Naomi Johnson

Name:

Naomi Johnson

Business:

Absolutely Fabulous

Web site:

www.abfabbeauty.co.uk

Years in business:

1

Number of businesses:

1

I’d worked for a bank for years but eventually had enough of working in an office. When I had my first child I thought about getting a job I could be flexible with and work from home. Beauty therapy was at the top of my list.

I’ve never been involved in any other businesses but my parents are retired dentists and ran a practice together so that might have influenced me. I don’t know if it’s the life I’ve had that has made me realise I don’t want to work 9-5pm for someone else.

I started beauty training when I was pregnant. I went to college one day a week while I continued working part time. Once I had my daughter I returned to work and finished the training. I did nail extensions and nail art and set up a salon at home called Absolutely Fabulous.

I did a leaflet drop around our estate which was quite new and people were looking for beauticians and hair dressers. I also got a website up and running and linked it to yell.com. I got quite a few responses and people came to the house for appointments.

After a few months I gave up working at the bank and started looking around for premises. I’d always wanted my own shop so I could make it how I wanted. A place came up for rent in Chillingham Road, Heaton and, scary as it was to actually sign the contract, I opened Absolutely Fabulous in June 2007.

I brought in a hairdresser too as I had quite a few brides coming to get their nails done and I wanted to provide the full package.

Things took longer than we expected to get going though as we had to rip out walls, rewire and put in central heating. In the end I had to get shop fitters in to do it. The joiner and I were there at 5am still finishing off on the morning we opened.

The mistake I made was not realising things always take longer than you expect. I had brides booked in for June so we had to open then, and it was a really stressful time with two children under three to look after and doing it all without a big enough advertising budget. I would say patience is a great strength for an entrepreneur!

My husband was a great support and got a personal loan for me when I was turned down for a business loan. I’ve done all this on my own with no other financial support so getting the business off the ground has definitely been a challenge.

It has had its ups and downs and it has been hard at times but I am thankful I nearly have the first year under my belt and I am told the second is slightly easier. It can be long hours but the setting up was the hardest part.

The clients are still building up. We’ve been going out in the street and talking to people and doing more leaflet drops.

I definitely want to expand. It was so amazing to see this place open I would love to see it again. It would be great to open from other Absolutely Fabulous’ in Newcastle and up towards Edinburgh where I’m from originally.

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