Rachel Duke (left) and Chelsea Martin. (Jack Jacobs photo)
About 15 years after their professional paths in the beauty industry first crossed, Chelsea Martin and Rachel Duke are bringing their businesses together under one roof.
Martin’s Luna Aesthetics at 10619 Patterson Ave. has expanded into an adjacent storefront, where Duke plans to relocate her cosmetic injectables practice later this month.
Duke said that by occupying a portion of the expanded Luna, both businesses can better serve shared customers for Duke’s Botox and dermal filler services and Luna’s facials and waxing.
“We have found our patients are looking to have all their treatments under one roof,” Duke said. “(Martin) is doing more the skincare services and I’m doing more the injectables side.”
It’s a full-circle situation for Duke and Martin, who worked together at a local medical spa in 2008. When that spa shuttered as a result of the Great Recession, they each continued their careers and became business owners.
“Even though we parted ways, we have kept in contact throughout the years,” Duke said.
Martin founded Luna five years ago, and Duke started her own clinic in September 2020. The pair referred customers back and forth, and when the Edward Jones office next to Luna closed, Martin pitched the space to Duke as a means to realize their long-shared goal of working together more closely.
“We’ve been referring a lot of patients back and forth for so long,” Martin said. “We have a lot of similar patients now.”
By co-locating, they expand the services offered onsite and are able to share some staff and costs. The two companies plan to keep their distinct identities for the time being.
Luna originally occupied about 1,300 square feet, and by taking over the former Edward Jones suite, has added a little under 900 square feet. That new space will primarily be used by Duke, and micro needling and laser skin treatments will be introduced as part of the expansion.
The two businesses are splitting the costs of the $190,000 buildout of the expanded space, with new plumbing being a major element of the costs. That figure doesn’t include new cosmetics equipment.
“It was very important for us to have sinks and running water in every room so there’s a large cost with that,” Duke said. “You have special sinks for eye washing stations.”
Construction is largely complete on the new space. Duke plans to be operating out of the space in late May.
Duke isn’t going far for what will be a larger space for her business. She currently operates out of the coworking space Balance RVA at 10431 Patterson Ave., which is just down the road.
Rachel Duke (left) and Chelsea Martin. (Jack Jacobs photo)
About 15 years after their professional paths in the beauty industry first crossed, Chelsea Martin and Rachel Duke are bringing their businesses together under one roof.
Martin’s Luna Aesthetics at 10619 Patterson Ave. has expanded into an adjacent storefront, where Duke plans to relocate her cosmetic injectables practice later this month.
Duke said that by occupying a portion of the expanded Luna, both businesses can better serve shared customers for Duke’s Botox and dermal filler services and Luna’s facials and waxing.
“We have found our patients are looking to have all their treatments under one roof,” Duke said. “(Martin) is doing more the skincare services and I’m doing more the injectables side.”
It’s a full-circle situation for Duke and Martin, who worked together at a local medical spa in 2008. When that spa shuttered as a result of the Great Recession, they each continued their careers and became business owners.
“Even though we parted ways, we have kept in contact throughout the years,” Duke said.
Martin founded Luna five years ago, and Duke started her own clinic in September 2020. The pair referred customers back and forth, and when the Edward Jones office next to Luna closed, Martin pitched the space to Duke as a means to realize their long-shared goal of working together more closely.
“We’ve been referring a lot of patients back and forth for so long,” Martin said. “We have a lot of similar patients now.”
By co-locating, they expand the services offered onsite and are able to share some staff and costs. The two companies plan to keep their distinct identities for the time being.
Luna originally occupied about 1,300 square feet, and by taking over the former Edward Jones suite, has added a little under 900 square feet. That new space will primarily be used by Duke, and micro needling and laser skin treatments will be introduced as part of the expansion.
The two businesses are splitting the costs of the $190,000 buildout of the expanded space, with new plumbing being a major element of the costs. That figure doesn’t include new cosmetics equipment.
“It was very important for us to have sinks and running water in every room so there’s a large cost with that,” Duke said. “You have special sinks for eye washing stations.”
Construction is largely complete on the new space. Duke plans to be operating out of the space in late May.
Duke isn’t going far for what will be a larger space for her business. She currently operates out of the coworking space Balance RVA at 10431 Patterson Ave., which is just down the road.
Congratulations to both of these women. This is such a smart move and what a luxury to their clients to have everything under one roof! Chelsea is one of the most passionate business owners I’ve met and I can’t wait to see the space completed and watch the continued growth.
Congrats, ladies! Two very talented ladies who offer amazing services.