Beauty Secrets

Local woman makes the most of her skills and time

For many people, going to work is simply a way to pay the bills. For others, such as new business owner Hayley Keith, work is about making the best of your skills and the most of your time.

With the support of Invest Northern Ireland's Go for it programme, professional beauty therapist Hayley, put years of working for others behind her to open her beauty salon and day spa – Beauty Secrets – in the heart of Dungannon.

"I reached a point in my life where I knew I could make it on my own," said Hayley, who had worked in a busy salon environment for many years after qualifying as a beautician from Belfast Institute and working her way up through the ranks.

"I studied hard, worked hard and had finally become a manager – but it wasn't my business. I've always wanted to be in control of my own destiny, so after thinking about it for such a long time, I decided it was time to finally do something about it."

Hayley said that branching out on her own was her best decision yet.

"In the few months since I opened, the salon has been going from strength-to-strength," said Hayley. "The feedback I'm getting from customers, who are in turn recommending me to their friends and family, has been amazing. I set my standards high at the start and I believe that my dedication to quality and service is finally paying dividends."

Making sure her dream to become her own boss would come true, Hayley joined Invest Northern Ireland's, Go for it programme, which helped make her plans a reality.

"My biggest challenge was putting together a business plan that was solid, well-researched and fully demonstrated my abilities, my commitment and my thinking," said Hayley. "It's something I needed to present to the bank, so it had to be right."

"Fortunately for me, it was a complete success. I could never have got the result I wanted without all the professional help I got from the Go for it team."

Hayley said that when she initially joined the programme she was hoping to get advice on marketing and finance. "I thought those areas were my only areas of weakness but there was so much more advice and support on offer than just those – from learning about the upsides and downsides of running your own business, to tips on avoiding the most common pitfalls."

Keen to consolidate her success and invest in her future, Hayley is currently setting up a new website to promote her range of services, which are expanding all the time.

So was starting a business the right move for Hayley?

"Without a doubt," she said. "It's given me a new sense of direction. I'm glad I plucked up the courage to turn my idea into a reality. Getting up every morning is so much easier now because I'm really enjoying it. I only wish I made the decision years ago."

The Go for it programme is provided by Invest Northern Ireland and is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. For details, log on to www.goforitni.com