Done up, dressed up
A new party spa -- complete with glitter and glamour -- launched its first suburban site, giving young local girls the opportunity to double as rock stars or princesses.
Sweet & Sassy, geared for 4- to 12-year olds, recently opened in the new Oak Brook Promenade in Oak Brook.
This is the second franchise for Michelle McClennan, who opened her first spa for girls in Chicago's Lincoln Park five months ago. There are plans for additional locations in the near future.
The privately held franchise, headquartered in Texas, features three businesses under one roof: retail, a haircut and spa section and a party area, McClennan said.
When young shoppers first enter the bright shop, which is decked out in funky shades of purple, green, pink and orange, they'll find an array of fun boutique-style gifts, purses, toys, makeup and more.
The middle of the 6,000-square-foot store features manicure tables and stations for haircuts, where gourmet lollipops are given to young clients.
The back of Sweet & Sassy serves as the designated party place -- complete with "theater-quality" costumes for young girls. There, they're transformed by stylists, who put the girls' hair up and apply sparkly makeup.
Parties for older girls focus more on the Sweet & Sassy's spa aspect; comfy robes are worn instead of costumes, said McClennan, 39.
"We try to make the activities age-appropriate," she said.
When planning parties, parents can pick from a variety of features. The basic party for eight girls goes for $285. This includes having their hair and nails done, a makeover, and dressing up and taking part in a fashion show on stage.
For parents wanting to splurge, a hot pink limousine can pick up the party-goers for $175.
Tunes by Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers and other artists you'd hear on the Disney radio station play at the party place.
The idea for the business originated from McClennan's personal experiences with her daughter Campbell, who just turned 4.
"I realized there's nothing out there that involves these three concepts. We recognized it was a good business model," she said.
Moms visiting the shop are constantly telling McClennan that they've been waiting for something like this to open.
Sweet & Sassy is part of a growing segment of the retail-entertainment arena that caters to pre-teens.
Retail analysts say it's a good move to combine retail and entertainment.
RideMakerz and its sister Build-A-Bear Workshop are other retailers with entertainment that target this market. RideMakerz opened this spring at Woodfield Shopping Center, giving customers the opportunity to create 10- to 12-inch toy cars or monster trucks.
Analysts believe that even with a weak economy, parents will still continue to look for activities to do with their children.