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A SPECIAL ADVERTISING PHOTOSTORY SERIES
FEATURING OUTSTANDING BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS PEOPLE

IN THIS ISSUE THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON

ANGELA ECONOMOPOULOS

Effervescent, enthusiastic, ambitious, purposeful. These are just a few of
the words that come to mind when talking about Angela Economopoulos.
In the ever-expanding beauty industry, you'd be hard pressed to find so-
meone in the Metro area who is more knowledgeable and willing to serve.
She works at Raphael's Salon in West Bloomfield at 5562 Orchard Lake
Road. She's been there since November of 1986 and, if you're looking
for a first-rate beauty treatment, a trip to Raphael's is well worth it!

questions either through her own efforts or through referral to other
sources.

Angela is also a member of the Michigan Educational Committee. Per-
sons on this committee, after passing the required number
of classes and exams, are qualified to travel from place to place educating
others in the new products and techniques. She says that she enjoys this
most. "It makes me feel good helping others to learn and know what I
know."

At only 24 years of age, Angela Economopoulos is the model of a young,
ambitious, and concerned businessperson. "It bothers me sometimes that
people prejudge me on my age. I may be only 24, but I've got a good
number of years behind me and a purposeful view in front of me . ." It
just may be that her age allows Angela to be a little more of a free-thinker.
For instance, Angela likes to think that she has a unique view of the
employee/client relationship. She uses a special screening process to un-
cover the personality of the client in order to determine what look will go
best with him or her. Angela feels that more and more men are adopting
to coloring services. Such as highlighting and shading their gray hair.
"There is a whole new philosophy today when it comes to men and their
appearance. I have the knowledge to cater to my male clientele." "I am
a firm believer in the 'quality and not quantity' ethic." To this end, Angela
will teach her clients the methods of styling maintenance in an unhurried,
and informative personalized session. By doing this they can manage their
hair better in between salon visits.

Angela discovered her affinity for cosmetology when she joined a co-op
program at her high school. She fell in love with the trade and decided
to pursue it as far as she could. "I've been interested in the beauty in-
dustry since I was a child. At fifteen, I was selling Avon door-to-door and
practicing my skills on my mother and sister." Angela says that she made
her share of mistakes, but chalks them up to experience. After high school,
she graduated from beauty school with the basic skills but, in her opinion,
"lacking the concepts of the contemporary beauty industry."

To this aim, she joined the National Cosmetologist's Association. The
N.C.A. is the organization that unifies the industry. After two years of
membership, Angela campaigned for and earned the position of Secretary
of the Oakland chapter, third largest in the nation in membership. As
secretary, she learned the fine points of the organization. With this
knowledge, she was elected into the position of Vice President the next
year. Though the position is strictly voluntary, Angela puts as much time
into it as she can. She's responsible for keeping the membership educated
and up-to-date in the latest techniques by organizing clinics and workshops
and distributing learning materials like video and tape cassettes. She's
also responsible for maintaining the benefits packages and similar features
for the members. In addition, she's an information source for members'

Now this doesn't mean that Angela thinks that anyone can do her job.
On the contrary, she feels that the trade is the most demanding that it
has ever been. Angela says, "With the introduction of new materials,
techniques, and processes, you just about need a chemist's degree to
survive in this profession!" But she doesn't let this intimidate her. In fact,
she welcomes the new technology and tries to use it to its fullest poten-
tial. The new products available allow her to experiment with new colors,
shades, and textures.

At the present time Angela is constantly updating her techniques and skills
by attending new seminars all over the country. "I would like to keep travell-
ing, learning new things and teaching things I have learned to others."
But, as much as Angela wants to learn about and teach to others the fine
points of cosmetology and aesthetology, she has no desire to find a new
location. "I'll be at Raphael's as long as Raphael wants me there," says
Angela. Good for her, and good for us!

The salon is open seven days a week, including Sunday from 9 to 9. The
versatile cosmetologists at Raphael's provide a full range of services in-
cluding visits from bridal and other specialty parties. They also perform
facials, body massages, manicures and pedicures. Stop by to discover
what Angela can do for you at Raphael's. ail

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Text & graphics: Jeffrey Wohl

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