Banking on the growing interest in wellness, three sisters and two friends decided to open a salon for their first business venture.
Sisters Mimi Bontes-Alazas, Gemma Bontes-Go and Debbie Bontes to gether with their friends Amanda Huang and Marite Jimenez pooled over P3 million.
Their salon, Clique Hair and Nail Salon, offers 90 percent organic-based services. It soft opened on March 9 at the new commercial arcade along Ma. Luisa Road in Banilad called Streetscape.
“It has always been my dream to set up my own salon because I’m really so fond of pampering myself and after talking to my partners, I realized we share the same passion,” said Alazas.
“From the touch of skilled professional hands working to bring out your best self to the smell and feel of premium quality products being used, from bespoke service to the elegant contemporary vibe, Clique will be an experience of sensory pleasure designed to please the discerning client,” said Bontes on the concept of Clique.
The salon has an area of 81 square meters set in a chic environment of comfortable luxury. It has four styling stations, four manicure and pedicure booths, a waxing room and a VIP make-up room.
“We have a total of 11 staff – two senior stylists, two junior stylists, a consultant, four manicurists and a receptionist,” said Alazas.
The sisters are proud to say that they are one of only two salons in Cebu that use the industry-renowned brand Davines.
“This is an Italian brand with an advocacy for sustainability. We carry their organic products,” said Bontes.
Other brands that they’re carrying are TIGI and Keratin Complex.
Go said that aside from the top-of-the-line products and services that they offer, they also emphasize on sanitation.
“At Clique, we take every possible step to ensure a pristine environment for our clients. All services are performed in a tightly controlled environment, adhering to strict hygiene levels. Implements and tools are sterilized and a fresh pack of sterilized nail tools is opened before your eyes,” said Go.
According to Alazas, most of their clients are those from the neighboring residential community including the upscale Maria Luisa Estate Park.
“We get a lot of those from around here. Nowadays aside from the quality service, people also are willing to pay for convenience and being strategically located here provides us that advantage,” she said.
Only less than two months since they opened, Alazas said they are already doing well. Their earnings are enough to cover the monthly rent.
“We are glad that the salon is now doing well and we’d like to cater to more especially those from this side of the city,” she added.
Alazas said they are already considering expansion, but have decided to focus on the first branch for now.
“Well there are a lot of commercial spaces opening up in Cebu now. We’ll try and look at the opportunity first. Market-wise we know there’s already a huge market in Cebu with people now investing in themselves,” said Alazas.
In a recent forum, marketing research firm AC Nielsen managing director Stuart Jamieson said there is a new appetite for premium products in the country today fueled by the rising middle class or what he called as the “new consumer class.”
This class pays for premium products and services because they can already afford to spend higher on a product or service.
He said that with this trend, the market can expect more premium products and shops offering premium services to open up especially in major economic hubs like Cebu.