Member Article

Northumberland entrepreneur set to expand beauty business

North East entrepreneur Gemma Ash is marking her first year in business with plans for expansion and recruitment, to allow her to meet growing demand.

Gemma, who owns Ultimate Skin Clinic in Blagdon, has seen her business flourish since she started in 2013, doubling in size as she’s developed her services for treatments with medical properties, the only of its kind in the area.

Now, the 38-year-old qualified microbiologist and midwife, who has a commercial background in the medical sector, is looking to achieve more after revealing a five-figure investment plan.

This will see an expansion of her current salon at the Milkhope Centre by early 2015 to include four treatment rooms, a new wet-room, additional retail space and an upgraded reception area.

Gemma is also looking to boost demand among the lucrative male market for her expertise and services with new grooming products and dedicated men only treatment days and experiences.

The move will help to push predicted turnover to upwards of £500k by 2017 while she builds up her team of expert technicians and consultants.

Services include cosmeceutical facial therapies, non-surgical facelifts, anti-aging skin care treatments, body and head massages, make-up consultations and eye enhancement programmes.

Currently employing two assistants, but with plans for the recruitment of two more skilled technicians, Gemma has doubled predicted first year turnover on the back of building a strong and loyal clientele in Morpeth, Ponteland, Gosforth and Jesmond.

As she secures her client base and, in turn revenue, Gemma said momentum is gathering now that the clinic’s reputation for excellence is established and further new product introductions, such as a pioneering European body contouring and skin tightening system, and non-invasive skin treatment, become available.

She added that Ultimate Skin Care will continue to support its talented team while looking to encourage and nurture a new generation of young, highly skilled people within the firm and the wider industry who will be based at the Milkhope site.

Gemma said: “The future is exciting for us and we are getting busier by the week. We now have the foundations and plans in place to move forward over the next three years to achieve even more success.

“Clients are already benefiting from the investments we have made in service, staff training and new products while plans for an extension will only increase capacity and create local jobs.

“We’re building a strong team that has the skills to deliver a quality professional service to clients while I look to develop the business and explore new opportunities for growth and expansion.”

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