Christine Esposito, Managing Editor10.12.20
Glam Set Go, an on-the-go hair and makeup service cofounded by Sonali and Shikha Chaturvedi, is out on the street, literally—due to the launch of its GlamTruck. The specially designed vehicle officially hit the road last month, offering Glam Set Go’s expert salon services almost anywhere from one’s home and special venues spots.
Specializing in weddings, engagement parties and special events, Glam Set Go, based in Northern Virginia, offers hair and makeup services for men and women in a one-of-a-kind Mercedes Sprinter. Inside are imported Italian leather chairs, Wifi, music, complimentary prosecco and “high quality” beauty products.
According to Sonali Chaturvedi, Glam Set Go wants to offer women a convenient and luxurious opportunity to “feel beautiful in their own unique way, no matter the circumstances.”
In fact, the sisters recognize that not everyone—not even themselves— have the same feeling about being pampered.
“Take my sister and I, for example; I love having my hair blown out straight while she loves to leave her natural curls in place. I don’t mind sitting to get my nails done while she cannot stand sitting still for an hour to get a manicure and pedicure,” Chaturvedi told Happi.
Yet everyone wants to end up in the same place, she insists.
“However, a person thinks about getting glammed up, we believe that the most important part of the glam process is how the person feels after it’s done,” she said. “I know that for my sister and me, even though we have different ways of getting glammed up, we both find that we feel a sense of confidence when we feel beautiful. This is the underlying principle which really drove us initially in this venture—spreading that confidence to others like ourselves.”
COVID presented more issues for beauty services.
“We noticed that things have become significantly more difficult for everyone; for example, getting a haircut. There is an added level of stress with everyone maneuvering to avoid putting themselves in precarious situations with the virus. There doesn’t need to be additional stress associated with getting a haircut or styled or getting make up done for your normal day or a special occasion. And it is our hope that we have removed a significant portion of that additional stress with our glam trucks and our highly skilled staff.”
She noted that Glam Set Go is following all Centers for Disease Control and Virginia guidelines including illness screenings, requiring face masks and shields be worn by employees, and employing rigorous cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
The Chaturvedis spent two years from concept to launch.
“What we love the most about the glam truck is the feeling we get when we walk up the stairs into the vehicle. It has this glamorous salon feel with beautiful red Italian leather seats and a glass of bubbles waiting for you. What we hope to achieve in providing this luxurious feel is a sense that our customers are walking into an actual salon and not just a vehicle,” said.
“We find ourselves extremely lucky to be nimble enough during these extremely trying times to find a way to meet our clients’ needs despite the incredible challenges that the virus has posed this year,” Chaturvedi told Happi.
Currently, Glam Set Go is offering services for groups (its clientele includes bridal parties or other special events). But the cofounders hope offer its suite of services to individuals later this year.
“Our ability to come to our clients and provide services right in their driveway with our glam truck, on their porch, or even within our clients' homes if they prefer are probably the key factors that will resonate with our target market. And while that mobility allows us to stand apart from some of our brick and mortar competitors, we also focus on ensuring that we are able to provide our services in the most time efficient manner without sacrificing quality or safety. Time is precious and we are cognizant of that,” insisted Chaturvedi. “We would rather find a way for our clients to spend more of their free time with family and friends, than sitting in a chair for hours in some shop staring at themselves in a mirror waiting for some sort of transformation to occur. Bringing our services to our clients’ homes, porches, and driveways reduce some of those lost hours of the day.”
Specializing in weddings, engagement parties and special events, Glam Set Go, based in Northern Virginia, offers hair and makeup services for men and women in a one-of-a-kind Mercedes Sprinter. Inside are imported Italian leather chairs, Wifi, music, complimentary prosecco and “high quality” beauty products.
According to Sonali Chaturvedi, Glam Set Go wants to offer women a convenient and luxurious opportunity to “feel beautiful in their own unique way, no matter the circumstances.”
In fact, the sisters recognize that not everyone—not even themselves— have the same feeling about being pampered.
“Take my sister and I, for example; I love having my hair blown out straight while she loves to leave her natural curls in place. I don’t mind sitting to get my nails done while she cannot stand sitting still for an hour to get a manicure and pedicure,” Chaturvedi told Happi.
Yet everyone wants to end up in the same place, she insists.
“However, a person thinks about getting glammed up, we believe that the most important part of the glam process is how the person feels after it’s done,” she said. “I know that for my sister and me, even though we have different ways of getting glammed up, we both find that we feel a sense of confidence when we feel beautiful. This is the underlying principle which really drove us initially in this venture—spreading that confidence to others like ourselves.”
COVID presented more issues for beauty services.
“We noticed that things have become significantly more difficult for everyone; for example, getting a haircut. There is an added level of stress with everyone maneuvering to avoid putting themselves in precarious situations with the virus. There doesn’t need to be additional stress associated with getting a haircut or styled or getting make up done for your normal day or a special occasion. And it is our hope that we have removed a significant portion of that additional stress with our glam trucks and our highly skilled staff.”
She noted that Glam Set Go is following all Centers for Disease Control and Virginia guidelines including illness screenings, requiring face masks and shields be worn by employees, and employing rigorous cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
The Chaturvedis spent two years from concept to launch.
“What we love the most about the glam truck is the feeling we get when we walk up the stairs into the vehicle. It has this glamorous salon feel with beautiful red Italian leather seats and a glass of bubbles waiting for you. What we hope to achieve in providing this luxurious feel is a sense that our customers are walking into an actual salon and not just a vehicle,” said.
“We find ourselves extremely lucky to be nimble enough during these extremely trying times to find a way to meet our clients’ needs despite the incredible challenges that the virus has posed this year,” Chaturvedi told Happi.
Currently, Glam Set Go is offering services for groups (its clientele includes bridal parties or other special events). But the cofounders hope offer its suite of services to individuals later this year.
“Our ability to come to our clients and provide services right in their driveway with our glam truck, on their porch, or even within our clients' homes if they prefer are probably the key factors that will resonate with our target market. And while that mobility allows us to stand apart from some of our brick and mortar competitors, we also focus on ensuring that we are able to provide our services in the most time efficient manner without sacrificing quality or safety. Time is precious and we are cognizant of that,” insisted Chaturvedi. “We would rather find a way for our clients to spend more of their free time with family and friends, than sitting in a chair for hours in some shop staring at themselves in a mirror waiting for some sort of transformation to occur. Bringing our services to our clients’ homes, porches, and driveways reduce some of those lost hours of the day.”