I don't officially have a space yet, but I did see an available space a few weeks ago that I think might be the one. I asked the broker to send me the floorplans and then added the pics using PowerPoint to create my first blueprint. It's ambitious, considering I don't have the space, but this blueprint/floorplan is for my business plan. I want to make sure that investors can easily thumb through my business plan and see what Posh'aah would be. I'll soon be submitting an application for the space, but I'm still waiting on paperwork from incorporating and opening the bank account, as I want to make sure the business is a separate entity from me.

I've been gathering pics for a couple months. A lot of what I thought the nail spa would look like changed after I saw the potential location. Before I saw the location the vision was hot pink (probably too pink) and stark silver. After seeing this space, which comes with gorgeous stone flooring of a burnt orange-maroonish coloring that would absolutely clash with the hot pink, the vision for the salon changed dramatically. Instead of being upscale, Posh'aah became comfortable and cozy.

Within the past couple weeks since seeing the space, the pedicure area and operation solidified. So, I priced different furnishings and equipment online and plugged them into the floorplan/blueprint. The manicure area has been etched in my mind since early summer and the retail offerings just became clear within the past month or two as I've actually been contacting manufacturers and wholesalers. The business plan is begining to firm up. Things are moving from dream-land to reality.

Oh, and I took a first crack at the service menu. I've had the prices and language prepared for about a year now, though prices and location are subject to change as the planning process continues. I used NAILS Salon Start-Up Guide to help create the copy for the service menu.

Now, I'm off to get that space!

--Makeda, Posh'aah Nail Spa, Chicago