BET TERBUSINESS
Skaneateles, NY, is a town on the western border
of Onondaga County southwest of Syracuse, NY,
whose name is derived from the Iroquois tribe’s
term for “long lake.” The town is home to a thriving
residential and business community with many shops
and galleries housed in restored historic buildings,
including Bijou, a hair salon with the tag line, “A gem
of a little salon.”
Bijou owner Kimberly Baker decided on the name
of her salon after a friend mentioned the word and told
her that it meant “jewel” in French and “small and
elegant” in English. “At that moment, I knew Bijou was
the name,” Baker says.
Before Bijou opened in 2007 in a 650-square-foot space,
Baker had only one month to develop the salon’s concept and
business and finance plans, but she believes this actually helped
the salon become successful. “Sometimes when you have less
time to deliberate, you act on your gut instinct, and that is often
the best way to go,” she says. In April 2009, Baker doubled the
salon space to 1,300 square feet and now boasts a staff of 14
talented and educated employees.
From haircare services, manicures and pedicures to facials,
massage, eyebrow threading, waxing and makeup applications,
the salon offers clients a wide range of services in a comfortable
environment. Silver styling chairs, stainless steel mirrors and
silver beaded lamp shades at the stations are complemented
by shades of chocolate, white, aqua and
chartreuse and a polka-dot pattern in
the front area to create a fun, laid-back
atmosphere. In addition to a variety of
professional haircare lines, the salon also
carries skincare and nail products and fun
accessories like Mr. & Mrs. Survival Kits,
Stephanie Johnson cosmetic bags and
Pampered Princess jewelry. Baker’s vision
for the salon was to create a space that
exudes a feeling of “comfort, tranquility
and elegance with a big flourish of
whimsy.” ✂ —Nicole Palmieri
Bijou
In every small town across America, there’s at least
one salon that raises the bar for everyone else.
Skaneateles, NY, (population 7,323) has Bijou.
BIG FISH, SMALL POND
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT:
The spa treatment room; the retail
area offers a variety of products
and fun accessories; silver styling
stations add to the salon’s laid-back, comfortable atmosphere; the
shampoo area; makeup application is
among the services offered at Bijou.
Skaneateles,NY13152
315/685-1300
BIJOU
• bijousalon.net
IN STOCK: Aveda, Eufora, Kenra,
Morroccanoil, OPI
