The Phoenician Salon & Day Spa Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Main News Photo

Jaimie McComas bought The Phoenician in 2005. The 1,800 sq. ft. space was located just south of 13th Street on Main Street at the time. She began with hair and nails services and 6 employees/booth renters. In 2010, she purchased the new location at 1303 North Main Street. The new 5,500 sq. ft. location had to be completely reroofed and remodeled. The added space allowed Jaimie and her staff to add massage, facial, eyelash extension, wig & extension services, in addition to a boutique offering of clothing, purses, and jewelry. Over the past 17 years The Phoenician has doubled in staff 12 stylists, technicians, therapists, and administrative staff.

Jaimie has worked hard to bring an elevated atmosphere and a luxurious spa experience with the warm, small-town hospitality.

Providing specialized services for cancer patients is a passion of Jaimie’s and also makes The Phoenician unique in the Salon industry. Jaimie was trained in the American Cancer Society's "Look Good Feel Better". When that program ended in 2017, Jaimie started "Brows of Hope" through Reno County Cancer Council and provides full salon/beauty services for cancer patients in Reno County.

Additionally, Jaimie and her staff provide much more than their stated services to their clients. Their clients have found The Phoenician to be a safe place to talk about the challenges of life. They consider their clients family and have given first haircuts to young ladies that are now having them style their hair for their weddings.

Jaimie has been able to overcome many financial challenges since acquiring her current location through determination, hustle, and grit. While expecting her second child, Jaimie bailed water from a leaking roof. While shut down for 6 weeks due to the pandemic, she turned to online sales and ran specials on merchandise. Jaimie and her staff have adapted and overcame when challenges have arisen!

Jaimie has been able to retain many of her professional staff for more than 5 years with a couple having been with her since she started in 2005. She credits this to her willingness to allow her professionals the freedom to "be their own boss." She does not micromanage them, but goes above and beyond to help them learn, grow, and develop in their areas of expertise. She has made it a priority to maintain a drama-free, positive, upbeat work environment.

Jaimie enjoys giving back to the community that has been good to her by providing services to cancer patients through the American Cancer Society and Reno County Cancer Council. She has made generous donations of her time and funds to both those organizations in addition to the United Way Ladies Night Out where she has provided pop-up boutiques. The Phoenician is very generous with gift certificates to area fundraising efforts.

When asked what one characteristic makes your small business most deserving of this award…  "We may be a salon, but we are also counselors, therapists, fashion consultants, and much more. Our clients become family. We laugh and cry with our clients. We are often the first people they talk to about deaths in their family, pregnancies, and many other major life events. For the good and the bad in life, our clients find the chairs of our salon to be a safe place to talk to people that love and care about them."

Category: SBA