Nestled in a serene nook of downtown Vancouver, Sole Purpose nail salon does more than meets the eye.
It's become a gathering place of Vancouver's who's who – women and men. A place to meet friends, make connections and hear about what's going on about town.
Owners Katie Willis and Donna Bleth, both nail technicians, have been doing nails in Vancouver for more than 20 years – Bleth said the two have been working together for so long it sometimes seems as if they're married.
Willis and Bleth see approximately 70 clients per week, and appointment times fill up far in advance. Even as the shaky economy turned into a true recession, sales have not slowed, Bleth said.
"Most of our customers are in a finance bracket that is not too affected by the economy – or they haven't stopped coming because they owe me," she said, laughing.
Due to Bleth's self-proclaimed "biggest mouth in town," she is often the go-to person for help with fundraising or spreading the word about an event or business, she said.
The shop has never advertised outside of participating in community events and being involved in volunteer efforts.
"People underestimate the power of word of mouth," Bleth said. "There is a lot of visibility in donation."
Willis and Bleth get asked so much to help promote events, usually via large fliers, that they have taken a standard digital photo frame and essentially created a rotating ad space using pictures of clients. The only cost is being a client.
It's helps clients and Sole Purpose isn't stuck making room for the fliers, which might detract from the small shop's recent change in decor.
They are also working on a community event book, which has 8.5-inch- by 11-inch sleeves, in which customers can put business cards and event announcements.
"I never dread going to work because I'm working with friends," Bleth said. "I really need to thank our dedicated clients – they're the reason we love coming to work."
Sole Purpose is located at 102 E. Evergreen Blvd. in Vancouver. Katie Willis and Donna Bleth can be reached at 360-735-7573.
