By Jill Nagy
“It’s a beauty bar, a spa, and a boutique all in one,” said Ashley Arpey, owner of Endless Infinite Beautique at 167 Saratoga Ave. in Mechanicville.
“There’s a need for that” in Mechanicville, her home town, she added.
Arpey had been a stay-at-home mom since 2009 when her son, Hunter, was born. Then she decided,“it was time to find my passion,” which, it turned out, was opening her own business. “I’ve always wanted to open a business. I just didn’t know when or how.”
Torn between a spa and a clothing and lifestyle boutique, she decided to combine the two. She completed a 10-month course at the Aesthetic Science Institute in Latham, passed the necessary state licensing exams, and found an appropriate location.
Renovations took four months. The business had a soft opening in early June and its “official” opening in late July.
On the beauty side, the shop offers facials, chemical peels, body waxing, spray tans, eyelash enhancements and other services. Presently, there are no hair or nail services, but Arpey plans to add those later, bringing in contractors to perform those services. She can provide a range of treatments from a spa day to a quick eyebrow wax, she said.
“I can enhance what you have” rather than add something artificial, like false eyelashes that may fall off, she said. She tries to make her clients feel beautiful by enhancing their own beauty, she said. She aims at enhancing both internal and external beauty, noting that “I can shut the door and they can relax and talk to me.”
In addition to the beauty treatments, “They can shop a little before they leave,” she said. She offers “trendy fast fashion, but good quality” clothing items along with trendy home decor and lifestyle items.
Her aim is to “combine my love for beauty and my passion for fashion,” she said.
So far, she has no employees but her husband, Nick, and her son “are my biggest support system,” along with her parents and brother. She said that the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has also been a big help.
Looking back at her transformation from stay at home mom to entrepreneur, Arpey emphasizes that “It’s never too late to follow your dream.”
The Beautique is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. While walk-ins are welcome, but Monday dates are by appointment only. Clients can book online at www.vagaro.com/endlessinfinitebeautique or by telephone at 518-423-2838.