Chris Winston | The Roanoke Times

Tivon salon in Blacksburg, along with other area salons, are stepping in to help former customers of Classic Body Image Salon and Day Spa, which closed. "We felt for the business and we felt for the people," says Tivon manager Suzanne Carhart.

The Roanoke Times | File 2008

Tivon Salon and Spa in Blacksburg will issue gift cards for free massages for the teachers at Harding Elementary School who received cards to Classic Body Image Salon and Day Spa, which closed recently.

| Sarah Watson

sarah.watson@roanoke.com, 381-1677

Local salons are reaching out to customers with unredeemable gift cards after Classic Body Image Salon and Day Spa's recent closing.

Many customers were left with hundreds of dollars in gift cards and no location to redeem them when the salon closed earlier this year.

The former owner of the Blacksburg salon, Cindy Griffin, said in an e-mail that she had no plans to hurt anyone when she sold the gift cards before Christmas.

She wrote that the closing of the salon was a quick decision based on lease negotiations.

Suzanne Carhart, manager of Tivon Salon and Spa in Blacksburg, was the first business to extend services to disgruntled customers of Classic Body Image.

"We felt for the business and we felt for the people," Carhart said.

Carhart read Dawn Wilson's plea for free massages for two teachers at Harding Elementary School and spoke with the owners of Tivon.

They agreed to issue gift cards for free massages for these teachers and contacted Wilson about the arrangement.

"People work hard for their money and any little thing helps," Carhart said.

Pampered Healing Massage Therapy and Day Spa in Christiansburg also hopes to help gift cardholders.

Korena Anderson and her husband, Drake, worked with their team of massage therapists to supply free massages to two people left with gift cards and nowhere to redeem them.

"We're a Christian-based business, so we try to bless other people," Anderson said.

Anderson said that she feels fortunate to have a successful, growing business with the resources to give back to people in the community.

The business "is a blessing to us, to the employees and to the customers," Anderson said.

New River Aesthetics in Blacksburg is excited about providing services for people in the community, said Kevin Kendall, chief operating officer.

The salon is willing to provide services to cover the cost of the gift cards if they were purchased on or after Sept. 1, 2009.

Some of the services offered include microdermabrasion, facials, facial waxing, laser hair removal, and botox and wrinkle fillers. Clients must provide New River Aesthetics with the amount on the gift card via receipt, credit card bill, check or other form.

"People shouldn't have to deal with that," Kendall said about the gift cards.

"We offer services that the salon offered," Kendall said, adding that he hopes customers will come back if they enjoy the services.

Meredith's Salon in Christiansburg has a similar program for redeeming gift cards.

Customers will receive 50 percent off services up to a $50 value. This is available only through March and includes all salon services.

"It's good business to help people with a problem," said Jim Kinion, co-owner and manager of Meredith's Salon.

Jackie Covington of Eucalyptus Massage Therapy in Blacksburg also hopes to help gift cardholders.