“#rivertonbiz, shares the stories of local movers and shakers of our Fremont County economy.“
Written by Carl Cote
(Riverton, WY) – Clippers and Shears held its official grand opening in Riverton on Tuesday with the Riverton Chamber of Commerce, marking a big day for longtime local stylist Vicky Williams and her fourth salon.
The salon has actually been serving clients since November, but Williams wanted to wait on the celebration until the pieces were fully in place. “I wanted to make sure I had the right crew with me, the right salon family,” she said. “We’re all one.”
That family includes barber Gigi Odom, Chantelle Marlette, who does hair, nails, pedicures, manicures and extensions, and Lin Manchaca, who does hair, nails and fades, alongside Williams herself.
Williams has roots in Fremont County and in the industry. Born in Thermopolis and raised on a ranch outside Lysite, she graduated from high school in Shoshoni in a class of 22 students before attending Central Wyoming College. She spent about a decade as a reporter at the Riverton Ranger, then drove a school bus for the Riverton school district for 17 years before going to beauty school and graduating in 1990.
Since then, she has owned and operated salons in Riverton and in Spokane, Washington, including Attitudes Hair Salon on Broadway, before landing in her current space. She said the move came after stairs at her previous location became difficult for her and her clients.
More than three decades in, Williams says her favorite part of the job hasn’t changed. “The people,” she said. “Meeting the people, talking to the people.” Many of her clients have been with her for 20 years or more, and one was with her from her very first days out of beauty school, a relationship that lasted nearly 36 years.
Clippers and Shears is located at 325 W Main St. and is open 9-5 Monday through Saturday.