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Sara's Beauty Bar
Bringing Beauty to the National Stage
by Barbara L. Roose
"The Grammies gave us national recognition, as well as some great press locally, and it helped us to capture the attention of the HSN.”
“It might have been challenging for us in the beginning, but for every challenging thing, there are twice as many blessings, "she believes, Sara's Beauty Bar had a successful November launch, and the Spallinos have been invited to return in Spring 2008 with another collection."
Beauty Bar owners Sara and Joe Spallino were keenly
interested in this year’s Grammy Awards. Not
because they are involved in the music industry, but
because their Beauty Bar product line was featured
in this year’s Grammy gift basket, a swag-filled
extravaganza that only the luckiest received for presenting
or performing at this year’s event.
The Spallinos don’t have any Hollywood connections;
however, Sara did have the nerve to make a gutsy phone call
that got the ball rolling. “I’m a visionary,” explains
Sara. “Risk, to me, is venturing into uncharted waters.
I find risk intriguing, and my husband always supports me
and rolls with what I come up with. I get bored easily, and
so I want to keep it moving.”
About 18 months ago, Sara contacted an outside business
consultant who led her and her husband in the right direction
to pursue a mass distribution of their new bath and body
line, branded Sara’s Beauty Bar, which premiered in
late November on cable marketing juggernaut Home Shopping
Network (HSN). “The Grammies gave us national recognition,
as well as some great press locally, and it helped us to
capture the attention of the HSN.”
Although Beauty Bar enjoyed the excitement of being involved
with the Grammies, the opportunity for Sara to present the
company’s products directly to HSN viewers a few weeks
ago put the company over the moon. Of course, with all new
adventures, she and her husband have had to navigate a new
learning curve.
“Until the Grammies, all of our products were made
in our salon,” began Sara. “However, we had to
produce so many units for the Grammy bags, and so we had
to contract with a manufacturer. We used the same company
that previously supplied us with the basics for our products,
but we had to go through the process of evaluating the samples
they produced for us. We had to make sure that the product
was 100% consistent or else our brand would be down the tubes.”
Once all of the manufacturing issues were settled, Joe and
Sara prepared for their mid-October date on HSN. Sara went
down to train for her on-air segment, and the Spallinos prepared
to debut her Sara’s Beauty Bar until an unfortunate
sequence of events unraveled their original plans.
“Right before our original October air date, our shipment
was delivered to HSN from the manufacturer. HSN purchased
a certain amount of product, but when they inspected our
shipment, some of the bottles were damaged, and HSN could
not accept the shipment and our air date was pushed back.”
For Joe and Sara, this was a disappointing event, especially
for Sara. “I was really bummed,” she admits. “I
was emotionally prepared to go on HSN. At first, it seemed
like a set-back, but now I realize that November was better
for us.”
After re-working their system and fixing the problems that
led to the damaged shipment, Joe and Sara prepared for their
November debut, realizing that they were positioned to capitalize
on the upcoming Christmas season and even beyond.
According to Sara, HSN was interested in positioning Sara’s
Beauty Bar line in the family-business niche behind a line
of higher end Italian products. “If our November date
worked out, we could be making a monthly trip down to HSN.”
Sara began working as a stylist over 15 years ago in two
other area salons. Although Sara was thankful for the mentoring
provided by those salon owners, working in those salons sparked
her interest in going into business for herself.
“Working for them made me realize that this
was the path I wanted to take. To be in an environment
that was mine. I wanted to create my own vision.”
Sara came across a little space for rent in Cricket West
and realized that she could afford the rent. Being able to
fund the rest of her new business adequately, however, proved
to be a little more challenging. “Financing was very
challenging for us–but we were never in the red. However,
we were denied by banks because they felt we didn’t
have enough experience. We financed through personal means.
But, when we opened our business, we were able to quickly
pay everything off.”
In 2005, Beauty Bar moved from Cricket West to the W. Central
Avenue location (into the old John Vance Furniture Store)
in order to provide more space for services. Not only did
Joe build out the Cricket West location, but the former mechanical
engineer also built out the new W. Central location. “Joe
worked up until the time we decided to move into our new
location. We knew if we were going to take the leap into
a building five times the size, with a staff equally as large,
it would not be possible for me to run alone, especially
since we had just started our family, and I wanted to be
home with my children as much as possible.”
When Sara and Joe first opened the original Beauty Bar,
Sara worked 60 hours a week. The addition of their two young
children, Dominic and Isabella, however, has changed how
Sara allots her time. “I work 25 to 30 hours a week
now. I work with clients two days a week, and I am in the
office the other two days. I have managers that assist me
with managing the salon.”
Right now, Sara is thrilled with the new opportunities that
have come as a result of her gutsy phone call to HSN. Part
of her enthusiasm is fed by her positive attitude. “It
might have been challenging for us in the beginning, but
for every challenging thing, there are twice as many blessings,” she
believes. Sara’s Beauty Bar had a successful November
launch, and the Spallinos have been invited to return in
Spring 2008 with another collection.
When Sara reflects on this past year, she acknowledges the
large number of transitions that her business has endured. "Beauty
Bar and Sara's Beauty Bar are my passion, and I love what
I do. When I reflect on the last couple of years, I can't
believe all of the blessings that have come our way. I want
my children to see that with hard work and perseverance,
you can really do anything your heart desires.”
Sara's Beauty Bar
Joe and Sara Spallino
2919 W. Central Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43606
Phone: 419-537-5400
Website: www.beauty-bar.com
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