Heading into its third year under new ownership, Hawaiian Glo of Cottleville, MO continues to be a popular and friendly salon. |
STATS: Locations: 1 Years in Business: 2.5 Tanning Systems: 9 Employees: 7 Other Services: Skincare products, Massage |
Nearly three years ago, Michelle and Allan Gacki decided to restore the
shine to Hawaiian Glo of Cottleville, MO. Under its previous management,
the salon was once a bustling business, and the couple knew that
with them as owners, it could be once again. After purchasing the
salon, Michelle and Allan kept what worked and changed what didn’t,
resulting in a business success story that’s based on the friendly
and attentive customer service supplied by the Hawaiian Glo staff.
As to its future, possible expansion, upgrades and even a second
location are all part of the couple’s plans.
A
Change of Pace
Prior to owning Hawaiian Glo, Michelle and Allan Gacki owned and
operated two successful bars in O’Fallon, MO. Their decision to open a tanning
salon was their way of moving toward a more relaxing future. “When
our daughter Reghan was born, I took some time off to raise her and my
step-son, Joshua,” said Michelle. “Being a full-time mom was
great, but after a while, I wanted to get back to work, and the bar hours
aren’t really conducive to being a parent. I knew I’d need
to get involved with something else in order to balance work and family.” During
the 1990s, Michelle worked at a tanning salon as a nail tech and enjoyed
it; everyone was in a good mood, and she loved the fun, laid-back nature
of the business. After serious consideration, she told Allan that she
was ready to sell one of the bars and become a tanning salon owner.
Perfect
Timing, Perfect Opportunity
Wanting to buy a tanning salon and actually finding one that’s for
sale can be two different matters entirely. Fortunately for Michelle
and Allan, their dreams were rooted in reality – Hawaiian Glo, a
popular salon in town, was for sale. “The former owners were looking
to sell the business in order to devote more time to their family and
other business interests, so our timing was perfect,” Michelle said. “It
was a very popular salon and they did a good job keeping it up, so we
knew there wouldn’t be too much we’d have to change. After
some discussion, Allan and I decided to sell our interests in one of
the bars and purchase the salon.”
The couple decided to keep the salon’s original name and some of its staff because, as the old saying goes, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” They did update the salon’s décor, adding shades of orange, beige and earth tones to create what Michelle describes as a “warm feeling,” and they upgraded one of the tanning beds. They also removed another bed and converted the empty space into a massage room. “The masseuse, who rents the room from us, has been successful offering her services to our clients as well as bringing in her own clientele who’ve ended up becoming tanners,” Michelle explained. “This has been a big help, particularly during the off-peak months.”
The salon has nine tanning units – seven ETS SunStar, a Montego Bay Tropical and an Ergoline stand-up, representing three levels of tanning. Lotions by Australian Gold/Swedish Beauty, California Tan, Designer Skin and Tan Inc. fill the shelves, and the business operates utilizing the Helios software system. “We also offer free facials to our clients as a way of introducing them to the various skincare products we sell, and this has been extremely effective in making those sales,” Michelle added.
The
Power of Kindness
It’s amazing how fast the good news about the Gacki’s ownership
of Hawaiian Glo traveled through their small town. To promote their new
business, the couple advertised in a monthly mailer as well as high school
and church newspapers, but what seems to have worked best for them is
word-of-mouth. People are saying great things about their salon, and
Michelle attributes this to her staff’s dedication to customer service. “They’re
extremely friendly with everyone, and know many of our clients by first
name,” she said. “We’re constantly getting compliments
on how warm and outgoing they are, and that makes us proud.” Michelle
says the secret to getting such great employees is hiring people who
are friendly and conversational during the interview. “What we’re
looking for upfront are good people skills; if they have that, we can
teach them the rest,” she added.
Keep
Glowing!
Michelle and Allan have turned Hawaiian Glo into a bustling
salon and they plan to build on their initial success. “We’re
in a shopping plaza, and right now there’s no room to
expand, but if one of the businesses on either side of us
leaves, we plan to purchase the space
and expand into it,” Michelle explained. “We’d
like to add five or six tanning units and a sunless spray
unit, as well as hire
a full-time travel agent.” The couple is also on the
lookout for the ideal location for a second Hawaiian Glo
salon. With shopping centers
cropping up in their area on a regular basis, it shouldn’t
be long before they find one they like. “When that happens,
we plan to sell our interests in the other bar we own in
order to open our second salon,” she
added.
Going into their third year in the tanning biz, Michelle knows she and her husband made the right career choice. “It’s just such a fun and relaxing atmosphere; I wouldn’t want to do anything else,” she commented. “I’ve met so many wonderful people, and many have become very close friends. Best of all, it’s the kind of job that I look forward to going to each day, and that in itself is priceless.”
