Cindy Lou paints fillings onto Kathy Evan's nails Feb. 14 at Stone Creek Nails in Del Rey Oaks. (Photos by Brittany Durgin)
By Robert Walch | Salinas Californian
DEL REY OAKS, CALIFORNIA – Speaking on behalf of her co-manager and sister-in-law, Cindy Lou Nguyen, Tammie Nguyen says their new nail salon, Stone Creek Nails, is entirely a family business.
Not only did an aunt provide the two women with financial backing, but both their sisters, Nga and Kim, work alongside them serving their customers.
Born and raised on the Central Coast, Nguyen and her sister-in-law graduated from Seaside High and then worked together in the same nail salon in the Del Monte Shopping Center for six years.
The young women, both in their 20s, had been thinking about starting their own business but had not found the right location. That changed last summer when they found space at the Stone Creek Shopping Center in Del Rey Oaks.
Stone Creek Nails in Del Rey Oaks,California. (Photo by Brittany Durgin)
Once the lease was negotiated, Nguyen said the next step was hiring a designer and contractor to transform the empty space into an environment that would be “soothing and welcoming.”
As the work moved ahead on the shop’s interior, the co-managers began purchasing the fixtures necessary for a good-quality establishment.
“It was very expensive,” Nguyen said, referring to the five new spa pedicare chairs and six manicure stations that currently fill the front of the shop. In the back, a private waxing room also had to be furnished.
Stone Creek Nails opened its doors in December, just in time for the holiday season. The shop specializes in not only pedicures, manicures and waxing but also eyelash extensions. Nguyen said facials would be available to their clients soon.
Nguyen acknowledges that business has been a little slow the first couple of months. She said the family discussed the current negative business climate but figured with the clientele she and Cindy Lou built up through the years they could make a go of it.
“We saw an increase toward the end of January,” she said. “As word gets out that we are here, I think we’ll soon have more customers to augment our regulars.”
Sample nails with a variety of colors and designs. (Photo by Brittany Durgin)
As part of a grand opening promotion, Stone Creek Nails is offering 10 percent off through the end of March. The shop features Creative nail products and Extended Beauty eyelash extensions.
According to Nguyen, the noon hour and the late afternoon period after work are usually the busiest for the staff.
Although reservations are recommended for those busy times, there is usually not a wait for walk-in customers during the rest of the day.
Nguyen stressed that the staff is fully licensed as well as certified for doing eyelash extensions. She also noted that the shop hosts private events for individuals planning birthdays, bridal parties or some other type of get-together.
Stone Creek Nails is at the Stone Creek Shopping Center, 457 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. in Del Rey Oaks, California. Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
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