THIS WEEK I GOT CHATTING TO SONYA, OWNER OF FOUR SUCCESSFUL SALONS, HAIR & BEAUTY WHOLESALERS AND MOST RECENTLY OPENED A BEAUTY TRAINING COLLEGE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Have you always wanted to work in beauty? No. It kinda happened by chance. It was just one of those things I took a chance on. I had an idea of opening a salon and just went with it.
Why did the beauty business appeal to you? All girls/women on some level enjoy some aspect of the beauty industry, regardless if it’s hair, makeup, beauty products or purchasing magazines, and reading up on the latest celebrity beauty product craze, I was no different i’d say my love of the industry has just got a lot stronger since I have opened the business. The beauty industry is an amazing and fascinating industry to be a part of.
How did you take your first step of opening your own business? It was a chance I took really. I had lived in New York for 8 years, when I returned home I went back to college to do my degree and become a Special Needs Teacher, during this time funds were low as I tried to hold down two jobs while studying and paying a mortgage. I had heard about a salon that was for rent, an on a night out with my cousin Melissa who was a fantastic hairdresser, I suggested to her that we go into the business together, she agreed and that was it really, it all started from there. I went the following week and ordered all the styling units, salon furniture and equipment online and the business opened!! That was in 2005.
The business “took off” and eventually I had to give up my studies and my two jobs and focus on the hair salon business. I knew that my role in life was to become a business woman, it came natural to me. I love everything about business. Two years in business together Melissa and I split as business partners and I continued to open my other businesses, the following year I open my Tanning and Beauty Salon, followed then by Salon Solutions wholesalers, Vanity Cloughoge Beauty Salon came next and then Beyond Vanity hair and Beauty, Zen Day spa and finally Newry School of Beauty only last year
How many staff do you employ? I have 43 staff at present that’s between Hair Stylists, Beauty & Spa Therapists, Office staff and Managers.
What is your typical day? Every day is so different. I generally start most days by following my list that I have from made the night before. My ideal day if everything goes to plan is – I am up about 7/7.30am I start off by going to each location and having a briefing with my Managers about the week ahead, going over the appointments, staff, marketing and general running of the business. I Tend to have a lot of phone calls to make and always catch up on them while I am travelling by car from place to place – thank god for blue tooth!!! By the time I get around the different locations all 6 of them and haven’t been distracted by chatting with clients or dealing with problems that arise I usually end up back in my office doing emails or opening post. I tend to keep meetings to a minimum and I only spend my time having quality meetings with sales reps. I have got used to delegating tasks to my managers and office staff which saves me a lots of time. If I have time when I get home I like to research new products and treatments, figuring out new ways to market my business – just quality time on business development. I actually enjoy that not every day is the same really, what I have listed is my idea of an ideal day but it rarely works out that way, I am not a fan of routine anyway I find it boring so I love that every day usually brings with it a new challenge
How do you keep organised in successfully running 6 businesses? Keeping organised is the secret. I have to have everything organised. I love “lists” and couldn’t sleep If I haven’t got my “list” written for the next day. Being organised is very important to me. It makes life easier in the long run and gives you a good feeling to know that you have everything under control and know where everything is, it also leaves me that my time is being used more efficiently and productive. I record everything and have a daily diary that I write in, for me if I write it down it sticks in my head, I couldn’t leave the house without my diary… When I am working on business development I take a page for every place and take notes on each business on ways to improve, marketing, increasing sales, any staff issues etc… I am a visual person so being able to visualise something helps me to see the business as several pictures in my head and from there I can organise myself to deal with and run each place
Who inspires you? Most business women inspire me. I am fascinated by the stories of people especially women who have came through so many disadvantages in their lives but have become a success. Strong positive, hard working individuals inspire me.
Katie Piper, who I have had the pleasure of meeting 2 years ago is a shining example of someone who is totally positive. In 2008 Katie was a successful model and TV presenter and all that was taken from her when she was viscously attacked and had acid thrown in her face. After more than 200 operations she has came out of this tragic situation a stronger more positive person. When being in business and life in general it can be tough at times it’s unbelievable how a person has the inner strength and get up and go to survive. Katie Piper’s story is inspiring, intriguing and fascinating; in my eyes she is a true inspiration.
My father who is a hard working man has also been my inspiration; I was brought up to believe that you have to work for what you want in life. I truly believe that my upbringing by my mother and father has made me who I am today; I have always been encouraged and motivated to work hard and to become a strong independent woman. I honestly believe that my solid, happy and positive up bringing set the foundation for me becoming the success that I am today.
How do you unwind after a busy week? I love to unwind at the weekends by spending time with my husband, family and friends. There is nothing better than a good meal in a nice restaurant with a couple of glasses of wine to help me unwind at the weekends. Every Sunday religiously is spent in my parents’ house for Sunday lunch. We are a very tight knit family and once a week on Sunday we all get together. It’s a mixture of fun and madness as the family grows with 10 nieces and nephews, 4 brother in laws, 4 sisters and my brother and his girlfriend all talking about the weeks news, work and what’s happening in our lives, I wouldn’t miss my parents on Sunday for the world!! If the weather is good my husband and I love going for walks, or catching a movie. Downtime for me is researching travel and planning trips/ holidays. I love to travel and my ambition in life is to travel the world.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of opening their own business? Just go for it!!! I know a lot of people who just wish about starting their own business but really you just have to get out there and do it. Don’t over think things or you will end up being paralysed with fear. Don’t feel that everything has to be done perfectly or not at all. When you start to worry about making mistakes it turns into fear of failure. Stay focused, organised and determined. Learn to enjoy your success and don’t let opening your business take over your life.
See more of Sonya on https://www.facebook.com/sonya.donnelly.7
Website thevanitygroup.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/SonyaDonnelly
Snap chat: salonsecrets
