Caroline Purdy from Beauty Culture chats to UL

by Ulster Life • January 17, 2016 • Beauty, Business, UL Salons • Comments (0) • 2644

Established in 2000 Beauty Culture has been a successful salon for over fourteen years. Awarded the prestigious Irish beauty salon of the year in 2003. In May 2014 the long term manager of Beauty Culture (Caroline Purdy) took over the business as the new owner and proprietor of the new premises on Bloomfield Road

Tell us about how you ended up where you are today?

After completing my GCSEs at Newtownbreda high school I started working in the NPO Connswater store. I worked part time while studying and having a placement for my NVQ level two. When I was moving onto my NVQ level three I started working for the Lisa in the original Beauty Culture. While continuing to further my education in the salon brands at 19 I became head therapist, shortly after we won Beauty Salon of the year for Ireland then I became salon manager at 21 when the business expanded. In May 2014 Lisa was moving away to live and the business in Ballyhackamore was closing and I had the great opportunity to open a brand new Beauty Culture on Bloomfield Road, with all the senior staff working with me. Since then all our senior staff have become Dermalogica ‘skin experts’ and we continue to bring in the latest treatments.

Is there a typical day and if so what might that look like?

My day starts with answering emails, writing to-do lists and checking stock levels. Treating clients with a variety of different treatments we offer throughout the rest of the day.

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?

I am a very passionate about running all aspects of the business. If I need to be flexible with my working hours I can be. Whether to suit my clients or my childcare arrangements.

Have you any advice for someone wanting to get into the Beauty industry?

Expect to study hard as it’s an ever changing and expanding business, you will need to be prepared because this never stops. Getting a good placement or first job does help. It’s very important to have a interest in several aspects of beauty when starting out.

You’re Chancellor of the Exchequer for the day. What would you change to help business in NI?

A lot of businesses in the service industry struggle to pay the quarterly vat bill. As a result some small businesses avoid expanding, stocking more products and employing more staff. I would higher the threshold before you have to start to pay vat or reduce the 20% vat rate for smaller to medium businesses.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Give a lot to friends and family to pay off their mortgages and to mental health and cancer research charities. I would invest and expand the Beauty Culture brand.

One Word!

Favourite Restaurant? Marco Pierre White steakhouse bar and grill Belfast

Drink? Prosecco

Holiday Destination? Portugal

3 famous dinner party guests?

Michelle Obama, Marco Pierre White and Malala Yousafzai.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Emotional, passionate, creative.

Beauty Culture
1a Bloomfield Road
Belfast, BT5 5LR
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Phone: 02890460100
Mail: info@beautyculture.co.uk