an interwiew with Gene Juarez

The balance of energy.

The salon and the spa experiences nvolve two very different energy levels as evidenced by the lighting, the materials, and the sounds. An entirely new facility afforded Gene the opportunity to balance the high energy of the salon with the tranquility of the spa. He also had the chance to avoid the obvious problems that arise with space constraints. There's nothing more out-of-place looking than uncomfortable clients in terrycloth robes in the same waiting area as fully dressed salon clients. Here, Gene has taken the blessing of space and created two beautifully balanced worlds.

Gene described the energy in the salon as upbeat. "Here in the salon there is an aspect of entertainment. When you come here, you want to be seen and to see what other people are doing." Once he pointed it out, the subtle became obvious; the location of the stations along the mall windows offered a bird's eye view of the comings and goings. "You want to have a private space, and yet you still want to feel a sense of being where the 'action' is."

"When we send people from the reception desk into the spa, we know they are going through those doors to a place where they can be tranquil. The spa is a much more intimate area. Sometimes rejuvenation can take place in the atmosphere of the salon, but it's a different kind of recharging of the batteries. In the spa, rejuvenation is being by yourself, being quiet, and being reflective."

As Gene described the two experiences, I was struck by a sense of how well he grasped a common element "that the client comes, in one way or another, to be transported out of their ordinary every day world. And by knowing exactly where and how he was facilitating this experience at both the salon and spa, he had achieved a level of extraordinary client satisfaction.

It starts with the flow of people.

A passion for the details.

A feast for the senses.

The balance of energy.

The client experience.