in mid-september we blogged concerning our intentions of adding solar technologies to our building here on mitchell bridge rd.  well, we can successfully now check that off our “to-do”list! 

in late september we began generating hot water through three solar thermal panels, and to date, that has been an extremely successfully transistion.  although we will not see any cost savings until our october gas bill hits the mailbox in november, considering how nice the weather has been and how steady the system has been operating, i’m fully confident of a tremendous savings in gas usage.  and just this morning – we began cranking electricty.

at 5;30 a.m. today i pulled into the arbor parking lot to meet ga. power crewmen, as well as turnsol electric employees, to observe as they completed the final bit of wiring allowing us to begin photovoltaic operation.  within the hour all work had been completed, and although this early a.m. was cloudy, as quickly as the sun’s rays crested the horizon, electrical readouts inside the building began indicating electricty was being produced.  we are tied into the ga. power grid, selling power back to them as an electrical generating facility.  bills in dec. will indicate just how successful this program will be.

according to solar industry trade publications, our part of the country rates just behind areas of the southwest in weather needed to produce solar power.  according to solar today, if it’s sunny enough to grow crops, it’s sunny enough to make power.  having lived in the south all my life, i’m fully aware the growing season here easily runs from easter through late september.  and although the growing season for most plants slows and/or stops for the late fall and winter months, we still have more than enough sunny weather throughout the winter to produce electricty.  as we move forward with these green technologies, all of us here at the arbor expect good things.

What are the odds that the very same day we set solar thermal panels on the roof, the skies open up and rain for the next seven days?  what are the odds?  all i’m prepared to say right now is “no mas”!

solar panels are on the roof and just today have crews begun to work on perhaps the key part of the installation – getting the racks in place and the panels prepared to be set.  throughout this past week – to the extent they could – turnsol energy employees have been working inside installing all the plumbing to allow us to begin making, storing and using solar hot water.  i know i’ve been very anxious to move ahead with this program, but these guys have been chomping at the bit.  weather permiting, by tomorrow afternoon connections should be complete and we’ll test the system thursday/friday.  finally, progress!

as quickly as this is successfully completed, all the hardware is here to begin the installation of the solar electrics.  with the beautiful weather we generally have here throughout the fall, i’m eager to see how electrical production works.  even more eager to begin seeing paybacks from ga. power.  as with everything we undertake here, we proceed with confidence and “expect good things.”  m

As if it weren’t green (and blue) enough around here, we at the arbor are continuing to follow thorough on our promise of a “green development” by the addition of solar panels to the top of our salon building.  As of yesterday, 9/14, solar thermal panels we lowered onto the roof, and weather and god permitting, everything should be connected allowing us the opportunity to start producing hot water by week’s end.  According to Drew Bowen, president of TurnSol Energy, this solar application has the most immeadiate impact on return of investment , and is perhaps the single  biggest savings in the solar arena.  It was interesting to note that yesterday (monday) was an overcast day, not one that I would certainly figure as being able to generate much solar heat.  Could i be more wrong?  As the panels were being uncrated and prepared to be lifted to the roof, SolarHot Vice President Fred Gretsch instructs me to hold the brass water pipe exiting one of the panels.  Realizing this was a continuious piece of brass and was being warmed from the heat of the pipe inside the panel, i was pleasantly surprised at how “hot” the pipe was just from the rays of a cloudy day.  Imagine was full-on sun will do!

Stay tune as we proceed with this undertaking.  As solar thermal beomes productive, our attention will turn to producing electricity and adding more panels to the roof.  We do expect savings, but even more so, we “expect good things.”  m

Thursday evening, 9/10, we hosted our first Redken Night of Color, and i’m proud to say we found the night to be a tremendous success!  with the exception of maybe one or two stylists, everyone here was involved working with models, greeting guests as they arrived, showcasing fall color and highlight specials, and generally enjoying the evening in a more relaxed, causal atmosphere.  our salon was decorated for the evening with candles, food and beverage offerings warmly welcomed all that attended.

at one point throughout the late afternoon/early evening event, salon owner janet prince led a group of stylists and models into the plaza surrounding our buidling and into the restaurant next door, inviting all in the courtyard and bar area into the salon to participate in the evening. and as the evenings activities were taking place in the salon area, massage therapists richie williams and amy fowler were rocking the spa, providing their guests massage and spa services in an environment seemingly a world away from the activities of downstairs.  a drawing will be held this a.m. to award one lucky attendee from the evening with a complete color/highlight/cut service from the stylists of their choice.

thank you everyone that participated and attended for making our first night of color such a success.  as we say here – “expect good things.”  m

within the last two days i’ve returned from a motorcycle ride through western north carolina, across tennessee and into north western kentucky.  traveling by motorcycle is my thing, my preferred thing.  and taking such trips where i only travel on two-lane roads allows my wife and i the option to really see what this country is all about and what others are doing.  and since we are small business owners and owners of a salon/spa, we pay particular attention to the salons and spas we pass as we travel.

