added that Kim is a wonderful hairdresser and the owners have integrity. “They care about people.”
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kathy Streiner, Robert and Kim Hoffman are the key components that have made Shear Talent a successful business located at the South Park Shops in Bethel Park.
For good reason, Robert Hoffman has operated Shear Talent in the South Park Shops for more than 50 years.
“Location,” said the 73-year-old owner. “It’s a great location.”
Previously, he worked in a salon at South Hills Village and bought the franchise with his cousin, Joel. After three years of mentoring-“he held my hand and got me on my feet”-Joel allowed Bob to buy him out and the then 22-year-old Sto Township native set up shop around the side occupied now by Brentwood Bank. He and “John the Barber” owned the corner on hair cutting.
When Shear Talent “outgrew” the spot, it moved to the new section of shops. The Hallmark Store has since vacated but Rite Aid remains.
“We moved out front and got more exposure,” Bob said. “We did a lot better.”
He laughs and says that success has kept Shear Talent ensconced in the shopping center.
“Because I make good money,” he said is why he stays. “We are very successful.”
With sincerity he added, “We are in the heart of Bethel Park. It’s a good shopping center. Convenient and great exposure.”
Convenience and customer service are the reasons why Sandi Denti of Bethel Park has been traveling to the South Park Shops to get her hair styled at Shear Talent for 30-plus years.
“Absolutely,” she said, it’s very convenient. It’s my one-stop shopping place. I get a lot done here.”
Denti added that Bob’s wife, Kim, is a “wonderful hairdresser” and as owners they have “integrity” and “really care about people.”
Bob cares about his 38 employees, too. It speaks well that workers like Kathy Streiner, the store’s manager, has been with Shear Talent for 40 years. In fact, his wife started out in the business as a shampoo girl.
Kim has seen lots of positive changes in the shops and she is excited for the future of the center. She notes how Molly Finnell keeps everything in tip-top shaper and Mary Fassinger was “awesome” to work with when she was the property manager for 27 years before retiring.
“The South Park Shops have everything you could want. Everything is so modern and you can’t beat the location.”
The business is conveniently located for the Hoffman’s, too. They live in the Boxer Heights section of Bethel Park. There they reared their five children: Laura, Jeffrey, Joie, Randi and Robyn. They have nine grandchildren.
Noting he was cutting hair long before the children arrived, he admits he had a lot of practice raising his daughters. The education is never ending. Bob constantly trains his staff. He brings in people to teach new color techniques and the latest in cuts.
“We invest in a lot of education and training for our staff. It’s important,” he said. “We keep up with the trends and changes in the industry and we invest in people.”
In addition to location, that is the other big reason why Hoffman is a successful businessman operating in the South Park Shops.
“We just love Shear Talent and we love Bob and Kim,” Denti gushed. “They would do anything for anybody. They are just wonderful people.”