Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Gina Tarbell and Erin Muller, owners of Karma Spa and Boutique.
How long have you lived in the area?
Erin Muller: Pretty much our whole lives, on and off.
Tell me about your business:
Muller: Karma is the first time a real spa has been brought to Oneonta. There are a lot of salons, but we are different.
It's a big place. People feel like they're not in Oneonta. They feel comfortable. We want to bring treatments and an atmosphere that are comforting to clients. We do hair and makeup for events, facials, massages, airbrush makeup, manicures, pedicures, body treatments, waxing.
Describe a typical day in your business:
Muller: It's up and down. You never know what's going to happen or who will come in. It's usually quiet _ people are in treatment rooms having services. We usually have one client at a time, so we can focus on each client. But we're back to back with appointments.
How did you get started in this line of work?
Gina Tarbell: I've been cutting hair since I was 13.
Muller: I would tweeze eyebrows in school. My friends would ask me to do it for them. We both like to work with our hands.
Tarbell: My attention shifted to manicures, pedicures, facials (and) esthetics, when I was going to school in Manhattan.
Muller: I also did pageants growing up and noticed how popular the skin industry was, then realized that's what I wanted to do.
Where do you see this business in five years?
Tarbell: I would like to say bigger _ bring in new and different things, and maybe have a wellness center in the future with yoga, pilates and a nutrition center.
Describe a memorable moment in your workplace:
Tarbell: The whole thing has been memorable _ transforming the space, and then opening.
Muller: So many people have helped us. Everyone has been so supportive.
Tarbell: Our pedicure chairs arrived at 1 p.m. the day we opened, and Erin and I helped direct traffic. That was memorable.
Muller: It all worked out, though. Everyone was so nice helping us out.
Tarbell: The whole experience was fun. I'm just happy to be here.
The most enjoyable part of what you do?
Tarbell: Treatments. They're like meditation for us, as well as our clients.
Muller: I think also seeing results with clients. A teenage boy with terrible acne gets clean skin and is really thankful. Also, we love being able to help people and educate them, and help people realize that it's OK to take care of themselves.
What are some advantages as well as drawbacks of doing business in this area?
Tarbell: A drawback now would be the weather. We're both looking forward to summer.
An advantage is meeting a lot of different people. In Oneonta, there's a sense of community _ we know our clients and see our clients around town. We can ask, "How are the dogs?" Developing friendships with clients is a great part of what we do. I have a 15-month-old son and I'm looking forward to raising him in this area.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
Muller: We're a place for professionals like ourselves to be featured _ estheticians, massage therapists.
Tarbell: We can have careers _ not just rent a room at the back of a hair salon. When you go to school, you see yourself working at a spa.
Muller: We want to inspire people in the area who go to programs at places like BOCES will want to work at Karma.
Shop Talk interviews are conducted by Cassandra Miller. To reach Miller, e-mail cmiller@thedailystar.com. For more information about Shop Talk, call Emily F. Popek at 432-1000, ext. 217.
