Spruce Skin & Wax Shoppe: Owner of Olympia Skin Care and Wax Studio Opens New Chehalis Location

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By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com

After opening the first Spruce Skin & Wax Shoppe in Olympia 14 years ago, owner and master esthetician Annie Evans opened Spruce’s second location in downtown Chehalis this month. 

Evans, 41, has been an esthetician for 17 years now after initially studying economics at the University of Puget Sound. 

“At first I thought I’d get my PhD in econ, and then I did a cost-benefit analysis of doing that and realized that wasn’t my path. I love being around people and helping people and I like connecting a lot,” Evans said. “I love skin care and the science of it, and there’s an art to it and there’s definitely the element of connection.”

On a whim, Evans enrolled and graduated from the Euro Institute of Skin Care in Renton. Nobody in the area was hiring at the time she graduated, so Evans started her own business.

“I used to call myself the ‘reluctant business owner’ because I said I’d never work for myself and I’d never have my own spot and never have employees, now I just say, ‘never say never,’” Evans said. 

Spruce Skin & Wax Shoppe now has two locations and 21 employees. Despite being reluctant in the beginning, Evans added she loves being a business owner. 

“It’s been really exciting, I really feel energized with my work right now because there’s so many new challenges that come with owning two locations,” Evans said. 

Evans chose Chehalis for the second location due to its location along Interstate 5 and to serve a growing clientele in Lewis County.

“We have a fair amount of clients who drive up from Lewis County,” said Evans. “This will be more convenient for them.”

The shops offer a variety of services, including eyebrow and lash detailing, bikini waxing, and facial and microdermabrasion treatments. Spruce specializes in HyrdaFacial treatments, Evans added. 

HydraFacials use personalized solutions to target different skin issues and are machine-assisted. According to Evans, nobody else in Lewis County currently offers them. 

“It’s almost medical but not medical, it’s at the peak of what we can do and it’s very much a zero downtime treatment,” Evans said. 

Aside from various spa treatments, Spruce also sells skin care products to use at home along with clothes, jewelry, accessories and more.  

“Some of our candles are locally made, some of the jewelry is semi-local, but a lot of (product) comes from brands that we travel and find at trade shows,” said Evans.

Evans said the high volume of product she sells makes all-local sourcing a challenge. She said she aims to make her products affordable for every budget, adding, “Our thing is achievable, everyday luxury.” 

Maddy Magnan, 25-year-old Chehalis native and Evans’ “wingman” and employee, added she was pleased to see Spruce expanding in her area. 

“It’s super exciting that she’s targeting a whole new community and gets to welcome in new faces and build new connections with more people, because part of this job is definitely relationship building,” Magnan said. 

The soft opening for the Chehalis location of Spruce Skin & Wax Shoppe happened earlier this month. Currently, the studio is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., then 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 

While no exact date has been set for the grand opening, Evans anticipated the studio will be ready by some time in March. 

Spruce’s new location in downtown Chehalis is located at 534 N. Market Blvd. 

For more information on Spruce and the services it offers visit https://www.spruceshoppe.com/. 





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