Open for 17 years, Ellen’s Nails was the very first nail shop opened in Manning.
“After working for other Vietnamese nail salons for two years, my family and I decided that it would be best to open our own,” she said. “We looked around some surrounding areas close to Sumter and settled in Manning in 1997.”
Cooper said her father was in the Air Force, and the Alabama native came with her family to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when she was about 4.
“I attended all of the Sumter School District 2 schools,” she said. “After I graduated high school, I attended Chris Logan Beauty College where I obtained my nail technician license at the age of 18.”
But she didn’t just settle with her South Carolina credentials.
“Over the years, I also accumulated North Carolina, Georgia and Florida nail licenses,” she said, noting she is working on a Colorado license. “Then, in 2007, I attended a school in Greenville where I also obtained my nail instructor license.”
Cooper’s day begins about 10 a.m., when she arrives at the salon and checks her appointment book to see how many clients she may have.
“I may vacuum, refill supplies and check the bathroom,” she said. “As the clients come in, it’s usually the normal stuff: fill-ins, full sets, manicures and pedicures throughout the day. I also have the TV on because I can’t miss my favorite shows, ‘The Price is Right,’ WIS local news and ‘Family Feud.’”
By the end of her day, Cooper says she’s shared “a story or two.”
“Then I close at 5 p.m. and head home,” she said.
She said her family has reaped the benefits from choosing Manning as their location.
“We love the people,” she said. “There a re a lot of genuine people here. Everyone knows someone, and some are even related to each other somehow. It’s a small town with lots of Southern charm and locally owned businesses.”
Still, she’d like to see “more activities” in the area.
“Manning could use some type of activities, like a movie theater, bowling alley or even a skating rink that will cater to families and the youth,” Cooper said. “Our town loses business because we have to travel to Sumter or Florence to do these things.”
She said owning her own business has its “pros and cons.”
“I like my business because it is very flexible,” she said. “I can work around doctor’s appointments or even schedule a lunch break. Sometimes having to deal with a variety of different personalities can be difficult, knowing when and how to be a good listener when someone may be going through a tough time.”
And the daily ordering of supplies, refilling of products, monitoring inventory and dealing with overhead can be a grind.
“But the most fun is (talking) with clients, sharing new and old stories,” she said. “Making people feel and look great is also wonderful. And we laugh a lot.”
She also enjoys being able to use her creativity.
“Nail designs are fun,” she said. “Ellen’s Nails is not your typical Asian nail salon. It is a cute, but small nail salon where you’re not only a client, you’re a friend.”
Though half-Vietnamese, Cooper said she and her mother “never spoke her language in our salon.”
“I would always tell my clients, ‘If we like you, we’re going to talk about you, and if we don’t like you, we’re still going to talk about you!” she said. “All in English, of course. We would joke a lot!”
Since her mother’s passing in 2013, Cooper says the salon has been quieter than she would like.
“There’s no more fussing or arguing, and she is truly missed by a lot,” she said. She spends most of her free-time with her 10-month-old baby boy.
“When I can go out, I do like to eat at nice restaurants, attend the comedy house or a movie,” she said. “Or head to a beach somewhere, hit up a car show or even go to Darlington to the drag strip to watch a few motorcycle races.”
Cooper is taking appointments 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday for nail and pedicure services.
“If you haven’t been here in a while, come check me out, even if it’s just to stop by and say, ‘Hi,’” she said.
