Braiding Business and Belief
Timely loan weaves a solution to keep St. Cloud salon owner’s business buzzing
By Kevin Allenspach
When Gladys Winkelman learned her landlord was requiring all tenants to upgrade to new lighted, three-dimensional signage, she faced a stark possibility: pay nearly $15,000 for a sign—or risk losing the space she had worked to build into a bustling salon.
“I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do,” said Winkelman, owner of African Pinkylicious Salon in Waite Park. “If couldn’t find some help to do it, I was faced with maybe closing for a while.”
The stakes were high for the early-stage businesswoman. In the world of beauty and hair care, visibility matters. So does consistency. A closure—even a short one—could erode the loyal following Winkelman had built over more than a decade.
Clients travel from across Central Minnesota and even the Twin Cities to sit in her chair. Some styles take hours, others cost hundreds of dollars, and her schedule is typically full. Specializing in braiding—cornrows, twists, extensions and other intricate styles—Winkelman leads a team of two full-time stylists and three part-time contributors.
Born and raised in Kenya, Winkelman came to the United States to study nursing. But over time, she realized her true passion was in the artistry and personal connection of hair care. After running a salon near St. Cloud Technical & Community College, she relocated to a more visible strip mall location near the intersection of Second Ave. South and Highway 23 in Waite Park. Business grew. The salon became a hub—not just for beauty, but for belonging.
Then came the signage ultimatum.
The plain black-and-pink placard she’d used was no longer enough. Without a new, upgraded sign, Winkelman could lose her location. But with no collateral and little room for a bank loan, her options were limited.
That’s when a client recommended she connect with the Initiative Foundation. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Initiative Foundation focuses on removing barriers for entrepreneurs in Central Minnesota, especially those who may not qualify for traditional lending.
“Gladys was at real risk of losing her space,” said Doug Adams, finance manager for the Initiative Foundation’s Impact Fund. “She had a strong business, but no collateral a bank could work with. A sign doesn’t hold value to anyone else—it’s not something you can repossess or resell.”
In 2023, the Initiative Foundation launched the Impact Fund to expand its reach and create more flexible lending opportunities. The fund is designed to help small business owners—especially those in underserved communities—access the capital and business coaching they need to succeed.
Winkelman applied for and received a $10,000 microloan. The funds helped her purchase and install a professionally designed illuminated sign, saving her lease and increasing the visibility of her business.
“We have people just come walking in here now,” she said. “It was such a good decision. The sign really gets attention.”
That visibility matters not only to Winkelman but to her diverse clientele. While many of her customers are African American, Winkelman said a share of her clients—including adoptive parents of African or Black children—are white.
“Any hair is braidable,” Winkelman said. “There’s just a lack of information out there about it. Braiding is more practiced by Black people, often because they begin braiding each other’s hair when they’re school-aged children. They’re used to getting it done. But there are all kinds of choices anyone can make about how to wear your hair.”
From lemonade braids and dreadlocks to sleek cornrows and wedding styles, Winkelman and her team serve a range of clients and needs. Some styles last a few days; others hold for months. Some are chosen for religious or cultural reasons, others for fashion or function.
And her reputation has grown well beyond Minnesota.
Winkelman now serves several celebrity clients, including professional athletes and entertainers. While she doesn’t name names, she says they book discreet, private appointments—and she adjusts her hours or closes the salon to meet their needs.
“It’s the way you have to do business if you want to keep them as customers,” she said. Winkelman’s approach has made her salon a trusted space—not just for hair, but for confidence, community and culture.
With the success she’s seen, Winkelman is considering her next step: opening a barbershop. And if she needs help, she knows where to turn.
“Through the Impact Fund and our status as a CDFI, we can be more patient than a traditional lender,” said Adams. “We’re not here to replace banks. We’re here to complement them. The goal is to support small businesses until they’re in a place to graduate to traditional financing.”
Winkelman’s story represents the kind of impact the Initiative Foundation strives to make—where a modest loan can preserve a business, support a local entrepreneur and enrich the fabric of the community.
“She was already doing the hard work,” Adams said. “We just helped her navigate a slight roadblock.”
In the glow of Winkleman’s new sign, that road forward looks clearer than ever.
To learn more about this business, visit africanpinkylicioussalon.com.
Learn more about the Impact Fund and find out if your business or business idea qualifies for lending.