A new family-owned nail salon has brought a fresh sense of style and ambition to downtown Eatonton, as Sassy Nails officially opened its doors last Wednesday.
It marked the latest expansion for entrepreneur Jennifer Nguyen, 38, and her family's growing nail care and foot spa business.
Nguyen, a certified public accountant turned small business owner, said this latest opening represents years of experience. Sassy Nails at 117 S. Jefferson Ave., is the fourth location for Nguyen’s family.
She said collaboration, and a belief in the potential of small-town markets brought them to Putnam County. The operation remains deeply rooted in family, with relatives helping to manage each location, including her husband, John Trent, and several nieces and nephews, too.
“We opened the salon because Eatonton has the lakes also — Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee,” she said. “I looked at the market, and we don’t really have high-end luxury-type services in this area right now. I just want to bring something beautiful for local people.”
Nguyen’s own path to entrepreneurship began after moving from California to attend Georgia Military College and later earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from GCSU. She initially pursued a corporate career, working two-and-a-half years at Pennington Seed in Madison, where she also earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
“I didn’t want to do it at first,” Nguyen said of entering the family business. “I thought, ‘I've got my CPA; I’m going to be a CPA.’”
But at her husband’s urging, the couple opened Q Nails in Milledgeville, and as demand grew, so did their ambitions.
“We were too busy,” she said. “So we opened another one.”
That growth eventually led them to Eatonton, where they purchased their current building last summer and began renovations in November. The process proved more challenging than expected, Nguyen admitted.
“The building was too old,” she said. “We had to spend a little bit of money to update everything.”
The investment appears to have paid off. The newly renovated space features a clean, modern design that, even on Opening Day, drew a steady stream of customers.
“I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I walked in,” one visitor remarked after attending the ribbon-cutting. “It’s very modern and clean, very classy, very nice.”
Nguyen said the strong turnout on the salon’s first day was both encouraging and a little surprising.
“I’m shocked at how many people are here,” she said. “But that’s a good sign.”
Beyond aesthetics, Nguyen emphasized that Sassy Nails aims to be an inclusive space for the entire community.
“Everybody deserves to be pampered — men, women, children, we welcome everybody. I even have little chairs for babies,' she said. 'Families can come together, too; we'll have mommy and baby days, couples days, it's really for anyone.”
Nguyen also credited local support for helping bring the project to life, including financing from Century Bank, construction work by an Atlanta-based contractor, assistance from city and county officials, and the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, which arranged and hosted the ribbon cutting.
“Everyone here has been really easy and helpful,” she said. “They’re excited about us being here and tried to help me out. I think they appreciate that we put a lot of effort and investment into this.”
As Sassy Nails becomes established in Eatonton, Nguyen said she will remain focused on building relationships and earning community trust.
“I just hope people support us,” she said. “Love us, support us; that’s really what we're hoping for.'