Staff Writer
ASHLAND – In need of a trim or perhaps a complete makeover of yesterday’s hairstyle? Then why not stop by the New Shoppe Salon – no appointment necessary.
For owners Tara Peterson and Danielle Foster, it’s all about convenience for their customers.
“We’re located downtown, at 5C Main St., next door to the New Shoppe, so we’re conveniently located,” said Peterson. “And our hours are designed to suit the needs of the community.”
“That’s why we accept walk-ins. I don’t think anyone else in the area accepts walk-ins. We wanted to make it convenient for our customers,” added Foster.
Open five days a week, from Tuesday through Saturday, the salon offers hours to suit most everyone.
“We’re open Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m; Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said Peterson.
The salon welcomes men, women and children. Services range from simple cuts to perms and eyebrow waxing, with prices beginning at $9 and going up from there, depending on what’s desired.
“We believe our prices are a bit lower than our competitors,” said Foster.
Although both women are graduates of Pierre’s School of Beauty, in Caribou, they actually met after they’d graduated.
“We’ve been friends a little over a year. I graduated last year,” said Peterson, a Portage resident.
“And I graduated in 1997,” said Foster. “My boyfriend brought up the idea of us opening a business together.”
After much discussion, the pair decided to go for it.
“The more we talked about it, the more it sounded like a good idea,” said Foster, of Sheridan.
The ladies consider work a pleasure – and a form of relaxation, since both are moms to young children. Opening a business took some planning to work around family needs.
“I always had an interest in doing hair. But I didn’t want to be away from my family. I have a 2-year-old daughter. With a salon, I can kind of set my own hours,” said Peterson.
Foster also wanted a job with flexibility.
“I actually took time off from doing hair to have a family. I have two boys, ages 3 and 4,” said Foster.
The women have created a cozy atmosphere at the New Shoppe Salon and hope to see a lot of new faces in the coming weeks and months – especially with graduations, weddings and pageant season fast approaching.
“We accept walk-ins. We’ve had quite a few so far,” said Peterson.
“We’ve talked about opening for so long, people may not realize we actually are,” said Foster. “We’re new. We want people to come in and see us.”
For more information, call 435-6555.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
WALK-IN SERVICE is just one way owners Tara Peterson and Danielle Foster hope to attract customers to their new business, the New Shoppe Salon, located on Main St. in Ashland. Open five days a week, the business offers a variety of hair care options at reasonable prices for men, women and children.
