Seven years ago Amanda Cairns of Maryfield decided to go into business for herself and now she is happily running the successful, Middle of No Where Day Spa.
Located at 205 Main St. in Maryfield, Cairns was unsure if the business would thrive or not, but it was a chance she was willing to take with much support from the community and local area.
"I didn't know how it would work, but it's been good," Cairns explained. "Our grade 12 teacher actually told us that if we could get into a service-providing career that the baby boomers will be to the point where they're looking to take care of themselves, treat themselves, and she was right-they're a huge part of my clientele."
Unsure what she was going to do out of high school, Cairns took a year off to work on a dairy farm in Australia, but the thought of becoming an esthetician remained which led her to take schooling from SIAST in Estevan.
"I left school and thought that I might like to be an esthetician, but I wasn't sure," she explained. "It was always just in the back of my mind."
"I was the biggest tomboy ever, anyone who knew me growing up always says, 'You're doing what for a living?'"
The reasons behind Cairns love of her work, however, has to do with the artistic challenge and the flexibility which comes with owning her own business.
"I like the artistic side of it; when someone brings in crazy nail art I enjoy the challenge and it's really fun," explained Cairns. "You get to visit with people all day long which I really like."
"Working for myself is awesome! The flexibility is really nice because my kids go in a lot of directions, so to have the freedom to close for a day to be able to go with them is nice."
Middle of No Where Day Spa, named for Cairns' answer to when people ask where Maryfield is, offers a variety of services as Cairns has in fact grown her business over the years. Marlee Swallow and Pauline Lincoln have been working out of Middle of No Where Day Spa for a number of years, while Lisa Wilson has recently joined the team.
Swallow is a certified massage therapist and Lincoln is the spa's sugaring expert. Wilson has recently finished her schooling as an esthetician and being from Fairlight, was interested in the chance to work nearby.
Together the group offers manicures, pedicures, facials, body wraps, waxing, reflexology, sugaring, massages, and more.
"We have a little bit of everything," Cairns said smiling.
Though it seems surprising for a day spa to be thriving in Maryfield, with a population of approximately 400 people, Cairns attributes the success to the town and the surrounding communities.
"Not everyone in Maryfield gets a manicure or pedicure, but they have been very supportive," Cairns stated. "People around here are used to travelling for services, so I actually draw from a huge area now with regulars from Kipling, Carlyle, and Redvers coming for services, faithfully, every three weeks."
"It's the reason why little towns exist. Local support is so important; it's why the grocery store here is still open or why the tea house in Fairlight is so successful. You can go get everything from the city, but local support is huge and I think people like to support local businesses."
