Billie, 38, and Lauren, 24, opened their all-in-one beauty salon, The Collab LDN, in the Seedbed Centre back in April. Both had previous experience in the beauty industry, but wanted to set up “an umbrella business”, in which they and other professionals could deliver a range of treatments from eyebrow microblading to meditation in one place.
Billie, who specialises in microblading eyebrow treatment, said the spark was the realisation that people were becoming increasingly concerned about their own self-care following the pandemic. “I think people realised actually, they didn’t feel as good as they should,” she said.
Billie said The Collab LDN is “about businesses coming together in a collaborative space, where our clients can have everything under one roof”. And more than six months down the road, the business has expanded to include what the pair describe as “academies”.
These are training courses associated with some of the businesses in the space, designed to support people wanting to join the beauty industry. While Lauren, a professional makeup artist, is currently finishing her training so she can provide accredited makeup courses, Billie has had “about 30” people so far, with “some amazing results”.
Now eyeing up an adjacent unit to add to the space, Lauren said the trick is to ensure others joining The Collab LDN are able to contribute to the offering. “The people we have got in at the moment we love having,” she said. Billie agreed, adding: “We want the right people in here. We want the environment in the clinic to be somewhere people look forward to going.”