Closing the Chapter on Fresh Esthetics
When I started Fresh Esthetics in 2019 with $2,000 on a credit card and a whole lot of delusional optimism, I had no idea what the future held. I remember sitting on the floor of our very first space at 613 Main Street with two gallons of clearance paint and a tremendous amount of optimism. I made our first curtains from drop cloths. I pieced together a sign with arts and craft supplies. I brought rugs, plants, and furniture from my own house because that was precisely what my budget allowed. I printed “art” at Staples and put it in thrift store frames. My two-year-old son ran through the hallways while friends painted doors and assembled IKEA furniture in exchange for free pizza. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was having the time of my life.
​​
From the very beginning, Fresh Esthetics was built by more than just me. When Covid hit My brilliant marketing friends Courtney and Cathy stood behind me with such steadfast confidence that we would make it through and we did. Molly, my first hire, gave me three solid years of her brilliance, beauty, and talent and grace when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Blair, my best friend of nearly 20 years came on board just one year in and has been such a steady force in our growth ever since. I could never list every single person who moved furniture, painted walls, rearranged spaces, or showed up with coffee in hand during a crisis. Every time we moved, remodeled, or reinvented ourselves, people showed up with U-Hauls, their husbands, their kids, their dads, and their friends. They carried boxes, built shelves, brought laughter, and held me together. Fresh Esthetics was never just mine. It belonged to so many people.
​​
It’s cliché to say, but it’s also true: This business was always more than a business. It was community. It was belonging. It was love. Many of my very best friends started out as clients. Over the years, I’ve been to weddings, baby showers, and birthdays of people who once walked through my door as strangers. We shared our lives.
​​
In its heyday, Fresh Esthetics was something really special. It was buzzing with energy, filled with laughter, connection, and a feeling of “home.” Those years will always be some of my most cherished memories. The truth is, though, life changes. My own life has shifted in ways that made it harder and harder to pour into Fresh Esthetics the way I once did. What a blessing and a curse it is for love to remain for something that is dying. I’ve known for a while it was time to let go, but I held on, hoping maybe I’d change my mind. The truth is, it’s time.
​​
At the end of the day, this business has given me far more than it ever took from me. It gave me purpose. It gave me friendship. It gave me joy and meaning. And now, after 6 ½ years, it’s giving me one more gift, the chance to close this chapter with gratitude, knowing what an honor it has been to call Fresh Esthetics mine. To everyone who has supported me, whether you picked up a paintbrush, bought a gift card, trusted me with your face, hugged me after a hard day, or simply cheered me on, thank you. Thank you for helping me create something that mattered. Thank you for letting me be part of your story.
​
With Gratitude,
Sandi Bridges
Owner | Founder
Fresh Esthetics
For those with questions about gift cards, schedules, or next steps, I’ve created a FAQ page. Please check there for details before reaching out, as it will be updated with the most current information.