10 Years In Business!

Hey guys!

So today marks 10 years of being in business and I thought it would be a great idea to tell you about my journey. So here it goes, wow what a rollercoaster it has been. I opened the salon when I was 19, I was young, immature, didn't have a clue about business or even how to run a business.

When I opened my business I didn't know where it was going to go, I just knew I had a passion for hair and I've had this passion since I was a child, I used to sit at my hairdressers in Birstall and tell them I would be just like them one day!

So I finished my qualifications in hairdressing level 1, level 2 & level 3 and I opened the salon on 1st July 2010, I make it sound so easy, It definitely was not! When I opened I had days where I was quiet I had nothing to do, to be honest I had a number of stages where I felt like just giving up. I had the constant support from my family and friends to keep me going. After a few years of opening the salon I decided to venture out a little more and introduce bridal services in to the salon, I did a course with Ash Kumar in London, I managed to work with some of their high profile customers, I was able to be in the same building as Elton John & asian bollywood stars Sharukh Khan, Katrina Kaif , I mean being in the same building as them is as close as I could get!

In the following years I got to work with Singers Jasmin Walia & Lisa Maffia, this experience was amazing I actually got to work with them, not just be in the same building as them!

I used to do a live mannequin show with Ladlee sarees on Belgrave Road in Leicester, We did this every year on Diwali Day where we had live models in the windows showcasing Ladlees outfits.

Working with Lisa Maffia was like a dream come true, I actually met Lisa on my first girls holiday back in 2008, I was one of those crazy ones desperate to get a photo with her, I actually ended up on stage with her and Romeo! When I was approached by a local Dj to have the opportunity to style Lisa Maffia's hair the first thing I thought was I better get out these photos to show her I was one of her crazy fans! It was such an amazing experience to be on set & behind the scenes of a music video.

In 2017 I won the national and regional award for "Hair and make up salon of the year" In 2018 I won again won the regional award for "Hair and make up salon of the year" and in 2019 and 2020 I didn't win but I was amazed to be able to be a finalist again for the same award!

Last year I got married and as the close lead up to my wedding last year I took a slight step back from the salon to be able to focus on my wedding and enjoy the moment, I also used the time to reflect on what I had accomplished over the last 9 years and it made me think that no matter what you do in life if you have a dream of what you want to do and have the ambition and passion for something do all you can to fulfil it, after returning back in to the salon after my wedding and honeymoon I knew I wanted to push myself further and gain more and make the next decade even more successful! As most businesses are experiencing at the moment Covid-19 came in the way, this definitely wasn't the way I wanted to start my 10th year in business the way it has done. We all are in difficult positions and our anxiety levels are extremely high but one thing I have learnt is to remain positive, Ive had a fair few break downs during lockdown and that is ok, we all have. Its now a waiting game to when I am able to reopen and get back to doing what I love doing most!

The reason why I wanted to share my journey with you all is because I wanted to express to you all that its ok to take a break to reflect on what you have accomplished and what you want out of life, Its ok to have dreams and if you want those dreams to come true, push yourself work at them and watch your dream become your journey, make an adventure out of what you want to accomplish and tell yourself anything is possible, if you have a passion for something push yourself to make your dreams become your path in life.

Its taken me 10 years to create my journey and my life adventure and its not been an easy one its come with a million ups and downs, its come with moments where I've just want to stop and give up but its been the best 10 years I could ask for and thats purely down to the love and support I have been given by all my family, friends and of course all my beautiful customers that have allowed me to be running a successful business that has officially turned 10 today! Covid-19 has been a knock back to us all but if there is any advice I can give to any businesses out there small or big is stay positive! Positivity takes you a long way, follow your dreams and let your mistakes, your break downs, your breaks to reflect on your accomplishments make your dreams become accomplishments. Remember its ok to not be ok, its ok to question the future of your businesses just remain positive and we will all get out of this pandemic bigger better and stronger!

Love to you all and of course stay safe! Selina Chauhan x