Business Profile: Le Loft, Pleasantville
Consistency and reliability is the hallmark of almost any business. When working with customers’ hair and appearance, the efforts of a salon’s stylists are on display for everyone to see.
For nearly two decades, Le Loft in Pleasantville has been helping its clientele look its best, whether it’s through its full range of services such as hair cutting, styling and coloring, manicures and pedicures, or the various spa treatments that make a customer feel good inside and out.
“We try to keep the quality of our product and our work up there,” said Francesca McAndrew, owner of the 3,000-square-foot salon on Manville Road. “That’s who we are.”
A key ingredient of maintaining high quality work in the hair styling business is being able to change with the times. Styles come and go, and having an experienced staff at Le Loft that is able to adapt is crucial to the success of the business, McAndrew said.
Working with customers on the creative side is the fun part of the job. McAndrew and her group of six stylists strongly encourage customers to bring in photos of hair styles they might like to try on themselves.
“We love pictures because it gives a much clearer indication of what they could ever possibly explain about their hair,” said McAndrew, who lives in Valhalla with her husband and two children.
Le Loft, which McAndrew moved to Pleasantville in 1995 after spending a brief period above a beauty supplies business in Thornwood, works on customers of all ages. While her customer base is primarily women, she has a loyal following of male clients as well.
Having top hair stylists is critical, but what helps McAndrew is that the entire staff is expertly trained in all aspects of coloring. No matter who is available, a customer will be able to have those services done safely and competently with high quality products, McAndrew said.
For any salon, manicures and pedicures are an essential service where the clients can sit down and relax. Le Loft also features three treatment rooms where a variety of spa services are available, including facials, waxing, makeup and skin care. McAndrew has been offering spa treatments since 2001; as it became popular, she decided to expand by doubling her space to the current size.
No matter how impressive a salon’s products and staff may be, McAndrew makes sure the customer service end of the business is responsive and flexible. She said she works with her customers to be able to fit them in despite a hectic schedule for the salon or the client.
“I think they really love the custom services, the accommodations,” said McAndrew, who has been working in the hair styling business since shortly after graduating from beauty school at the age of 21. “We make it work if there’s a conflict, whether it’s them or on our end.”
Although McAndrew has her hands full running the shop, she still enjoys getting behind a chair and cutting, styling or coloring clients’ hair. She said it’s an outlet for her creativity.
“One of the reasons why I love this industry and why I’m excited about it and passionate about it is you don’t know what’s happening next,” McAndrew said. “It’s 45 minutes of something new.”
Le Loft is located at 355 Manville Rd. in Pleasantville. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday 12 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call 914-769-0755.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
