A Palm Bay mum-of-two who ditched her merchandising job to run a mobile beauty therapy business has scooped two county awards.
Lucy Swann, 36, was a merchandiser with Debenhams, moving to the isle from Cambridge 13 years ago when the Westwood Cross store opened.
Nine years ago Lucy decided on a change of direction and trained in beauty therapy in Canterbury while still working.
She said: “I decided I wanted to do something I could build a family around. I wanted the freedom to pick and choose how and when I worked.
“Beauty therapy was something I always wanted to do when I was at school but therapists get a dumbed down reputation and so it was something I didn’t follow up at the time.”
Instead Lucy took a textile design and retail management degree and began a merchandising career.
But the two year course in Canterbury was the beginning of her new venture – Beauty By Lucy.
She said: “After my daughter was born I did a bit of both, working and my business. Then four years ago, after my son was born, I decided to go fully self-employed. It was scary but I wanted to concentrate on the beauty therapy business.”
With an established customer base the business has taken off with appointments already booked for Christmas!
The success has been recognised at the Kent Health & Beauty Awards which has been running for four years. Both this year, at a ceremony on June 15, and last year Lucy has scooped the gold award for best ‘mobile business’ and a bronze award for best ‘beauty therapist’.
She said: “I really wasn’t expecting to get the awards but it is a really good platform for everyone’s business and no-one goes away from the awards empty handed so that’s lovely.”
The success is built around being mobile, visiting clients who may not be able to get out and about and also working evenings and weekends – meaning those who may not be able to get to salons during working hours are able to have a mobile visit from Lucy.
Lucy, who said she fell in love with the isle after her move for Debenhams, is now looking at future expansion for Beauty By Lucy.
She said: “In September I will have two children in full time education which will really free up my time. I have got plans to take some more courses before Christmas and am looking at whether I can do some more work from home with a treatment area.”
Find out more about Beauty By Lucy on the facebook page here