Owner Christine Turner loves to do nails, even managing to convince husband Ernest to get a manicure.

Owner Christine Turner loves to do nails, even managing to convince husband Ernest to get a manicure.

Winning awards and receiving accolades for her commitment to education, to customer service excellence, and to the community, as well as her devotion to the beauty industry, are some of the too-numerous-to-name-all-the-reasons why entrpreneur Christine Turner is an accomplished salon owner and nail technician. Together with her husband Ernest, they opened Body & Sol Tanning, Nails & Day Spa in New Westminster, B.C., Canada, in 1998 with a dream of providing a comfortable place that met the high standards Turner expected as a salon client herself.

But meeting industry standards isn't always enough for Turner and her team, who often exceed industry norms. All staff members are trained to excel in three important areas: skill, knowledge, and professional standards. They are well educated and informed on topics such as sanitation and MMA. They attend trade shows and compete to improve their skills and learn new trends.

"To be awarded Salon of the Year and have our efforts recognized by our peers is not only an honor, but it shows other salons that they too can help to improve our industry," says Turner.

And Body & Sol has highly impressed others, too. Local and industry recognition include NAILS' 2001-2002 Artists and Visionaries Awards runner-up for the category they won this year; Best Salon Image finalist for Today's Image magazine; Best Nail Technician, Best Esthetic salon, and Best Tanning Salon awards by The Record News' Reader's Choice Awards. And the list goes on. Salon members have also won a variety of nails competition wins. 

As for this year's salon win Turner sums it up in one word: "Wow." (In addition, she was also named Nail Technician of the year.) 

Being active in community and charitable causes are also an important part of the salon culture for Turner and staff. "We are often asked to donate gifts or our time at local fundraisers to help local businesses and charities," she says. "We also participate in volunteer work experience programs with local high schools and esthetic colleges." In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Body & Sol hosts a fundraiser throughout October. They also hold an annual Customer Appreciation Open House and an Anniversary Open House.

With their hard work and dedication, it's no wonder Body & Sol clients reward their team's effort by expressing their gratitude. Says Turner, "clients frequently comment on the salon's cleanliness, friendly and informed staff, fun environment, and comfortable and stylish decor." Which just goes to show that conscientious business practices and customer-service ethics go a long way, baby.

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