Colour Nail bar has strict sanitation policies that clients appreciate.

Colour Nail bar has strict sanitation policies that clients appreciate.

After a year of being in business, Colour Nail Bar in Spring, Texas, has attracted a large client base and a reputation of quality, professionalism, and friendliness.

The idea of Colour Nail Bar began to form in the minds of sisters Rhonda Townsend and Roslyn Bazile after Townsend had gone through her third layoff. Townsend didn’t want to go back to the corporate world, so the family began to brainstorm ideas for a business that the two sisters could run together.

Bazile’s daughter played a large role in the decision making process. She loved getting her nails done and proposed the idea of her mother and aunt opening up a nail salon. “After going down the list, the nail salon was the one that we agreed we should do,” explains Bazile.

Though the salon didn’t turn out exactly how they thought it would, they did follow through with plans to set themselves apart from other salons in the area. Houston is home to many discount nail salons and that is exactly what Townsend and Bazile wanted to differ from. They decided their salon would be moderately priced to serve middle class families and would provide a social atmosphere where clients and employees could interact and engage with each other while getting their nails done.

 

The Colour Cove room can be rented out by the hour and is a two-person private pedicure room with a television and specialty food and drinks.

The Colour Cove room can be rented out by the hour and is a two-person private pedicure room with a television and specialty food and drinks.

A SOCIAL EXPERIENCE

Colour Nail Bar’s slogan says it all: “Happy hour begins when you walk in.” Townsend and Bazile wanted their salon to be about more than just getting your nails done but also about having fun and being engaged with the people around you.

The nail techs and clients know each others’ names, and Townsend and Bazile pride themselves in knowing that they and their employees build relationships with their clients.

In an effort to better serve their clients, the salon highly encourages appointments. The clients like this and like the fact that the salon is truthful about its wait times. “We don’t want people to just sit there and wait and wait,” says Townsend.

The entire design of the salon is meant for the purpose of social interaction. The modern music, open spaces, and bright colors put clients and employees in a positive mood.

 

Colour Nail Bar offers its nail techs a flexible schedule, training, and a week of paid vacation after one year of work.

Colour Nail Bar offers its nail techs a flexible schedule, training, and a week of paid vacation after one year of work.

A COLORFUL DESIGN

Colour Nail Bar has a unique design created by the owners themselves. The complete decor including the paint design, artwork, pillows, and sofa were all purchased and arranged in the salon by the two sisters. Most of the decor is even custom made. The bright and colorful atmosphere reflected in the salon’s name is one main attribute that makes it stand out from others.

Many clients are used to pedicure chairs but here clients are seated on white pedicure benches decorated with pillows of different designs and colors. The white base color in the salon allows the brightly colored accents to pop and stand out. The sisters explain that their salon is not for clients who like to be surrounded by earth tones.

One attribute to the salon is a piece of furniture that was originally meant to be a nail bar but progressed to be an original idea that both employees and clients alike love about the salon. The nail bar was originally meant for quick nail services with non-alcoholic drinks. It became apparent to Townsend and Bazile that quick nail services at the bar didn’t work very well and the bar became solely used for food and beverage services.

While the name of the salon reflects the interior decor and the personalities of its owners, the choice to use the British spelling of the word “colour” in its name sparks interest in many people. Once again Bazile’s daughter played a role.

Bazile explains they originally spelled “color” the traditional way. She was sending out paperwork for the salon when her daughter advised her to change the spelling to make the title more unique and attractive. Bazile added the “u” and her British clients love it.

 

White pedicure benches allow the accent colors to truly pop.

White pedicure benches allow the accent colors to truly pop.

LOVED BY ALL

Townsend and Bazile have heard from employees that there are many differences between working at Colour Nail Bar and at other salons, but all of the comments are positive.

Employees say they are more relaxed than at other salons they have worked at because at Colour Nail Bar they can take five or six clients per day and make the same as they did with 10 to 12 clients at a discount salon. Employees also like the respectful atmosphere and that the salon is closed on Sundays and Mondays for the employees to recuperate.

“Our employees do appreciate that we respect them as well,” says Bazile. “We are very intentional about treating them with respect and respecting their time.”

On June 8, Christina Cheng posted on Twitter, “I just left work and [am] missing @colournailbar already. I really had the best boss, co-workers, friends and clients ever! Love you guys!”

But it’s not just the employees that love the salon, the clients love it as well. According to the sisters, client numbers have increased over the past year because of advertising, social media, and word of mouth.

Townsend explains they have a mother and daughter team who love the salon so much that they come in every two weeks and use the private two-person Colour Cove room to catch up.

The social atmosphere has a lot to do with the salon’s popularity. Much of the love from clients comes from the relationships fostered between the employees and the clients themselves. The sisters say some of their clients even bring them souvenirs from their travels. “We appreciate them and they appreciate us,” says Townsend. 

 

The owners do not have any goals for the immediate future but say they would ultimately like to franchise.

The owners do not have any goals for the immediate future but say they would ultimately like to franchise.

Quick Look

Salon Name: Colour Nail Bar

Location: Spring, Texas

Owners: Rhonda Townsend and Roslyn Bazile

Square Footage: 1,800

Opened: August 2011

Number of Nail Techs/Total Staff: 5/8

Specialties: Gel-polish, diabetic foot care

Compensation: Mostly commission based (sometimes salary plus commission)

Website: www.colournailbar.com

 

Erin Spandorf

Editorial Assistant

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