Bloom where you’re pampered: Battle Creek’s first full-service salon & spa celebrates growth

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Styling hair for 30 years has given Angie English the opportunity to become a trusted part of her clients’ lives.

Some of what they shared with her led to the creation of Bloom Beauty & Wellness, Battle Creek’s first full-service salon and spa, which celebrates two years this year in its current location at 2277 W. Columbia Avenue.

“In talking with my clients, we share our lives and I just kept hearing the same things over and over, ‘We are stressed out and have no time for ourselves because we’re so busy doing for others,’” English says. “I wanted to be able to provide that opportunity for them to take care of themselves and their needs.”

She asked herself what more she could offer her clients and came up with the idea of a space where they could attend to their physical appearance as well as their invisible needs. In addition to services such as hair and nail care, facials, and yoga and Pilates classes, Bloom also offers salt baths and workshops called Craft and Gather, which focus on the creative side.

A Craft and Gather in September offered fall landscape painting. Events this month include pottery and Halloween ghost painting. These gatherings are held in a studio space that is also available to rent out for parties and bridal showers, among other things.

“When you can help someone feel good on the outside, you’re helping them to feel good on the inside. That’s where it all started for me.” — Angie English, owner of Bloom Beauty & Wellness

The name of the business is meant to convey that clients can bloom into who they want to be and can be, English says.

“We wanted to create a community that is really focused on our clients’ journey and their own growth. Our clients have busy schedules, and they deserve pampering without having to drive out of town to get that.”

Bloom originally began in August 2022 in a smaller space. The business relocated to its current 3,000 square-foot location because English realized that her clientele would be better served in a larger space.

The first floor is used as the wellness center, which has two massage therapy rooms and space for Pilates and Yoga classes. This is also where the Craft and Gathers take place. The second floor houses hair and nail services, facial, and tanning services.

Bloom employs 10 team members. This includes English and her three daughters, one who is a massage therapist, another who is a cosmetologist specializing in head spa, facials, and spray tanning services, and another who manages the business.

Bloom is part of an industry that is experiencing significant growth driven by individuals between 35 and 54 years old. They account for 48% of all spa visits, followed by Millennials who are increasingly becoming spa-goers, according to Market.us media.

“The global market size of the spa industry was around $95 billion in 2021. By 2030, the global market size of the spa industry is expected to exceed $185 billion,” according to Market.us Media. “The spa services market, including massage services, beauty and grooming, and physical fitness, is projected to reach over $133 billion by 2027.”

English says nails, massages, eyelash extensions, facials, Pilates, and Spa Days are among the more popular services offered at Bloom.

“We look at the trends in our industry,” she says. “We are always innovating and bringing new services for our clients.”

A few weeks ago, more than 50 women participated in an outdoor Pilates class offered on the two-acre property.

For English, this is another example of what she’s always focused on — caring for people.

“When you can help someone feel good on the outside, you’re helping them to feel good on the inside. That’s where it all started for me,” she says. “I loved doing hair. For a while, that was enough and was very fulfilling. Bloom happened when my clients were telling me that they need more for themselves.

“That’s really why it’s so important for us to do this. It’s wonderful to know that our vision is becoming a reality.”