Monday, Jan. 23
January 23, 2012Kate Cleo Cherry Ivey
January 26, 2012Walk into Allie’s Figure and Day Spa and you’ll find Allie Authement teaching a weight-training class, leading an exercise boot camp session, applying permanent makeup on a client or working to reduce a client’s cellulite.
She’s very hands-on, not only lending her name to the health club and day spa she founded, but leading classes, keeping the books, motivating staff and countless other tasks that fill her day.
Authement, at age 59, is a product of what she preaches: A diabetic since age 8, she began working out at age 11 and has learned to control diabetes through diet and exercise. In addition to the two to three exercise classes she teaches weekly, Authement does elliptical training and cycles regularly to keep herself in shape and good health.
She became a believer in exercise as a youth, and at 16 began working for a women’s health club in Houma where she learned about the basics of running a business. When the club was in transition six years later and soon opening its doors to women and men, Authement listened to the urging of her clients and friends. She opened her own health club — for women only — in an apartment complex’s clubhouse.
“What mattered was getting up and running, taking care of the women” who wanted a female-only facility in which to exercise, she said.
When a clothes dryer sparked a fire in the clubhouse one year later, Authement began looking for space to lease. Three months later, she opened on Point Street, although it was a third of the size of today’s operation. Within 15 years, she purchased the entire building.
After 10 years, Authement realized she needed to expand beyond strict health-club offerings and broadened the company’s scope into esthetics, researching and building upon the day-spa concept.
“My sister, Sandra Livingston, was there to help me achieve my goals in the day-spa industry,” Authement said; Ms. Livingston still works alongside her sister as a cosmetologist. For the first two years, the sisters n along with a single massage therapist, Kitten Bourg n also still seeing clients at Allie’s n ran the business. Andree Boudreaux, club manager, joined the team within a few years and has served as Authement’s right hand for 28 years now. “Andree stood by my side through thick and thin,” she said. “Without Andree’s dedication and support through good times and bad, well, she had my back then and she still has my back today.”
With Boudreaux’s assistance, the business has grown to offer clients a wide array of services. They range from haircuts, manicures and pedicures to facials, massages and mud wraps, as well as specialty treatments for hair growth, tanning and nonsurgical removal of cellulite, among others. Aerobics classes, circuit training, elliptical training are among the health club’s offerings. Bridal, birthday and Carnival-crew parties are also coordinated in the spa.
Today, the health club is still a women-only environment, but men and children are welcome to enjoy the day spa’s services as well.
“My theory of what I wanted for the surrounding area was for women to have a private place where they could come n and not worry about having makeup on or what they’re wearing,” Authement said. Women drive from Grand Isle, Patterson and Boutte to exercise at Allie’s. “It’s a place they’re comfortable.”
Authement said having to financially support and rear her son, Craig, alone gave her the drive to succeed. She credits her husband of 28 years, Tony, with giving her the love and support to dedicate the time needed to her growing business.
“I give 100 percent of myself to my wonderful, incredible husband, my son n that means my life n my three fabulous grandchildren and my two great-grandchildren,” she said.
“All my friends will tell you that I am a nurturer. I will do anything for anyone,” Authement said; and she’s been known to feed strangers. After hurricanes, she invites out-of-town workers who are helping restore utility services into her camp for home-cooked meals, and gives money or food to people near her business.
Raised to be nurturing by her godmother, Authement said she strives to relate to the people she meets so she can give them what they need to feel better. Upon meeting someone, Authement said she immediately wants to help that person adopt healthy habits n before she is in a doctor’s office.
NAME: Allie Authement
TITLE: Owner
COMPANY: Allie’s Figure and Day Spa
ESTABLISHED: 1976
ADDRESS: 200 Point St., Houma
TELEPHONE: (985) 917-0009
WEBSITE: www.alliesspa.com
AGE: 59
FAMILY: Husband Anthony (Tony) Authement; son Craig Miller; grandchildren Sarah, Olivia (Libby) and Joshua Miller; grandchildren Emilee and Paxton Burnett
FIRST JOB: Selling snowballs across from her Palm Street home at age 12 or 13; she stood on a box because she was so short.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: “I feel that God has given me a drive to accomplish a business for women.”
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE SELF: Nurturing
ADVICE TO OTHERS: “Follow your heart.”
WOMAN IN BUSINESS YOU
ADMIRE: Liz Vest, former owner of Southern Health Studio and Renaissance Health Club, for whom Authement worked and learned about the health club business.
