In this episode, Emma Cleary shares her journey from modelling to building her own social media business, Embrace Socials. She discusses the importance of personal branding and building an engaged audience on Instagram. Emma emphasises being authentic and true to yourself on social media, highlighting the power of educational and entertaining content. She advises professionals to focus on their ideal audience, create resonating content, and overcome the fear of sharing their expertise online.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The significance of building a personal brand on social media

Useful Links:

• Follow Emma on Instagram: @embrace_socials

In this episode, Nicola Griffin of PrettyBeaut London shares her journey of building a successful freelance beauty therapy business. What began as a side hustle, offering discounted rates to 10 models for eyelash extensions, quickly grew through word of mouth and referrals. After being made redundant from her office job, Nicola decided to pursue beauty therapy full-time. She leveraged social media, particularly Facebook, to market her services and attract new clients, offering incentives for referrals and joining platforms like Secret Spa to increase bookings.

Nicola emphasises the importance of communication and providing a five-star service to ensure client retention. She shares her experiences using social media and Solo to grow her beauty business, discussing her trial-and-error approach to creating content and learning from Instagram posts and reels. Nicola also highlights the benefits of showcasing her work with branded marketing posts and utilising therapist the Sienna X and Million Dollar Facial therapist finders. She underscores the time-saving advantages of using Solo for managing bookings and income, and advises aspiring beauty therapists to go for it, enjoy the journey, and harness the power of social media to build their brand.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Building a freelance beauty business from a side hustle

Useful Links:

• Follow Nicola on Instagram: @prettybeautlasheslondon

Join us as we chat to Sam from Made with Love, a master manicurist, pedicurist, lash, and tan artist. Sam shares her 20 year journey in the beauty industry, detailing the evolution of client expectations and the impact of a professional booking system on her business. She discusses pricing challenges, loyalty programs, and digitising her business.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Marketing, client retention, and social media strategies

Useful Links:

• Follow Sam on Instagram: @thelondonlashes

In this episode, we chat with Zaara King, a beauty business coach and podcast host, who shares her inspiring journey in the beauty industry. Starting as a mobile beauty therapist while working full-time in sales, Zaara pursued her passion for beauty after being made redundant. She opened a salon but decided to work from home after having her first child, focusing on building her own beauty business. Zaara emphasises the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere for clients and connecting with them on a personal level.

Zaara also discusses the significance of social media for business growth, identifying and speaking to her ideal client, and strategies for client retention. She shares her approach to pricing, encouraging professionals to charge what they're worth and not fear increasing prices. Zaara also covers the importance of setting boundaries and implementing policies to protect time and income. She highlights the need for work-life balance and prioritising personal well-being.

We Cover:

• Zaara's journey from mobile beauty therapist to business coach

Useful Links:

• Follow Zaara on Instagram: @zaaraking

In this episode, we chat with Zoe Gibbs, a semi-permanent makeup artist and skincare specialist, about her journey of building her own business. Starting as a beauty therapist, Zoe worked at various salons and spas before taking a break to explore other career paths. She eventually rediscovered her passion for beauty and started her own business, Lipbrowlash, specialising in semi-permanent makeup. Zoe shares the challenges of being self-employed, the importance of self-belief, and the role of consistent marketing. She discusses her social media strategy and the educational content she creates to attract and educate potential clients.

Zoe also emphasises self-care and time management, sharing her personal strategies like meditation, yoga, and sound bowl healing to maintain a positive mindset and avoid burnout. She highlights the significance of a support system and reaching out for guidance. Zoe encourages listeners to pursue their passions, reminding them that it's okay to try different avenues and make adjustments along the way.

We Cover:

• Zoe's journey from beautician to business owner

Useful Links:

• Follow Zoe on Instagram: @lipbrowlash

In this episode, Maria Fairhurst of Maria Hannah Beauty shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from a corporate estate agent to a lash and brow expert. Starting with model appointments for friends and family, Maria leveraged social media and word of mouth to expand her client base. She emphasises the importance of listening to clients and understanding their preferences to enhance the client experience and build strong relationships.

Maria discusses her approach to pricing and how she communicated price increases to clients. She advises beauty professionals to choose the right brands, continuously practice, and improve their skills. Maria shares her insights on using high-quality products, creating a cohesive social media presence, and managing client expectations. She highlights the necessity of self-care and setting boundaries to prevent burnout.

We Cover:

• Transitioning from corporate estate agent to the beauty industry

Useful Links:

• Follow Maria on Instagram: @mariahannahbeauty

Join us for a special live episode hosted by Solo’s co-founder, Emily Ewart-Perks. Emily sits down with Marcia Kilgore, the visionary founder of Beauty Pie and other multi-million pound brands. Marcia reveals her remarkable journey from a facialist to a serial entrepreneur, discussing her motivations, the challenges she overcame, and the creation of Beauty Pie, a revolutionary direct-to-consumer beauty brand. This episode is filled with Marcia's valuable insights and advice, making it a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and beauty professionals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Marcia Kilgore's inspiring journey from a facialist to a thriving entrepreneur.

Useful links:

• Follow Marcia Kilgore on Instagram: ⁠@marcia.kilgore⁠

In this episode, we chat with Lindsey Hare of Relax&Retreat, a UK Hair and Beauty Awards nominee and winner of the Judges Award for "Highly Recommended" Best New Salon 2024. Lindsey shares her journey of starting her own beauty business and growing her client base. She emphasises the power of word-of-mouth marketing and leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote her services. Lindsey discusses the importance of engaging posts, content scheduling, and using the Solo booking system to streamline operations. She highlights asking for client feedback and continuously improving the customer experience. Lindsey also shares her aspirations of expanding her treatment offerings and becoming an educator. She advises on setting boundaries, managing time, and pricing services effectively. Lindsey’s journey highlights the significance of community building and networking, as well as the risks she took to follow her passion.

We Cover:

• Starting and growing a beauty business

Useful Links:

• Follow Lindsey on Instagram: ⁠@relax_retreat_⁠

In this episode, we chat with Kristina Jayne Beauty, a nail tech, facialist and waxer. Kristina shares how she started her career, found her first clients, and leveraged social media to grow her business. We discuss the value of authenticity in attracting clients, the importance of branding and pricing, and how she used a pricing calculator to set her rates. Kristina reflects on the positive impact of increasing her prices, her time management strategies, and the tools she uses to stay organised. She also emphasises self-care, work-life balance, and her future goals as a self-employed professional.

We Cover:

• Starting a career in the beauty industry

Useful Links:

• Follow Kristina on Instagram: @kristinajaynebeauty

In this episode, we chat with James Reeve-Shillito of Nail In The Coffin, a social media sensation known for his nail art and championing inclusivity, who shares his journey in the world of nails. Starting out as a barber, James discovered his passion for nails. He emphasises the importance of authenticity and how being true to himself attracts a like-minded clientele. James discusses the challenges of transitioning from a traditional job to a creative one, the fears and doubts that come with it, and the significance of inclusivity in the beauty industry.

We Cover:

• James's journey into the nail industry

Useful Links:

• Visit his website: https://booksolo.co/nailinthecoffin