the fresh perspective...

GREEN CIRCLE SALONS It's official guys!  We are officially a Green Circle Salon as of July first!  I'm very excited to introduce this new initiative to Winnipeg as the first salon (that I know of) that is committed to recycling up to 90% of the waste we produce while hooking you up with your hair dos.

With this program we will be able to recycle almost everything we use that produces some sort of waste.  Be it chemical, hair, paper, plastic, wax and wax strips... It's incredible!  When I opened up this shop 4 years ago I hoped for something like this to aid in lowering my salon's carbon footprint.  Unfortunately this service wasn't available in Manitoba until now!

Check out this video.  You'll be surprised at how much waste is produced by a simple cut and color service.  All the waste being produced by the services we perform will be turned into something else.  Some waste is turned into fuel for machines and others are made into bicycles and play structure for kids.  How does this work you ask?  Let me tell you!

GCS will pick up Freshair Boutique's waste and ship it to its appropriate recycling destination.  This service comes with a small fee.  We will be charging an environmental fee of $1.50 for every service bill.  This surcharge is similar to the fee you get charged at a grocery store when you buy soda in cans, glass, or plastic.  This charge is what allows us to ship the waste away and allows the companies to change the waste into something useful and great!

I know that some of you may have an issue with the surcharge, but I urge you to watch the video and see how great this system is.  Because of clients like you who choose to support local, and who believe in a better place to live for your and your families, a system like this is needed.  GCS has salons all over Canada.  It's largest concentration in the western part of Canada and I'd love for the prairies to take up the cause as well.

I know Winnipeggers aren't always receptive to change but this service is something that I think is important for businesses like mine that add to the environmental decline of our wonderful earth and sometimes our health.  I hope that all of you that patronize us won't be discouraged by our efforts to really help improve our lives and lifestyles.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about this initiative.  I also ask that you do all you can, in any way you can, to try to make our communities and our environment sustainable.  Is a $1.50 to much to ask?  Thanks so much for supporting Freshair Boutique and our commitment:

Choosing our business helps you get on the right track visually, with our beauty services, while consuming less, reusing certain items and recycling.  Our main goal is to put the best you together, while doing the least damage possible to the earth and ourselves.

That's the fresh perspective...

Thanks!

the fresh perspective...

SUMMERTIME IN MB

What are you thinking about getting into now that the summer is here?  I, for one, am an avid planner.  I have a few things lined up for the summer.

If I'm in town, I'll be checking out the festival on Canada Day on Osborne.  For August I'll be going to Stonewall for Quarry Days and driving out to Morden for the Corn and Apple Festival.

There's so much to do in Manitoba if you're into going for a bit of a drive.  There's a lot to see IN Winnipeg, but that much more to see OUTSIDE of Winnipeg.  It's funny how before having kids, I never really bothered with my province.  Now, I find that I'm looking for things to do to help us spend time together and help us get out to enjoy the nice weather we can have.

At sometime I'll head out to Falcon Beach and at some point and we'll pitch a tent in the backyard.  I'm also into watching movies in the park (sans children).  I'm excited and ready!  If you have any suggestions of places I should check out, leave me a message!  I'll try to make an appearance!  That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

Excuse me, how much??

We've all been there.  You go somewhere and you know how much you always pay.  That coffee shop that has that latte you love, that breakfast spot that makes you weekly cheese denvers...  You know how much it is.  Then one day, the price goes up.  What?!  Do you feel like you've been taken off guard?  Do you feel a little silly when you have to dig in your wallet for more change cause you thought you had the exact amount?  It's weird.

Well we're raising some prices at the shop and even with our best intentions of signs and posts, we're sure to not have informed everyone.  I know that someone will slip through the cracks and be a little taken off guard by the change.

Why do prices go up anyways?  There's always the obvious 'inflation'.  Business expenses go up so the price goes up.  Product prices go up so the service price goes up.  Employees get raises and, oop, prices go up.  I can say for our shop that when we do increase prices in services it's for a myriad of things.  I would like our loyal clients to know that when prices go up at Freshair, we want to make sure that you are not feeling at all that it's for nothing.  We aim to increase customer services, product selection, and overall experience for anyone who does choose to spend their hard-earned money in our business.  We value your opinions and support, and because of you, we aim to be better, always.

I have been styling hair for almost 15 years and have a license and a lovely clientele and I always make sure that I keep up with training and educating myself.  This year, for the first time ever, I will be changing my schedule to accommodate my growing family.  My prices will be going up in June and I anticipate that I may lose some clients because of less availability and higher prices.  I urge anyone who is struggling with higher prices to chat with your stylist about it.  It's okay to ask why.  It's your money and you should feel comfortable when you have to part with it.  If your stylist is becoming too expensive but you love the shop you go to you can discuss it with your stylist.  They may be able to refer you to someone else who does great work at a lower rate.  Think of it as paying for experience.  Someone who has had their hands in many heads of hair for over 20 years has probably seen it all and may have a solution to most hair issues, adversely, someone who has had their hands in heads for 5 years may do a great job as well.  The clincher is the experience and the expertise.

Just because I have been cutting hair for over 14 years doesn't mean I've NEVER had someone call back and complain, or tell me their cut was crooked, or thought I was bunk.  It happens.  I'm human.  My skin has gotten very thick over the years and I've learned not to sweat the small stuff...but I'm still raising my prices! :)

That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

Winnipeg is the greatest place to live.  Check out this image.  If you live here, you'll know what this is all about.  If you don't, well, thank God you don't... We love spring!  That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

It's been pretty wet, cold and rainy these past few days and it looks like there's more 'bad' weather to come.  A poem for your weekend...

The Blues

When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you're in a hurry- That's the blues.

When you go to buy a candy bar And you've lost the dime you had- Slipped through a hole in your pocket somewhere- That's the blues, too, and bad!

Langston Hughes

That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

Blah, blah, blah... It's official, we are expanding!  If you haven't been in the shop for a while, you should get in here before the summer ends.  We're going to be giving our shop a complete over haul.  It's funny, all I do (apart from making folks look good) is talk, talk, talk.  Sometimes I tell the same story to some clients cause I'm not sure who has heard what yet.  It's crazy.  On a busy day, I probably am talking for at least six hours!!

I find that talking about stuff helps me stay accountable and keeps me on my toes.  It's been so long that we have been talking about expanding and now that we are, I want to shout it from the roof tops!  I know I've been on here thanking everyone for all their support, and this, and that, and what-not, but I really need everyone to know that I am so grateful and happy that we are still around.  I'm so happy that we are still able to give everyone the service and care that we provide whenever our doors are open.

We want to be better and know that there are ways to grow and keep growing, but it's the support from all our family, friends, staff and most importantly the folks that patronize us on a daily basis.  Thanks to you clients that trust us with your hairs, and your colors.  Thanks for trusting our opinions on products.  Thanks for giving us a part of your hard-earned wages.  I know that some of our services and products are on the higher end, but thanks for understanding that phrase, 'you get what you pay for'.  We really want to go to the next level with our new expansion and we want all of you that walk in our shop to experience the new changes with us.

We were good before, but we are going to be better!  Clients: any advice you want to give us?  Please do!  We are here for you, and want you to enjoy yourselves.  I've said enough, I've said it all. Danke...

That's the fresh perspective...