Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Lieu.
Christine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a hairdresser of 9 years and have grown up in the beauty business. My mother owned 3 nail salons as I was growing up, so I became very familiar with what it was like to run a small business like that. After having a few detours, I found myself back where I started (as a baby) in the beauty business! But it’s much more than that… it’s not just a business. What I love about my work so much is the ability to take care of people and make them happy. Having found a friend and business partner that shared that perspective, my partner Michael and I came together and opened a brand-new salon that combined both of our backgrounds. This hair and nails salon comes back to that very essence of wanting to make our customers happy. They always ask for a one stop shop…. so here, we have designed a space where both services can be done in one location, even at the same time if one wished. oh, and everything comes with a cocktail of your choice, alcoholic or non-alcoholic for those that prefer coffee or tea.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wanted to open a nail salon and had 3 attempts in the past. All of which obviously didn’t work out. So, I took a step back and just rested for a bit. That’s when the idea of Michael and I coming together to create one space for both hair and nails came about – which is the best idea yet!
“Nothing worth having comes easy. ” Of course, it’s not been smooth! But the rocky path has made our foundation even stronger. Everything that has seemed like an obstacle at first really has now become a stepping stone that was essential to our growth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Primp and Tonic – what should we know?
Primp and Tonic is a hair and nail salon. It’s a one stop shop for primping and tonic “ing” Tonics for your fingers and toes, but also the kind you drink in a glass! It’s a place of community, where women and men of all ages can get together, get what they need to be done, and have a good time while they’re there. We specialize in making people happy in a convenient environment for them. We have designed a package that is super attractive for new customers, the “primp and polish “. This package is a blow dry style and a manicure for an affordable price of $65. Of course, we are a full-service salon that does EVERYTHING, but we really found it necessary to create a brand … a brand that communicated convenience and fun at the same time. ALL OF THE ABOVE is what makes us PROUD as a company.
What sets us apart from others, is the attention to detail we have for our customer’s happiness. After all this whole idea is derived from answering to clients who sit in the chair always saying “gosh now I have to go get my nails done. I wish I could’ve just done it here. ”
Also, we have decided to carry all high-end nail products including a large selection of organic and vegan nail polishes. Essie, OPI, and ZOYA to name a few. This is not common at all for nail salons.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
1. Hard work and determination. People give up too easily.
2. Being innovative: keeping up with the times, not just in beauty trends, but business trends also.
3. Learning from those that are more successful than you. They are inspirational and have set forth a roadmap almost of what you can do also to become successful. Of course, along the way, you add your own fun twist to make it newer and different.
Pricing:
- Primp and Polish (blow dry and manicure ) $65
- Gel Manicure $39
- Haircolor $85
- Haircut $80
- EXPERT CUSTOMER SERVICE- always free.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1830 Broadway Ave. Santa Monica CA 90404
- Website: www.primpandtonic.com
- Phone: 4247448513
- Email: [email protected]
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/primp-and-tonic-hair-and-nails-santa-monica
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
