Mary Lou Mamye established Stratford's Own Barbershop in June of 2012.  Specializing in men's haircutting, styling, and grooming, the barbershop's popularity grew quickly, expanding from one barber to four working behind the chair in a short time.  In 2015, Mary Lou had the opportunity to take over the adjacent unit and started Stratford's Own For Her, Hair Studio and employs two Master Stylists and an aesthetician.

Steadily outgrowing the space for both businesses, Mary Lou is excited to take them to the next level.  In August 2021, she will be relocating, rebranding, and integrating both businesses into a brand new 3,000 square foot unit.  The newly integrated business will be an AVEDA Concept Spa and will have four facets; a classic barbershop, salon, spa, and an AVEDA retail boutique. 

Based on that growth and with a goal of hiring more staff in the future, Mary Lou applied to the Accelerate HER PEI program in 2020 to seek mentorship and training to help manage the growth, and best prepare for the planned success of the next phase of the businesses for herself, and her team. Her application was successful and she joined the cohort of the 12-week pilot program in January 2021.

What would you like to share about your experience in the program?

The Accelerate HER PEI program was very informative and inspiring. Learning to create a goal map and navigate through the various landmarks to ultimately reach my set goal, was truly enlightening. The networking opportunities and resources made available are invaluable in helping women succeed in business.

What did you like best about the program?

Truly, fabulous. The organizers kept it organized with the chosen topics and presenters while keeping us informed as to what was taking place. Although we are a diverse group of entrepreneurs, all topics were relevant to each of us.

How would you describe your experience with the mentor you were matched with for the program?

Very nice, easy to speak to, relatable and VERY knowledgable.

What do you anticipate will be the impact on your business as a result of having participated in the Accelerate HER PEI program?

Besides creating another network of like-minded female entrepreneurs, the biggest impact the program had on me was that there is so much help out there to help your business grow. I had no idea how to access some of the help offered. For instance, who knew that I could hire a business strategist or that someone out there specializes in writing business plans etc? I plan to take advantage of all I've learned from implementing a goal map, funnel writing, speaking to my audience etc.

For more information, visit:

Stratford's Own Barbershop Website

Stratford’s Own Barbershop Facebook Page

Stratford’s Own For Her Website

Stratford’s Own For Her Facebook Page