For Claudia McGinnis, her career in skincare started as a job, but quickly developed into passion. It started in 2008, when she started working at a dermatology clinic. She says that was where she fell in love with the industry.
“What I love the most is connecting to our clients and seeing the transformation,” she said. “It’s not only the physical transformation, it’s the way they feel about themselves.”
A little more than a decade later, in 2019, her husband was helping the original owner of Sugar Sugar Spa in Green Lake sell the business. So, they decided to take the leap.
Claudia quickly got to work making the business her own. A lover of fashion and interior design, she updated the look and feel of the spa. She was excited to take over, since the spa’s feature offering is sugaring, a more natural method for hair removal.
“Everybody goes by waxing, but sugaring has been around way before waxing came into the picture. It is more natural, organic, more friendly to your skin,” Claudia explained.
The upgrades to the spa went beyond its look and feel, there were also security upgrades.
“The front of the business, we’re in a fishbowl-type situation,” said Ian McGinnis, who co-owns the spa with his wife. “None of those windows were shatterproof, so we replaced all of the windows so no one can just break in easily.”
Even though they made those upgrades, the couple notes that doesn’t stop people from trying to get in. While the shatterproof windows keep people from getting access to the spa, the windows can still be damaged, leaving the owners with the bill to replace the windows.
After one of those break-ins, a client told them about the Storefront Repair Fund, a grant through our Back to Business program that reimburses businesses for the cost of fixing damages from vandalism or other property damage. Storefront Repair Fund offers up to $3,000 to cover the cost of repairs, and business owners can apply for up to three grants.
“Small businesses strengthen our communities and are a critical part of our local economy. The financial toll of repairing damage can be a major obstacle for these small business owners,” said Shaun Baber, Back to Business program manager. “That’s why our Back to Business program is designed to remove that barrier, ensuring they can move past unexpected challenges and continue to thrive and grow, and contribute to the vibrancy of Seattle.”
For Sugar Sugar Spa, receiving the grants mean Claudia and Ian can focus on their growing business. They expanded to a second location in Kirkland earlier this year. Now, Claudia wants to focus on mentoring young skincare professionals. She says that’s because as a business owner, she’s “been through it” and wants to help others looking to venture into the skincare industry.
“Being a small business owner, it’s a roller coaster. It’s very emotional. It’s nothing glamorous,” said Claudia. “But programs like [Back to Business] and the support we got, that helps us keep going.”
Funds are still available for the Back to Business program. Business owners can apply for Storefront Repair Fund grants, which offers a reimbursement of up to $3,000 to help cover the costs paid out of pocket for past damage. The program also offers the Storefront Security Fund, a $6,000 grant to reimburse costs to add eligible equipment to secure a storefront before damage happens. Interested businesses can review full eligibility criteria and apply on our website.
The Back to Business Program builds on the success of the Storefront Repair Fund, which provided grants to small businesses to repair property damaged between 2022 and 2024. During that time, our office allocated $1.85 million in federal relief funding to help small businesses impacted by break-ins and other property damage, supporting more than 600 Seattle businesses.