Albertville's Insparation Salon Moves Within Albertville

Insparation Salon was quickly outgrowing their space on Labeaux Avenue but when owner Aarica Larson started looking for space she didn't expect to find a space double the size.

"We were too cramped in our 1600 foot space before and now we have almost 3300," she said earlier this week.

The first Insparation Salon opened in St. Michael in 2006. By August of 2007, Larson opened a second location in Albertville. Almost three years ago now, she closed the St. Michael location which caused the Albertville site to become very busy and very crowded.

With 12 cosmetologists and 2 massage therapists on site, having eight stations wasn't working. The new location currently has 12 and can have up to 15, meaning 15 clients can be in at once.

"We gained a lot of storage space in our backroom too, we can even sit down at a table in the back and have lunch," Larson said.

The group of stylists, cosmetologists and massage therapists, led by Larson, took on many of the projects at the new space. "We did over 2 1/2 months of renovations and rather than hiring a general contractor, I did it," Larson said. "We poured blood, sweat and tears in here," she said recalling painting with other stylists and laying the flooring with her boyfriend.

"I couldn't ask for a better group of women to work with. We all get along and fit together well and without them we would never be as successful as we are," she said crediting much of the salon's success to the team she's put together over the years.

The new Insparation Salon location is in the Shoppes of Towne Lakes area right next to Andy's Hometowne Pizza.