Kerry Ann Klein has followed some very simple principles which have served her well ever since she started her own business here six years ago: love what you do, love your customers and do your very best to give them the service and care they’re looking for.

Those principles carried over from her days just up the street at the Cutting Corner have led to the recent “first year” celebration of Klein’s expanded interest – the Escape Day Spa & Salon – located on Main Street. The business offers massage (deep tissue and Swedish), facials, manicures and pedicures and custom colour in addition to haircuts.

Ms. Klein remains humbled by her success, and most grateful to her customers.

“It’s really something,” she said last week. “I love my clients and I’ll do whatever it takes to make them happy and they know that. They’re the reason I’m here – literally, and I’m just so thankful for them. I’m definitely blessed.”

It was the consistent commentary from her clients, who said they would like for her to spread her wings (and store space) a bit in the future, which led to the move to her new beautiful and more spacious digs down Main Street.    

“Yes, they’re really the reason I’m here, and things have gone so well,” she said. “I’ve just been amazed. Business has doubled since we’ve made the move and there are some people out there who still don’t realize we’re here, but we’re looking to triple it by next year.”

Escape is featuring some new talent these days with massage therapist Tammy Smith and licensed cosmetologist Stevie Marie Boyd (specializing in colour) now on board with longtime staff members Rosalyn Pressley (hair wash and scalp massage), Marcia Foley (hair and nails), licensed esthetician Eileen Klein and, of course, Kerry Klein herself with a lengthy client list.

“We have a great group here and we’re glad to have Tammy and Stevie Marie here with us as well,” Klein said. “We know they will be great additions to the staff here at Escape.”

The business operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. The salon offers products by Redken, Sexy and Lanza. Escape also plans to open Tai Chi classes in the near future.

Throughout the month of September, in honor of the businesses’ one-year anniversary, Escape will be offering men’s haircuts at $10, a 20-percent discount on colour processing, $30 spa pedicures and a $5 discount on either a Swedish or deep tissue massage.

Ms. Klein – who also heads up the popular annual Shamrock Run, to be held in 2010 on March 13th – has also been thrilled and impressed by the growth of businesses Downtown.

She has great hopes for the area in the future as well, as she plans for her business to be an integral part of the Downtown scene for years to come.

“Six years ago when I started there was the Pool Hall, Ace Hardware, Ten Governors and us, and now just look at it today, and they say we’re in a recession,” she said. “I think that it’s wonderful. Main Street is the place to be right now. It was always my dream to have a place of my own and I’ve been able to do that. I love what I do and I thank Edgefield for taking me in.”

For information, contact Escape Day Spa & Salon at 803-637-1288. 

CUTLINE: From left, are Escape's Marcia Foley and Stevie Marie Boyd.