When Mallory and Megan Fitzgerald cut the ribbon to Three Rays Boutique & Head Spa (646 Old Phoenix Rd., Eatonton) last Friday, they were surrounded by a crowd so large it surprised even them.
The event, hosted by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, represented the realization of a dream the sisters turned into reality over the past several months.
“We feel very blessed, and this is just a small portion of everyone who has supported us,” Mallory said.
Three Rays Boutique & Head Spa combines three services under one roof: a clothing boutique, hair services, and spray tanning. The idea grew organically, the sisters said, after both found themselves at transition points in life.
Megan, 28, had recently moved back home after living and working as a hairstylist in Milledgeville. She wanted to find a hair salon to work at in Putnam County, but the search proved tougher than anticipated.
Meanwhile, younger sister Mallory, 25, had decided to start a mobile spray-tanning business — a move that unexpectedly sparked a larger idea. Megan instead suggested finding a fixed location where they could do hair and the tanning together. “Then, it was just like a snowball effect,” she said.
The boutique aspect came as a natural addition, Mallory added.
“We always loved clothes and we love to shop,” she explained. “So, we were just like, why not add the clothing store, too?”
The Three Rays storefront features the boutique up front, while the back is fully equipped for beauty services.
Megan offers hair styling, a therapeutic scalp treatment called a head spa, and a blowout bar for clients who want shampoo and styling. The sisters also provide full tanning and hair services for weddings, proms, or other special events.
Three Rays officially opened its doors Oct. 25, giving the shop three weeks to operate before the ribbon-cutting. Business has been brisk already, and both sisters confirmed they’ve felt welcome and encouraged from day one.
“It’s been really good,” Mallory said. “We’ve been really blessed with how the community has shown up for us, and we couldn’t have done it without our friends and family.”
The show of support was especially evident at the ribbon-cutting, where dozens turned out to celebrate the new enterprise, including their father, Keith Fitzgerald, himself an entrepreneur with ProSouth Services, an electrical/HVAC company based nearby in Putnam County.
“We’re very proud of both Mallory and Megan; they've done a tremendous job with a great vision, and they have come together and have built a beautiful boutique and head spa,” Keith Fitzgerald stated. “We’ve always dreamed that our children would grow up to be entrepreneurs; we’re just so proud of both of them.”
Faith, the sisters said, played a central role in their decision to leap into business ownership.
“If God gives you the idea, you need to pursue it,” Megan said. “With all the hiccups we’ve had, if we didn’t pursue this, we wouldn’t be standing right here looking at this beautiful place we’ve created.”
Mallory offered similar advice to other young entrepreneurs.
“Chase your dreams,” she stressed. “Your dreams are never too big, and God will make a way for sure. Nothing’s easy, so if you run into any hiccups, it’ll get better. And have a lot of people to support you.”
Both sisters repeatedly emphasized gratitude, too — for their parents, their friends, and their advisors, including the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
“We definitely could not be here without our family and friends,” Mallory confirmed. “They have already spent countless hours in here helping to get things ready.”