Today we’d like to introduce you to Joyce Hampers.
Joyce, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My profession is that of a lawyer and I practiced for several years after Law School before being appointed by the Governor as Massachusetts Commissioner of Revenue in 1975. When George H.W. Bush was elected President in 1989, I went to Washington, D.C. to become U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce. At the end of Pres. Bush’s term, I returned to Boston and decided to start a business. I was interested in doing something in the beauty business because I thought that I had a unique idea of consolidating all such services into one business. I didn’t know that my bright idea was already labeled a “Day Spa.” Nonetheless, the concept was still in its infancy. When we opened in 1994 there were only some 250 such businesses in the entire country and most of those were not worthy of the name because they were just hair salons with maybe one room for facials trying simply to add the word “spa” to their name to give themselves a luxury feel.
We started with 5000 sq. ft. (mostly hair and nail stations with 3 rooms for facials and massage). By 1998, we had expanded to another 2500 sq. ft. and in 2001 another 4500 sq. ft., adding more and more wellness type services. In 2010, we purchased two buildings and re-purposed them into one 13,500 sq. ft. facility where we have been operating since as the undeniably most comprehensive, luxurious urban destination spa in metropolitan Boston.
Has it been a smooth road?
The journey has decidedly NOT been a smooth one! We have met many challenges along the way—some just part of the learning curve associated with forming a new business; others were actual physical disasters. Shortly after remodeling and moving into additional space the basement of our building in 2001, the entire space was flooded due to an unusual summer storm. In 2005, the same space was again flooded. This time due to a faulty back-flow prevention device which allowed water accumulated from another storm to enter the premises from the alley. In both cases the premises were almost completely destroyed and had to be re-renovated. Then, in 2006, someone left a candle burning overnight near some combustible hair products and the entire second floor went up in flames causing major rebuilding. Of course in all of these situations, our insurance was not enough and we had to make large capital outlays.
The other business problems were mostly due to my lack of management/ business knowledge. As you recall, my professional experience had been in Law and Government up to this time. Therefore, I relied upon others whom I thought were experts in the business world. I learned the hard way that they were not.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
G2O Spa + Salon is known all over metropolitan Boston &, indeed, the entire Northeast as Boston’s best day spa. A luxurious, award-winning facility, offering the most comprehensive, cutting-edge spa services along with a large hair salon staffed with the top experts in the field.
What I am most proud of as a company is our associates. We have developed a culture that allows for the growth and reward satisfaction for each individual, but, at the same time, prompts each individual to know and appreciate how he/she is an important contributor to the goals and success of the entire organization. We are all focused on making certain that we are always maintaining 5 Star service to ALL of our customers.
I am also most proud of the fact that over 30% of our 90+ associates have been with the company for 10 years or more!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Boston is a good place to start a hair salon. However, not so good when it comes to the day spa business. So many of the laws regulating this type of business make no sense and I think it is because the bureaucrats at both the state and city level are simply not familiar with this type of business and, therefore, tend to either reject outright certain applications or place unreasonable demands on these businesses.
Contact Info:
- Address: 278 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g2ospasalon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/g2ospasalon
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