In the current economic climate running any business can be tough.
Ashleigh Young is only 17 but has been running her own Beauty Salon in Harrogate since November 2010. A self-motivated individual, she took a decision at a young age over the career path she wanted to take, and then set about making it happen.
Working part-time in a coffee shop allowed her to finance training as a Beautician and initially working mobile with clients before taking on her first premises on Station Parade in Harrogate in November 2010. It was a busy time for Ashleigh, but an investment that paid off, as in December 2011 she moved into her own premises in the centre of Harrogate.
The business, Belles & Beau, then moved to Eastville Terrace, on the outskirts of Harrogate, where it is today.
Ashleigh explained further about the move:
Being out of the Town centre makes it so much easier for people to get to us and park.
Customers don’t have to worry about a parking ticket running out or the problem of finding a parking space in the first place, we think this helps people relax while they are with us.
The new premises allowed us to expand the beauty treatments that we offer and gave us a base that would take us much further.
Initially Business was tough going and traditional advertising didn’t work well for them. A move onto facebook and social media was the turning point for the company.
Ashleigh said:
As soon as we went onto facebook the number of followers just leapt up and from that, so did the business coming in.
We take bookings on facebook and many customers follow us to keep track on what’s happening at the salon.
We have nearly 3,500 followers now and actively encourage feedback.
Her success hasn’t come easily and has been the product of hard work and long hours. Although having supportive family, she is very much in the driving seat of the business.
Recently she was honoured with the award of the Ackrill Media Young Entrepreneur of the year where she beat-off 120 others to gain the accolade.
Ashleigh said:
I felt honoured and really surprised to receive the award – I didn’t think that from 120 entrees, that I would win.
What about the future for Ashleigh and Belles N Beau ? Ashleigh has a successful salon and her busy schedule testifies to that. Currently she is keeping one eye on developing her current salon, looking at new products and treatments that come to the market, but with the longer term aim to open up another salon. The beauty industry has numerous new treatments coming to the market, but Ashleigh only entertains when she passionately believes they work. She doesn’t follow trends for the sake of following trends, for any new treatment to be offered to her clients she needs to fully believe in what it can do.
Ashleigh is a shining example of how hard work, sticking to your business morales and looking after your customers can really take you places and we wish her well for the future.
