Sometimes, the nicest of surprises comes in big packages. Earlier this year, Stephanie Castillo, manager of Mangos Salon in Ellensburg, Washington, entered Salon Today’s Total Salon Makeover competition, unbeknownst to the salon’s owner Keith Riexinger.

When Salon Today’s Stacey Soble called to notify the salon they had won a prize package valued at more than $30,000, Castillo was excited and Riexinger was shocked. This year’s package includes a complete salon management system including hardware and software from STX; a new front desk or furniture for another area of the salon including interior design consulting services from Takara Belmont; and a full retail collection, fully stocked backbar, full Color Therapy product portfolio and a comprehensive marketing and education package from Keratin Complex.

Mangos Salon opened in 2002 as a day spa with a tropical theme with lots of wicker and palm trees. When Castillo joined the team six year ago, Riexinger’s partner in the enterprise had just left, taking most of the salon’s décor with her and leaving just two employees. Castillo initiated a clean-up project, sorting through several boxes, unearthing things with which to decorate the salon. With a small $500 budget, she’s shopped at thrift stores and garage sales and gathered ideas from Pinterest to help further decorate. She removed the tropical items, and went with what she calls an Eclectic Elegance theme.

“But the stations and sinks are old, we need help with the retail area, and the computers are old,” Castillo says. “We can do so much for our salon with this prize. We serve up five-star service every day, and our talented team goes above and beyond for each guest. It is amazing to be able to give them this gift.”

Follow Mangos’ transformation through blogs and stories on salontoday.com and in pages of the magazine.