NORTH BRUNSWICK — Boca Salons in the Lions Plaza off Route 130 has been serving clients in town for the last five years and has continually expanded due to customer demand.
"We have been in North Brunswick for the last five years and we continue to grow," said co-owner Anthony Cuccio. "We recently added a tanning area, a spa and expanded nail service. We have received wonderful response from the people who come. We have become extremely busy, especially in the spa area."
Cuccio, who co-owns Boca with Norman Hoffner, said the salon may be expanding.
"We currently have eight hair stylists," Cuccio said. "We are considering another expansion. We are at about 3,500 square feet right now and we would like to add another 1,500 square feet and expand the spa area."
The customer response has continued to grow since the salon opened five years ago, according to Cuccio.
"Our customer base has definitely been consistent," Cuccio said. "When we opened the salon, we started out with eight employees. Now we are up to 22 employees including hair stylists, manicurists and receptionists."
Cuccio also said that a large part of the salon’s success has to do with the hair care items sold on the displays.
"This is something that is very unique about our salon," Cuccio said. "We have sold out the display at times. We have made an enormous amount of retail money selling the majority of the items that come into the salon. The retail department is very strong."
Unlike other salons, the stylists at Boca do not have to pay to go to seminars, according to Cuccio.
"Educators in the salon and beauty industry go out to other districts teaching other stylists creative cut and color techniques," Cuccio said. "The guys and girls are constantly going to these seminars. It is mandatory to attend these classes. The classes are recommended by the manufacturers. The stylists can go every two to three months. A lot of salons offer the education at a charge, but we pay for them to go to class. We fully fund all of the education at this salon."
Cuccio said the salon offers other kinds of services.
"We do all types of manicures including spa manicures, acrylic fills and spa pedicures," Cuccio said. "All of the products that we use are the recommended brand-name products. We also have full waxing services. We have a spa area where we offer various kinds of massages. We offer a deep tissue massage, an aromatherapy massage and many other kinds of massages."
There are also many kinds of therapy offered by the salon to help with skin conditions, according to Cuccio.
"We do a variety of facials," Cuccio said. "We work with skin care treatment including aging. We have many different things such as body wraps and scrubs. The salon also offers tanning in a variety of packages. There is a special Boca beach club package for $25 a month where the use is unlimited in the base bed. There are five tanning beds in the salon."
Cuccio believes in having a salon that is open to the customers.
"We have an open salon concept at Boca," Cuccio said. "All of our staff is trained and hired to treat the customers with care. Any customer may choose to have any particular stylist work with them, and they should not feel uncomfortable to choose a different one. We do not take that personally. Everyone here is like an artist. They have their own techniques. If they are not happy with one particular stylist, we ask them to try someone else and be happy. This is very unique in a salon environment."
There are also a lot of complimentary items that come along with the service at Boca, according to Cuccio.
"We offer a private retreat area with complimentary refreshments and lush robes," Cuccio said. "It is free; it is part of the package. We will also offer a light complimentary lunch, if it is requested."
Customers travel from different areas of the state for the service offered at Boca, according to Cuccio.
"Clients who travel to our salon come to us from all over New Jersey," Cuccio said. "We’re known to get the word out about the salon and we continue to try to get it out more. We are a salon that is upscale, but friendly. We have customers from Lakewood, all over Monmouth County, and some from northern New Jersey."
Cuccio said that the customers respect the dedication and service from the staff at Boca.
"It has to do with the good quality of work and the overall warm, friendly, welcoming feeling of the salon," Cuccio said. "Service and professionalism are definitely key assets."