Hi. I’m Sarah. Nice to meet you.

When you meet someone for the first time it can be magical and it can also be deflating. Some of this psychology can be applied not only to people, but to places and things too. Meeting the expectations of today’s savvy consumers is a tall order. Today’s shoppers of goods and services are more discerning, more educated and definitely plugged into the digital world for reviews, convenient access and for information at their fingertips. Now more than ever, retailers and business owners need to be smart about attracting and retaining customers which means that the customer experience is our number one propriety as our doors open for the first time as Bellevue Salon & Spa. As Executive Director of this new establishment (under new management), I am thrilled to be involved at every level. From the planning and marketing to identifying Philadelphia’s premier talent, I am ready to take on new challenges and make this venture successful and fruitful for not only our clients but also our dedicated group of employees as well.  

While this location has seen a few different shingles hung on the “front stoop” over time, I’m more than confident that Bellevue Salon and Spa will enjoy a long and prosperous journey. For me it gets down to what I call “Three Ts” – Time, Technology and Talent. These are the pillars of success not only in the beauty business, but also lay the foundation for just about any entrepreneurial venture.

Time:
Hours of operation should cater to customers’ schedules. We’ll be open during the times when it’s most convenient for our clients. From brides to businesspeople, we are here at your service, which means your morning blowout is ready when you are and it also means that we’ll work quickly and expertly during your lunch break to make you look and feel your best. We’re also excited to be viewed as an extension of the hotel – and an important, reliable amenity of the property. We are ready to roll up our sleeves to service the guests of the Hyatt. Additionally we can’t wait to meet everyone who works here at the Bellevue from Hyatt staff to the Sporting Club, retailers and restaurant staff – we’re really happy to call the Bellevue our home and are excited to entrench ourselves by welcoming welcome new names and faces.

Technology:
From the way we mix color to our client outreach, we’ve embraced technology in the tools we use on the cutting floor and in our marketing engine. Technology allows us to stay connected to our clients in an intimate way. It also allows us to be continually improving our craft and our processes through valuable customer feedback. From the products on our shelves to new and innovative styling techniques, we’re 100% committed to staying ahead of trends and always being mindful of our clients’ needs and wants. It’s a fast world and technology allows us to meet the demands of our ever-changing marketplace. Our state-of-the-art Customer Relationship Management software allows us stay connected with customers who have elected to opt-in to receive our ongoing e-blasts. We’re also able to confirm appointments and send surveys as well as invitations to review services following a visit to our location. We are also big adopters of social media trends. We are committed to providing helpful and valuable posts several times weekly on both Twitter and Facebook so please follow us! Our plan is to expand our locally-focused, social media footprint over time to other popular portals.

Talent:
A friend of mine once said you never really break up with your first love…or your stylist. I thought about this and while it’s funny, it’s somewhat true. Over the last eight years in the business, I have made it a point to surround myself with individuals much more adept than me in certain areas. I can honestly say that the staff that has come over from Jay Michael Salon and Spa (1600 Arch St. location) is a group of very dedicated, passionate people – all who work very hard to surpass their clients’ expectations each and every day. From our front desk personnel to our award winning stylists, make up artists, estheticians and nail technicians everyone works together seamlessly – everyone gives their all and it’s amazing to watch – not only through the day, but through the years. I take great pride and satisfaction in incubating new talent and fostering them along their career path. From our assistants to our master stylists/colorists – we’re all family – we all care about each other and we hope that it shows in the work that we do.

I’m most excited about our incredible staff, and being involved in the salon’s day-to-day operations. Our staff is the perfect combination of stylists and technicians from the former Phoenix, Jay Michael, and Volt salons. The new Bellevue Salon & Spa will be the ideal place for our devoted employees to nurture their talent, and further their careers. This is what really blows my hair back (pun intended.)

 The Bellevue is a visually arresting, magnificent setting that combines the best of Philadelphia’s historical past with twist of classic modern luxury. Broad and Walnut is a coveted address frequented by locals and tourists alike. Sometimes I like to linger during a Palm lunch – watching people out the window…it’s always such a wide spectrum of people. From hurried business people to college students to happy shoppers, visitors to our city, families and more…I am always amazed at the sociological cross-section of people who pass by. Our company culture is one that welcomes all types of people, as the City of Brotherly Love is eclectic and fascinating. Our city’s beat is exciting and this sort of cultural renaissance is electrifying – it fuels the creativity of our staff and raises the bar defining the future of beauty services as well. At Bellevue Salon and Spa, we celebrate individualism, self-expression and multi-cultural diversity.

The Bellevue Salon & Spa will be as dedicated to local philanthropy and serving the community as it is to providing our guests with top-of-the-line customer service. We strive to instill a culture of heart-felt giving within our company. We believe everyone deserves to feel good and look good too! True beauty is defined through generosity and graciousness.

The reason I love going to work each day is because of the smiles - smiles on the faces of our customers when they look in the mirror and smiles on the faces of our service providers in knowing they made someone’s day. It’s priceless.  To me, beauty is about being the best possible version of yourself on the inside and out. It’s that simple. Yes, we have won Best of Philly accolades, yes, we’ve been lauded with winning international hair competitions, yes we’ve done celebrity hair, but all of that really doesn’t matter. What matters most is about making people feel good each and every time they leave our salon and spa. To me, that’s what it’s all about. I can’t wait to make new friends and meet new people here in our brand new Bellevue location. Please stop by to say hi and let me know what you think of our new website, branding…etc. Would love your feedback!  Feel free to email me at [email protected] to submit your ideas, thoughts and recommendations on how to make our salon and spa even better! I’m always open to new and thoughtful suggestions.

Best,

Sarah Keating
Executive Director
Bellevue Salon & Spa