LIFE HAS not exactly been plain sailing for one Mossley beauty salon but it has made it to a decade in business.
And the support for Life’s A Beach as it celebrated 10 years of trading showed owner Lisa Delaney made the right decision.
Throw in one global pandemic and one cost-of-living crisis and it is easy to see why there were times when she considered whether it was worth it.
But sticking to her belief that home town Mossley needed a facility like hers is seeing her through, along with the backing from clients and the community.
“I opened because I’d worked in beauty but everywhere was so expensive and I wanted to be affordable for everybody,” said Lisa.
“So that was my goal, to open somewhere people who work hard for their living can afford to come to – and it’s worked.
“I’m not about making an absolute fortune. In some weeks, especially with Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve not taken a wage. It’s been touch and go whether we’d stay open to be honest.
“When we started, people said we wouldn’t make it in a small community, the community doesn’t need this kind of thing, you’ll never last – here we are, 10 years later.
“For me, it was important to set up in Mossley. I wanted to stay here as all my family are in Mossley, along with many of my friends.
“I know what a community is, so I wanted to bring my business to it because I knew I could make it work.”
Life’s a Beach, on Manchester Road, sees a steady stream of customers through its door, either for a sunbed or nails appointment, or for a massage at the LAB Spa that lies upstairs.
Installing the spa provided challenges but the business pulled through, with the approach of its staff helping.
Lisa added: “This was a derelict building. I put my life savings into it, I had to have the road dug up, I took a big risk but it’s paid off.
“I then did the same again upstairs with the spa. We ripped it out upstairs and put it in – three weeks later, Covid-19 hit.
“I’ve got a great team. Most of my staff have been here for at least five years. I’m still on really good terms with those who aren’t here anymore.
“We’re like a little family, it’s friendly and people say they come because we are.
“We’re just everyday people, we’re professional but people feel at ease. In a lot of salons, people don’t because they feel people, are judging them.
“Here, we’re just normal people making a living and they love it.”
Life’s A Beach is proving popular and has deals like £12 Tuesdays or two massages for £50 in the spa.
And the packed house when it toasted 10 years showed how the community has embraced it.
That support extends the other way as other beauty and aesthetic firms call Mossley home.
Lisa, 50, told The Correspondent: “It was a celebration of making it through a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s been very tough and there were moments when I felt like throwing the towel in. Just not wanting to give up is the reason I didn’t.
“I love my job and I love my clients – they’re like my family and I didn’t want to let my staff down. I’m glad I didn’t.
“People have popped up doing the same thing and I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but Mossley’s big enough for us all, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of heathy competition.
“But as long as we’re enjoying it, my staff are happy and clients are still coming through the door, I’ll stay open.”
Lovely write up about my salon and team .. very grateful to still be in business after 10 successful years x