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78 DAYSPA | APRIL 2014 VENTURING OUT Carr's journey began back in 1981. Before she was a business owner, she honed her skills as a hairdresser at salons in Philadelphia and Princeton, New Jersey. It was during this time, while working for these bustling establishments, that she became aware of a lack of proper training among some of her coworkers, not to mention unprofessional behavior that included "gum- chewing, gossip and competition." She recalls, "I was tired of being a part of that type of environment, so I decided to open my own salon. I didn't do it with this grand idea of building a large business—I just wanted to work in peace and quiet!" In opening the original 2,200-square-foot loca- tion, Carr put her own savings on the line and took on a partner who invested in 30% of the business (Carr bought out the partner within a year of opening the facility). Metropolis opened its doors as full-service salon in September 1994, with a modest staff of four. However, the "peace and quiet" Carr envisioned was short-lived. The new facility fi lled a need in the community for a high-end salon and, as word about Metropolis spread, Carr found herself with a booming business that was rapidly outgrowing its modest space. Within months of opening the salon, she decided to relocate to larger premises in the same shopping center and expand her operation to include a nail room and spa. Metropolis' upgrade was far from seamless, how- ever. Carr hit a snag when, the day before she was due to sign the lease on her new space, the bank declined her loan. Distraught, she found herself venting her frustrations to a client. Unbeknownst to Carr, the client's husband happened to be the vice president of the bank. "The next day he came down with an SBA loan offi cer and we had the money in two weeks," says Carr. "I still have that client today!" Soon after acquiring the new location, Carr de- cided to utilize the lower level—which was originally a storage space—to house the spa. The transforma- tion from empty shell to sophisticated spa required a complete overhaul, including digging up the parking lot to bring in electricity and plumbing, and hiring two additional massage therapists, as well as a spa consultant, to help with logistics. The new spa and salon was unveiled in April 1995. "All day long, staff would take people downstairs to see the spa and offer short complimentary services," remembers Carr. "The salon was doing well enough to carry everything along so we could take our time building the spa side of the business." Education and training were fundamental factors in the early—and continued—success of Metropolis. Carr focused on hiring recent cosmetology gradu- ates, rather than seasoned professionals from other salons, as it allowed her to maintain consistency in their training and work. (To this day, staff is required to stay up-to-date on treatments, trends and products.) She gradually grew her staff as stylists evolved from inexperienced trainees to employees with full books. By 2001, the business was thriving enough for Carr to expand again. She added a facial room, relaxation area, and dedicated men and women's locker rooms. The upstairs salon added seven color chairs and 10 cutting chairs, and the nail room, pedicure room and retail area were all expanded. Metropolis began as strictly a full- service salon. PHOTO COURTESY METROPOLIS SPA SALON P r o f i l e 4 1 4 . i n d d 7 8 Profile 414.indd 78 3 / 7 / 1 4 9 : 4 4 A M 3/7/14 9:44 AM