2nd Place
2nd Place: Best of the Best Salon/Spa of the Year, 2009
Indigo Salon and Day Spa
50545 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, MI
734-961-3245
Owners: Melissa and Christian Huetter
Year Founded: 2005
Mission Statement
“To provide the client with and extraordinary experience, not ‘just a great service’. We want our clients to feel welcomed and catered to from the time they walk in the door, and our mission to exceed their expectations does not end when they depart.”
Employees: 32
Stations: 13
8 Hair Styling Stations, 5 Spa
Describe the culture of your business—how do you want clients to feel when they walk through the door?
Our #1 goal is to provide the client with and extraordinary experience, not “just a great service”. We want our clients to feel welcomed and catered to from the time they walk in the door, and our mission to exceed their expectations does not end when they depart. We also do call backs the week following to ensure that they enjoyed their experience, and see if there is anything we could do differently to enhance the quality of their next visit.
What makes you different than other salons/spas?
By far our environment sells itself! Our clients RAVE about how wonderful it is to come to a salon where it doesn’t feel like you can “cut the tension with a knife”— we could not ask for a better team of industry professionals to share our business with! We exude the epitome of a true team of talented girls that are focused on using their blessings to be of a blessing to others. Our clients LOVE that our salon is so involved in the community/charity events and that we have a “give to get” culture.
List courses and other learning opportunities that you and your employees have participated in over the past year:
Gallup Series, Inspiring Champions, Durocher, Kemon Nights, Kemon Continued Education in house and at TheAcadamy (MANY), L’Oreal (MANY), Grand Rapids Show, Chicago Show, Vidal Sassoon ABC, Dermalogica On Tour, Dermalogica Pk, Project Face-Kevin Givens, Crew Cutting, GIGI Waxing, BioTouch PMU, Amber Pedicure, TIGI Cutting, Edge Updo, Bridal Updo, Pureology Pk, Creative Nails and many more....
What three words best describe your business as a whole?
Distinctive, Philanthropic, Consistent
What is your customer service philosophy?
To provide more value to our client’s in their experience than what they feel they are paying for within their service. we do not “just do services” we provide exceptional experiences, our clients get a luxury beverage and a warm neck wrap when they arrive. And receive complimentary chair massages, polish changes or wash/styles w/ their service. Along with what we call “Indigo extra’s” through their service.
What promotions do you conduct?
We offer a referral rewards program, and new client welcome program, a client loyalty points system, business to business discounts, VIP client program, and chamber member discount program, 42” plasma TV giveaway every quarter, and Retail Bucks.
What’s exciting, new, unique and enticing about your menu?
We have the ability to do couples services all around the house, when you come together you stay together. We have our $20 Wed services from 9am-1pm. Our signature Peppermint Hot Stone Massage is like none other, clients come from all over to experience this service. Our prices are very affordable, we’d rather serve many at rates they can afford than a few at rates that are not affordable for our clients. We pretty much do it all; from hair and nails to make up, massages, facials, chemical peels, diamond tone facials, body treatments, permanent make up, great lengths extensions, and much more....truly a FULL SERVICE SALON AND SPA.
How does your salon/spa look, feel, smell, and sound?
We have bright greens and blues to create an upbeat, inviting ambiance in our salon...think being in the tropics, some place you can’t wait to go, and instantly smile when you arrive! The beats of our music keep you feeling like your on vacation in the company of your closest friends. Our spa is done in soft lime and deep browns, to calm and warm the mind and body. The scent of soft vanilla/coconut from our body line and the smell of the peppermint oil from our signature peppermint hot stone massages will invigorate ones soul.
How does your décor and mood shape your brand image?
Our goal is to make our clients feel like they have arrived at a destination-not “just a salon”! We want them to not only enjoy their services but to also enjoy sharing their time with us. We strive for our environment to be an escape for our clients from their hectic day to day lives, their own tropical oasis. It is a place for them to come to feel exceptional, and look fabulous.
Has your business undergone a recent expansion? If so, please explain why you chose this new look.
We updated our waiting area to make more space for our clients to relax while waiting for their technicians and increased our retail area to better balance our retail to service space ratios to increase our potential profitability.
What do you do to stay involved in your community?
EVERYTHING! Indigo=Community. We this year alone have done Goodfellow’s Gifts for Kids>Raised money and bought gifts for over 30 families>(already planning Xmas in July). We Donated to First Step for battered women and children. We offered services for donation for three different Cancer events, Race for the Cure, Relay for Life and the ACS. We held a Fashion Show for Women’s Giving Circle. We gave Prom Makeovers on twin girls from the BLOCK program (dresses, hair, make up, nails, the works..) We participated in Beauty Bash for a Cause. We donated prizes and our time to MANY local school, small group and church functions. We Gave spa days to a local young mom who lost her husband to cancer, and his mom too in hopes to help them cope with their loss, and much more...
How often do you meet with your staff for goal-setting, personnel reviews or progress discussions?
We hold monthly 45-minute one-on-ones with our GM, a bimonthly newsletter/bimonthly team meeting. Our one-on-ones are where we discuss individual growth opportunities or changes needed, or anything they need support with. We “reserve the space” for team meetings to remain positive & motivating. We often bring in motivational speakers for an “added touch”. Melissa always coach staff on how to get from where they are to where they want to be. Her commitment is that she will do everything she can to help them be at their best, but they have to want it and be willing to work hard for it. She leads by example and show them how today’s work and good intentions WILL equal tomorrow’s rewards.
Describe your business goals.
In one year we will own our own building and have growth opportunities with our new added space to broaden our list of services available to serve our clients. We will continue to work diligently to get out of our “start up cost debt stage”, so we can offer profit share and ownership opportunities in our company to our dedicated team members. In this we will be more stable and dedicated than ever before, and will continue to use that in which we have, to give back to others.
