Sophie Draper, a 20-year-old resident of West Bridgford in Nottingham, recently celebrated the grand opening of her beauty salon with a lively launch party attended by family, friends, and loyal clients.
This marks a significant milestone in her entrepreneurial journey, which began just two months after her 20th birthday.
Sophie’s path to success started in her Nottingham home, where she transformed a spare room into a makeshift beauty studio.
Working tirelessly until late into the night, she gained valuable experience and saved money to fuel her dream. Initially offering eyelash services only twice a week, she struggled to cover her expenses.
However, Sophie’s dedication and growing clientele soon outgrew her home-based setup, prompting her to take the bold step of opening her very own salon.
Thanks to her hard work and a strong online presence, Sophie amassed a following of 11,000 Instagram fans through her home beauty business.
To finance her salon venture, Sophie made a significant sacrifice, selling her car for £12,000. Yet, she firmly believes it was a risk worth taking.
“I used to work from a small room at home, with hours all over the place. Then, I decided to take the risk and get my own salon,” Sophie stated. “I had to sell my car to do it, but I know it’ll all be worth it.”
Located on Radcliffe Road in West Bridgford, Nottingham, her salon offers a wide range of beauty services, including hair curling, nail care, makeup, and eyelash extensions.
The salon’s interior exudes elegance with a striking marble wall, charming pink decor, floating sweet jars on the walls, and vibrant flower bouquets.
A neon pink sign reading “Doing It For The Gram” adds a touch of playfulness, complemented by rosy suede furniture throughout.
Sophie’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. She encourages her, saying, “Anyone wanting to create their own business, I would say, go for it! You will never know until you try.
I’m one of those people who, if I want something, I will just do it. I continually advertise and post on social media, as that’s how I got my following.
Also, do not listen to what people have to say, as there are many people who don’t want others to succeed.”
With ambitions to expand her business nationwide, Sophie emphasizes the importance of offering an experience rather than just a treatment.
“I want people to have an experience at my salon, not just a treatment. I love everything girly, and I poured my heart into it. I wouldn’t change a single part of the salon.”
Sophie expresses her gratitude to her parents for their unwavering support throughout the process.
She credits her father for fitting out the salon and her mother for taking care of the more minor details that a 20-year-old might overlook.
Sophie and her family worked tirelessly until midnight on August 31, the day before the salon’s grand opening, to ensure everything was in its rightful place, making her dream a reality.
