From the Rivereast Weekly:
HOME-BASED BUSINESS CELEBRATES 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
April in Paris Day Spa, LLC a home-based business in East Hampton is celebrating its fifth year in business this August. Owner, Julie C. Ciucias who practiced for 26 years as a physical therapist became an aesthetician (skin care specialist) in March 2003. “I was really frustrated with the impact of health care changes on the practice of physical therapy. I was spending most of my time on paperwork, regulation compliance and budgets and less time with my patients and staff. I also had elder care responsibilities and needed more flexibility,” Ciucias states.
Ciucias graduated from New England School of Aesthetics in Newington, CT and went on to work in locations in West Hartford and Marlborough. After getting hands on experience and additional training in New York City, Ciucias, who has an MBA with a concentration in marketing went on to open her own business. She states “I decided there is nothing like being an entrepreneur and being your own boss”. After contacting the town and finding out what, if any, home business regulations the town had, Ciucias opened April in Paris Day Spa in her home in February 2005 with a grand opening in August of that same year. As a previous member of East Hampton’s Economic Development Commission and having served at its Chairperson for 2 years, Ciucias states she understands the value and impact that small business has on the local economy. She explains, “I have always been an advocate for home-based business guidelines and regulation and have supported their being passed in East Hampton but this has yet to come to pass. I pay more business personal property taxes than some landscaping businesses and believe that formalizing home-based business or micro-entrepreneur regulations would make them bona fide entities that could contribute to the town’s tax base. If these taxes were systematically collected and quantified, this contribution could be significant.”
Ciucias goes on to state that because she does not have the overhead, she has survived and thrived in the recent economic down turn. Ciucias feels fortunate and despite reporting that two skin care business closed last year, last year was her best year to date. The overhead is a rough for most small business Ciucias says and without overhead she can invest in quality product and up to date equipment. She can also afford more specialized training and has received training from aestheticians from New York, France, Switzerland, and Germany. Ciucias offers the classic European facial as well as a variety of specialized ones and a full menu of other spa services. She has a wide selection of equipment including Revitalight LED, microdermabrasion, high frequency galvanic, steam and microcurrent that help her achieve a more clinical improvement for her clients. Ciucias is also a Reiki III, reflexology and detox foot bath provider. Ciucias, who has struggled for many years with Lyme Disease, reports that a change in diet and the detox foot baths have really helped her. “I love to help people relax and improve their appearance and well-being because when you feel better …you look better!”
Ciucias says most of referrals come by word of mouth. “My clients love the personal care delivered in a pleasant, intimate setting.” With more and more people downsizing, traveling less, and being stressed, Ciucias says people want quality services close to home. For information contact April in Paris at 860-267-8152 or visit the website at www.aprilinparisdayspa.com.
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