“I’m the second oldest of 14, and the oldest girl, so growing up, I was the one that was doing 10 loads of laundry with my mom.”
—Susan Boresow, president, My Salon Suite
In her monthly “Grab Bag” column, Editor in Chief Laura Michaels asks the tough questions—What superhero power would you most like to have? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?—to show a side of franchising execs you don’t normally see.
Who would play you in the biopic about your life?
Any of the actresses in ‘The First Wives Club.’ So that’d be Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn. They’re all funny, they’re down to earth, they’re charismatic and I just think it’s such a cute movie. One of my favorites.
What’s something not many people know about you?
I’m an old movie buff. It’s one of my favorite pastimes, watching movies from the ‘50s and ‘60s. I watched them with my dad, he was a movie trivia buff. Think anything Alfred Hitchcock, like ‘Rope,’ or anything with Bette Davis. I recently watched ‘Dead Ringer,’ where she plays identical twins, and it’s really thrilling and the acting is phenomenal. Just last night I watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ which I’ve probably seen 100 times. I cry at the same spot every time.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who lack integrity and are dishonest. Honesty and authenticity are the fundamentals of trust. I believe that in my personal life and my professional life. In franchising, that’s really important. My No. 1 value is integrity.
What’s something you would seriously stockpile if you found out it wasn’t going to be sold anymore?
Workout attire. I could live in my workout attire. Whether it’s leggings, sports bras, tennis shoes, oversized sweatshirts … I would hoard as much as I could.
What’s one trend you wish would disappear?
The smoking and vape culture. I just think there’s so many health risks with it. It’s addicting, and not only affects the person doing it but those around them.
If you could join any TV show family, which would it be?
‘Friends,’ for sure. I’ve seen every episode I can’t tell you how many times. I see a part of each woman in me; it’s such a relatable cast. There’s sarcasm, competitiveness, humor. There’s a little bit of Phoebe in me. I’m a Monica person, too, and I’ve got some Rachel.
Which time period in history would you want to visit?
I’m a fan of the ‘50s. There’s just something special about that era, after The Great Depression and World War II. There was such optimism and hope. And of course, there was Elvis, ‘I Love Lucy,’ the soda fountains, the sock hops. What a fun time, and people just seemed to have a way about how they approached family and friends and life in America. Plus, I love the movie stars of the ‘50s.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
There’s a long list. I’m terrible at all of them. I especially hate sweeping garages. I absolutely cannot stand it, having to get all the old leaves out. I’m the second oldest of 14, and the oldest girl, so growing up, I was the one that was doing 10 loads of laundry with my mom. I was burnt out on chores by college.
What superhero power would you most like to have?
I would love to have the power to, in a snap, go anywhere I wanted in the world. I have friends and family all over the country, not to mention franchisees, and to be able to spend more time with the people instead of traveling, that’s the dream.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
One would be creamy cheesecake with cherries. Another would be relaxing outside in the sunshine with a magazine or book, no phones and no people. I also love raw chocolate chip cookie dough.