Tallgrass Aveda
Spa & Salon
Evergreen, Colorado
F
M
ew spas are in a better position to give back to
their community than Tallgrass Aveda Spa &
Salon in Evergreen, Colorado. The spa
celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015, and in
that time has gone from five employees to 70, making it the
third largest employer in Clear Creek County. From breast
cancer awareness campaigns to providing funds and services to
a local battered women’s shelter, Tallgrass has always had a
focus on philanthropy.
Its support of women in the military and its association with
Women’s Veterans of Colorado already stretches back at least
seven years. From an initial campaign to send care packages to
women serving in Afghanistan to the current, much more handson work, Tallgrass has been an active and appreciated member of
Colorado’s extended military family.
“We expanded our celebration of women soldiers by donating
hair and makeup services for military women who were having
LinkedIn and resume photos taken at the Women’s Veteran of
Colorado Conference in September,” says Tallgrass spa owner and
founder Gail Ridings. “We were so well-received, met so many
amazing women and really felt that we were making a difference
by helping the military women look and feel better.”
Tallgrass’ celebration of women in the military continued
throughout last year with a giveaway of spa treatments to women
in the military—whether on active duty, reserves or retired—
during the week prior to Veteran’s Day. The spa also gave “extreme
makeovers” to four military women who spa staff met at the
annual Women Veteran’s Veteran of Colorado annual conference.
Ridings believes that Tallgrass’ commitment to philanthropy
and to giving back to its community has been a crucial element
in its business growth. “We believe that our commitment to
philanthropy is one of their deciding factors in choosing to
patronize Tallgrass,” she says. “We send a monthly e-newsletter
reporting on our efforts, publish a philanthropy report on our
website each year, enjoy enthusiastic coverage by the local print
and digital media and have signage in the spa asking for our
customer’s participation. And they respond positively.”
Tallgrass proves that actively engaging in philanthropic efforts
on a regular basis is not an impediment to business growth. On
the contrary, it can act as a catalyst to bring new business in and
to inspire existing customers.
TOP TIP: “Encourage staff and guests to
participate in philanthropic efforts, so
always become involved with organizations that mean a lot to the people your
business relies upon. We are very
fortunate to love our jobs and make a
comfortable living. We believe our
mission is to ‘awe and inspire’ each other
and everyone we touch.”
38 PULSE
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March/April 2016