Sharon Coote
The Beauty House
Born – Jersey
Married – “It’s complicated”
School – Les Quennevais
First Job – Insurance
Car – Land Rover Defender
Book – PCI DSS Compliance (Light Bedtime reading) that’s the sad reality. The last book I read was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Music – Anything apart from whale music or pan pipes!
Film – Gia
Gadget – My facial steamer
Last holiday – Ibiza
Enjoy – Good food, wine and my horse
So, tell us what inspired you to get this off the ground?
It gradually just happened, I was working from home in the evenings alongside my day job at Jersey Telecom. I just got busier and busier with the therapy work, my clients were telling their friends and my client database grew. Something had to give, so I decided to go for it. I have always had a passion for beauty therapy and a great interest in the skin and how it works. I studied and researched cosmetics in particular ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products and their impact on the skin. I then came across a product called Pevonia, it was exactly what I was looking for 100% Natural, 100% Organic and made with medical/food grade blending equipment. I have been using this product line on my clients for 9 years now and can positively say it is the best skin care range I have come across and I have successfully treated Acne, Rosacea and eczema along with the every day ageing issues.
What did you do prior to starting this business?
I helped set up the beauty salon at Club Carrefour when it first opened, this was my first job after I qualified in beauty. It was a fantastic experience and allowed me to put all I had learnt into practice. I then travelled and worked in a wonderful beauty salon in Melbourne Australia where I learnt to use hot wax.
Did that teach you any lessons that helped you succeed?
Intimate waxing with hot wax. Learning this skill in Australia has been immense as it was not something that was available in Jersey 9 years ago. My clients could not believe how much more comfortable it was than waxing with paper strips that stick to the skin. Down there? ouch!
What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learnt since starting the business?
It has to be the bookwork, compliance and accounting. Trying to have a good understanding of it all and fit it in on top of your main work. Learning to let go and give other people responsibility, I am a control freak!
Any funny stories that you have about the business starting out?!
Recently, I went on a ‘hot waxing’ training course in London to learn how to use our new Lycon wax. During the practical session, I span around with a spatula full of wax in my hand just as the tutor was bending down to pick something up off of the bottom shelf of my trolley. She stood up straight into my spatula full of wax! The whole class gasped as she stood there with wax spatula stuck to the top of her head, in her pristine hair! It looked rather shocking! In the morning theory session, she had told us how we could use the waxing solvent to get wax out of hair – Full of apologies; I said that at least I had given her the chance to demonstrate how it worked!
What are your plans for the future?
That’s a surprise .. stay tuned!
What advice would you give to would-be entrepreneurs?
As long as you have the work ethic, passion and drive go for it. It is extremely hard work and you never switch off but at the same time you can create something wonderful for people to enjoy and help others in whatever line of work you are in. It is immensely rewarding.