Meet Darnell + LaDonna Suggs | Franchise Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darnell + LaDonna Suggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darnell + LaDonna, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Integrity and support are the most important factors behind the success of our business and our brand. Integrity requires that you do what you say you’re going to do. You keep your word. In business that translates to delivering on your brand promises without compromise. At THE TEN SPOT we commit to providing impeccable service in a clinically-clean energetic environment…we promise an experience that leaves every guest feeling like a ten and utterly excited about their next visit! Achieving that goal with every guest is the foundation of our success. We recognize that things happen, and when they do we go the extra mile to make it right and still ensure you #FeelLikeATen! However, no one achieves success solely on their own so as we establish the foundation of delivering on our brand promises, the support of guests, our neighbors, our community and the larger Atlanta area is the ultimate cornerstone to solidify our success as business owners and the success of THE TEN SPOT brand as we launch in Atlanta and grow across the United States.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are the proud owners of a new franchise that we brought to the Atlanta market this past spring! It’s called THE TEN SPOT® and it’s a vibrant beauty bar concept headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The franchise has flourished across Canada for the last 15yrs and has now entered the states with U.S. locations now open in Denver, Minneapolis, and Austin…and now us, in Atlanta! We were the first owners in the southeast and planning to open multiple locations in the Atlanta area. One of the things we love about our business is that THE TEN SPOT is a comprehensive beauty bar that blends the best of a luxury spa with the convenience of the traditional nail salon and wax studio to cater to what busy consumers want most: an exceptional experience for efficient services in a clinically clean environment. Because every guest deserves to #FeelLikeATen! It’s the ultimate one-stop shop for beauty with service offerings including a full waxbar. nailbar. skinbar. brow+lash bar providing:

🧡mani/pedis + facials + waxing🧡
🧡brow+lash services + threading🧡

Our guests literally walk-in and strut out and we love it!

We opened in April 2021. As you can imagine, opening a new business especially in the beauty and intimate services industry in the middle of the pandemic has been quite the challenge. We’ve experienced all the trials that you hear about on the news related to impacts of the pandemic on small businesses…from staffing and labor shortages, to reduced capacity, and increased safety protocols, and lower than normal volume and revenues. We’ve faced them all, but we’re resilient and looking forward to continuing to thrive without ever compromising on providing an impeccable experience!

In an effort to grow in these challenging times and introduce the brand to the Atlanta market, we think outside the box and embrace creativity. We’re partnering with fellow local small businesses and experience makers in the city to create mutually beneficial custom pop-up shops and special events hosted inside our gorgeous beauty bar! These are amenity-offering collaborations for our guests creating unique access and experience all while introducing our guests to small businesses and sharing the collaborations through social media!

We’re also partnering with event planners to create custom private packages that can be incorporated into special events. Ideas could include:

🧡 covid-pod pamper parties
🧡 bachelorette pamper parties
🧡 couples day dates or date nights
🧡 glow-up glam parties
🧡 pre-push pamper party (baby shower)
🧡 sorority sister soirées
🧡 bros at the bowls (pedi bowls)

We take our mission to make everyone #FeelLikeATen very seriously. The concept also extends to our staff (“10spotters®”) who receive a living wage and commissions, perks, exceptional training and ongoing education opportunities. In order to ensure excellence, we use only the highest quality products and have an unwavering commitment to hygiene and self-care.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Great question…well…you have to keep the main thing, the main thing so we’d have to start with the FOOD! The city has sooooo many amazing restaurants that I’d probably start my itinerary with a must-eat for each day. Those that top our list would be (in no particularly order):

🧡Dinner at Nowak’s, The Consulate, Georgia Boy/Southern Belle
🧡Brunch at Breakfast at Barney’s, Ria’s BlueBird and Folk Art
🧡Tacos and margaritas at Bar Taco
🧡Lunch and treats at Alons and Pizza at Slim & Husky’s

We’d check out the views from the Rooftop of PCM after shopping at the Village Market ATL. Of course we’d have a full on spa party at THE TEN SPOT and lounge one evening at The James Room. We’d spend a day checking out Atlanta’s iconic attractions like the King Center, the African American History Museum, CNN, Centennial Park. Get some exercise in and check out the shops and restaurants along the Atlanta Beltline.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our village…the huge circle of friends, family and supporters that we lean on at every turn, with every new endeavor in the moments of challenge and triumph. Our network is too large to list names but impossible to overstate.

Website: https://www.thetenspot.com/morningside-village-ga/

Instagram: @x.atlmorningside

Twitter: @thetenspot

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/x.atlmorningside/

Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/the-ten-spot-morningside-village-atlanta

Image Credits
colby photos