Good vibes only, please.
That’s the guiding principle behind one of Chilliwack’s newest downtown shops, Beautyboxx on Mill St.
On a recent Saturday morning, owner Liz Castro and her staff are relaxed, happy and greeting customers with a smile.
“Kindness and good vibes,” is what they’re all about, and to be a client is to be a part of the Beautyboxx family.
When Castro decided to go into business for herself, she knew that customer service would have to be her main focus. She wanted to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere while providing safe, reliable services.
“I wanted to know that if my daughter, mother, sister were going to get their hair or esthetics done, it would be provided in a safe environment,” she says. And she’s happy to have achieved that.
“Our books are really full,” she says, but the staff of six is also always open to new clients, too. The full hair salon also does nail treatments, microblading and lashes.
They opened their doors last August, as one of the tenants of a newly renovated building on Mill St. The inside has a trendy, industrial look, with smooth concrete floors and hanging patio lights. It’s exactly where the young entrepreneur wants to be, doing just what she was meant to be doing.
She was working on her career in law administration, when a shelving unit fell on her causing several injuries. On that shelf? Nail polish. She had always been interested in art, but had put it aside for her career. Things began to click when she couldn’t find a salon to suit her needs. Fast forward to enrolling at the Blanche Mcdonald Centre, and then teaching at Genta Bella.
“I knew this is where I was meant to be,” she says, and that means sticking it out even through the hard times.
When thieves targetted her store earlier this month, she was initially heartbroken. But it didn’t take long for Castro to learn exactly what her new business neighbourhood is all about, as surrounding businesses came to her aid.
“It showed me how much people love each other on this street,” she says. “It taught me there are definitely more good people than bad in the world.”
In the process, she learned that being a part of the downtown means being a part of the change.
“I see I have a bigger support network that I didn’t realize I had access to,” she says.
To learn more about Beautyboxx on Mill St., visit them at #6 9361 Mill St., call 604-997-4549, or visit them at www.beautyboxxstudio.com.
