Member Article

Niomi swaps banking for beauty

A former bank and building society executive from Skipton has followed her dream by opening her own beauty boutique, investing £16,000 of her own money in equipment, marketing, legal fees and leases.

Niomi King launched Beauty Boutique in Victoria Square after a successful 10-year career in finance. The move came after she spotted a gap in the market for a single destination for all things ‘beauty’ in the town.

Before this, she was involved in customer relations for first the Halifax bank, then Skipton Building society and she expects the experience she gained to stand her in good stead for her new customer facing role, fronting her own business.

Niomi said: “I’ve spent most of my professional career in banking and although I enjoyed it and learned a great deal as my career progressed, I felt the time was right to follow a more vocational path. When I realised there was a business opportunity in Skipton, I went for it.”

Her longstanding interest in beauty inspired her to become a qualified beautician in her spare time, gaining a Level 2 NVQ in manicures, pedicures and waxings and another in nail extensions and applications. Niomi also has a Level 2 NVQ in business administration.

She added: “I’ve got big plans for the business; I’ll be introducing waxing, body piercing and nail services as well as occasional make-up.

“I’m recruiting two nail technicians and will invite beauty students from Craven College to gain experience here too, via work placements, as it’s so important to give them the chance to meet clients and get first-hand knowledge of what it’s like outside the classroom.”

The Beauty Boutique sells a range of human hair and synthetic wigs, hair extensions, jewellery and cosmetics, including an organic, paraffin-free range of products.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .