In mid-October, a Ventura County couple made a major step toward achieving their goal of establishing a chain of salons in the region. Susan Hughes and her husband, Michael Hawkins, both of Thousand Oaks, moved their Savvy Salon & Day Spa from a 3,500-square-foot facility in Westlake Village's North Pavilion on Lindero Canyon Road.

The new location has 36 styling stations, four treatment rooms for 27 stylists and therapists. Some are employees, others are independent contractors who rent space.

"This is our flagship salon and spa," Hughes said. "In the future, our dream is to have several such high-quality operations at locations like Ventura and Santa Barbara."

The Westlake Village salon provides customers with a wide range of hair design and spa treatment services. A separate shampoo room offers privacy, and there's a special children's salon area called "Savvy Kids," with its own entrance.

There's also an educational meeting room and an area where hair care and spa products are sold.

"Listening to our customers, we knew they wanted a special place like this," Hawkins said. "They definitely don't want to drive to Beverly Hills to find it. Our goal is to create an upscale place where people can be assured of receiving personalized beauty care and total wellness services."

The couple took possession last June. The building had been vacant more than a year.

"We deliberately chose to offer flexible work options for our stylists and therapists.," Hughes said. "Our workers can choose what works best for their career and personal needs. The rental option offers individual flexibility, while signing on as an employee provides health and disability benefits. Few employers in our industry offer a benefits package to employees."

The owners particularly are happy with the children's salon. "We knew the area needed a salon and spa that was sophisticated, but also one that could become an integral part of a family-oriented community," Hughes said.

For more information, visit http://www.savvysalon.com or phone 1-818-597-0779. The firm's Savvy Kids department is at 1-818-597-1236.