The Velvet Nail Lounge: Finding the Right Balance

The Velvet Nail Lounge rests in an affluent neighborhood surrounded mostly by two kinds of salons. Nick Brown, co-owner of the Velvet Nail Lounge, explains that the higher-end beauty establishments aren't true nail salons, rather, they are hair salons or day spas with one or two nail techs. On the other side of the spectrum, there are the smaller nail salons that focus on time and affordability for the client rather than the spa experience. Nick and his wife, Jennie, wanted to find the perfect balance between the two worlds and between their own strengths — with Nick's background in business and Jennie's experience in the beauty industry — and came up with the Velvet Nail Lounge.

The salon is family-owned and operated, with Jennie's parents, siblings and cousins and they have more than 10 years of experience. They try to convey the lounge atmosphere with a modern boutique hotel-style design, low-lighting, and animal prints, where clients can throw parties and relax.

There are two rooms in the back, a full spa room for facials and a room for eyebrow waxing. Jennie is popular and well-known as an eyebrow waxing specialist, as well as a nail tech and esthetician. Those who work at Velvet Nail Lounge are also trained and certified through Dermalogica to do facials and retail a complete line of skin care products.

After owning a small nail salon for six years, they decided to start a higher-end, yet affordable, salon experience. They try to be innovative with their services and name-brand products, using better ingredients, offering services at a reasonable cost, and great customer service where they can connect with their clients on a personal level. This all works together with Jennie's Vietnamese background and her family's hard work and dedication in the nail industry.

For clients who have trouble accepting the Velvet Nail Lounge’s high standard of sanitation, they can purchase a "Personal Box" that includes implements that are disinfected and used only on the nails of that specific client. The implements are then sterilized and stored in a personal box at the salon for future use, giving clients peace of mind with the cleanliness of their tools.

Nick and Jennie would rather not see salons competing solely on a cost level, where salons lower their prices and drive down the value of nail services. Nick's advice is to "provide quality services and the best products you can provide and your customers will understand the difference between cost over quality."

With their mom-and-pop, family-oriented salon and a balance between both worlds, Nick says their clients appreciate their way of doing business.

 

Velvet Nail Lounge on Facebook.