Anna Chalmers of Drybar

CW: When did you decide to go into the business you are in?
“When we moved to Mount Pleasant in late 2016, I was traveling doing consulting, and, with little kids, I knew I needed a different path. I had been a client and huge fan of Drybar in New York and other cities and I discovered that Drybar was expanding its franchise presence across the country. Charleston, at the time, was already taken, however I secured the franchise rights and opened one in another state. I recently had the opportunity to acquire Drybar Charleston on King Street and am thrilled to be part of the local business community.”

CW: Tell us about how you grew up and what or who shaped you into the woman you are today.
“I grew up in Minnesota with the midwestern values of work hard and never give up. I come from a family of strong and progressive women, such as my grandmothers – they were both female champions and pioneers in their day. One was one of the first female high school cheerleaders in the United States; she started the girls softball league I participated in. The other was the first female college graduate in her family, a college athletic and teacher. Their influence, along with my mother, aunts, and so many others, provided a strong foundation for my successes thus far in my life.”

CW: Tell us about your family.
“My husband, Alex, has his own company, Material Capital Partners, based here in Charleston, my daughters, Ryah, age 7, and Darby, age 6, both attend James B. Edwards Elementary, and my son Walker, age 3, is at O’Quinn of Mount Pleasant.”