When Paris and Chloe Culberson came up with the idea of opening a salon
two years ago, they never considered locating outside Detroit.
"We figured, why not the city? We're from the city, we love the city," Chloe Culberson says. "Everyone wants to attach themselves to something that's already big, or the ideal situation for a business. We figured that we'd start from the other direction, and help build Detroit city."
They rented space in the
Elevator Building, on the East Riverfront, drawn to the building's character and history. "The space is brand new," she says. "Randy Lewarchik renovated everything. It has an urban feel, like a loft. It fits who we are. Even though it's not a storefront -- you have to go inside to get to the suite -- we figured out we just have to do better marketing, and people will know where we are."
And while the name might be
Salon Paris Portland LA, this new hair care spot's moniker has a local origin.
"We have three sons, and they're Paris Jr., Portland and LA, so it's named after them," she says.
She says Salon Paris Portland LA will be known for its attention to customer service and expertise in all things hair. "Me and my husband are obsessed with customer service," she says. "Everyone is treated equally. It doesn't matter whether you're Obama or Jim Bob." And she welcomes the competition. "There are a million salons in Michigan. We make sure that we're highly educated, because I don't think a consumer should know more about a product than we do."
They'll count down to the grand opening on April 23 by offering five days of free hair care services to anyone, male or female, who walks through the door (yes, you read that correctly, April 18-22). And 100 percent of collected tips will be donated to the Detroit Public Schools.
"If I had $100 million, I'd give DPS $20 million of it," Culberson says. "But I don't have that right now, so I'm trying to use what I have right now, and just trying to help the children of DPS. We're just trying to help out where we can."
The ribbon cutting ceremony begins Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. Find out more about the Salon Paris Portland LA opening
here.
Source: Chloe Culberson, co-owner, Salon Paris Portland LA
Writer: Ashley C. Woods
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