Gel Nails and
Marathon Trails P
olished Nail Boutique founder and CEO Shannon Sullivan left her lucrative corporate career 12 years ago. She was unsure of what to do next, describing the moment in her life as a breaking point. Her aunt passed away from leukemia at 47 years old, and her corporate boss had left the company. It was then that Sullivan realized she did not have a plan. She was now on the search for her next daring venture. One day when working out at Assembly Sports Club, which her family has owned for 30 years, she noticed a vacant space fit for a new idea. Sullivan called her brother-in-law and owner of the gym, asking to lease the space. The business idea itself was still unknown to Sullivan. “Gel nails had just come out, and I said I’m going to nail school. I want to create a business where women feel seen and heard,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan received her training at Cali For Nails Academy in Malden, Massachusetts before opening the salon in July of 2010. Sullivan had always loved to get her nails done; however, her main focus was to improve the salon experience. Winning the title of “Best Salon in Somerville” eight years in a row, Sullivan’s top notch salon team offers a wide array of dry manicure and pedicure techniques from gel extensions to detailed nail art. Even though creating these nail masterpieces may be their staple service, Sullivan and the team put a strong emphasis on building a personal connection with every client. “We’re really about building a clientele and keeping that clientele...When you walk into our space, I want to know all about you. Why are you here, what can I do for you, how can I serve you. I think that’s what makes us different,” said Sullivan. While reflecting back on starting her business, Sullivan pointed out the importance of hurdles and setbacks.
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“Break it down, every setback that we go through in life is a setup for a comeback. I tell my 10-year-old son this - Do not give up - Go until the end. Just keep fighting for it. Instead of playing the victim to that setback…you just have to keep moving forward.” said Sullivan. These difficult and trying times did not hold back this entrepreneur, unwavering in keeping herself grounded. One foot after the other, Sullivan kept adding to her business, building it into an empire of passion. One of her biggest passions is volunteering, providing her services to multiple charities in Massachusetts. In 2015, Kimberly Sheridan, former founding executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Boston Harbor, was a client of Sullivan’s. One manicure later, Sullivan was painting nails for sick children and families who were being treated at Mass General Hospital. It was not long after that Sheridan asked Sullivan to represent the charity in the 2016 Boston Marathon. “I trained all alone, and I raised $20,000. I was the 70th highest fundraiser for the 2016 Boston Marathon. I then did the same thing in 2017,” said Sullivan. The Ronald McDonald House would not be the last charity that Sullivan represented at the Marathon. In 2018, Sullivan ran for the organization, Photo Shoot for a Cure, an annual gala event produced by Diana Levine, a photographer at Boston magazine. This event was deisgned to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease. Sullivan volunteered her time to the event for two years in a row, providing manicures to guests and attendees. The average amount raised for the charity totaled over a hundred thousand dollars. Sullivan would continue her volunteer work, painting nails for Spaulding Rehab in 2019, and was set to run for them in 2020. That was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, placing Sullivan’s