while we don’t generally stop and visit every salon we run across, we do try and note the names of the business’, often finding humor, certainly quaintness, in the variety of names.  always we’ll  find the “betty’s beauty spot”, or “carol’s curl up and dye”, even “beauty starts here hair salon”.   if  janet is traveling with me, these discoveries always generate a touch from one of us to the other, making sure we see and acknowledge it.  “country cuts” is one easily found when traveling in a more rural area, “highway 441 salon” is one seen when traveling south on this beautiful highway.  but the one i found this past monday while traveling rural kentucky will stay with me for a while:  “Gene’s Guns, Ammo, Archery and Hair Salon”.

now, i can only imagine that gene must be a very deversified individual, not really sure which passion basket to put all his eggs in, so he just combined his four loves, guns, ammo, archery and hair.  knowing a little  about this business, i wonder what calls to  his front desk must sound like.  when requesting an appointment, do his guests ask for such things as, “i’d like to make an appointment for a cut and color, and while i’m there i’d really like to try that new compound bow while i’m processing.”    maybe even as his guests are checking out and his stylists are recommending product for take home, the conversation may go,” our extend shampoo will certainly aid in extending your color through the remainder of the season, and speaking of season, deer season is here, may i recommend our new line of high calibur hollow-points.”  jeez, talk about all over the map.

point here is, we’re about hair, and we’re about spa services.  janet has spent her entire career learning about hair and educating others about hair, about spa, and about relaxation services.  our name is very simple and implies exactly what we do, and our tag line implies exactly what we believe and promote:  expect good things.      m

I am amazed every time I see Shannon do a guest’s extensions.  The quality of her work and of the Great Lengths extensions themselves in unmatched.  The way she can completely change the way someone looks, still blows my mind.  The extensions are made of human hair and are bonded to individual hair strands, which makes the overall “look” look real and flawless.  Extensions can be used to add body, length, body & length, color, and texture.  For those of us who wish our hair would become thicker, longer, and more beautiful overnight, Great Lengths extensions are in our future.  Some might wonder is the cost of extensions really worth it.  My take on it? How can you put a price on allowing  yourself  the gift of  looking and  most importantly, feeling beautiful. 

Julie Kirkland

it does indeed feel like a brave new world, and i’m timidly embarking on brand new conquests.  and man, am i feeling ALIVE!    just this morning on a.m. cable news, one commentator was going on how, thanks to the internet, everyone now can be a writer, publisher, commentator, anchor, and witness to news and history globally taking place.  and feel qualified to comment on it!  well, we ain’t all cronkites, and not many of us are hemingways (certainly not me), but i do feel qualified – even entitled – to comment on things taking place at The Arbor Salon and Spa, and at The Arbor on Mitchell Bridge.   so , where now?

My wife janet and i, working with our management team and our business consultant renee walker, have paid our dues, in my opinion, and feel we are now working with the team of professionals that will truly keep our salon and spa a Redken Top 20 Salon and the premier salon/spa destination in northeast georgia.  it is with great pride that we watch so many succeed.

from my beginnings here just over three years ago and joining my wife of 27+ years salon ownership experience, i have watched as young women have become successful, empowered, confident and business-minded stylists.  And have watched them “build a book” that is allowing them a comfortable income affording them “luxuries” that not many in their age group – and certainly in this economy – are enjoying.  as i come to work each day,  almost nothing gives me a greater sense of satisfaction.

the only thing providing that “greater sense of satisfaction” is pulling into the parking lot of a business and business development that my wife is responsible for.  as i’ve told many, it’s proof “what a girl in the world can do.”   recently we hired a new front desk “tribe” menber who has just completed cosmotology school and is in the process of getting her state license.  during the interview, we asked her what her five-year plan was, to which she shrugged and suggested just to have a good clientel.  while i didn’t seize the moment the way i generally do, i suggested a career in cosmotology has taken many people very, very far.  when i pull into work every morning and overlook the two buildings at 1155 mitchell bridge rd., it is indeed testiment to how far this career field can take an individual and to just what a girl in the world can do.  janet dreamed.  and today, this new “tribe” member, as well as 20 others of us, have a place to work, an environment to be proud of, and a place to dream our own dreams.

so, where now?  i most want this space to become a place where our regular guests can come to find the latest in what’s happening at the salon and spa, and where our new guests can come to find an introduction to everything The Arbor has to offer and to everyone they will have the pleasure of meeting.  hopefully, through this door others will become as familiar with our business as we here have become.    this is what’s making me feel alive.  so – as we say here, “expect good things.”