Nails Inc founder Thea Green says to those considering starting up: Just do it

By Helen Loveless

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WHILE most firms have struggled over the past few years, Thea Green’s company, Nails Inc, has grown rapidly.

Thea, 34, set up nail bar company Nails Inc 11 years ago, after being inspired by the nail bars in New York, which she often visited in her former job as a fashion journalist.

Her company has 57 nail bars throughout Britain and sells a range of nail varnishes.

Next month will see the launch of Nails Inc’s latest nail bar in Henri Bendel, an upmarket New York department store.

Her business has a turnover of £10 million and employs 450.

Thea says: ‘Initially, the recession hit us slightly as customers who had signed up to our loyalty scheme cut back on manicures, but now they view us as an affordable luxury.
‘We have seen double-figure growth in the past 12 months alone.’

In the past two years the company has launched a sister brand, Get Lashed, based on the concept of nail bars, but selling false eyelash, threading and tinting services.

Unusually, the biggest challenge for the business has been that it is the market leader in the field.

Thea says: ‘When we launched we didn’t have any competition, which meant we couldn’t measure ourselves against other firms and learn from their mistakes.

‘While your skill set as an entrepreneur has to be very broad, employing experts and devolving is also essential for the strength of the business.’

Thea recommends that those considering starting up a business to ‘just do it’.

She says: ‘You need to live through the pain of starting up, but make it better for yourself by talking to people and seeking all of the free advice out there.

‘Watching out for the pitfalls will help you to be prepared.’

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Tags: famous entrepreneurs, Female Entrepreneurs, Nails Inc, Starting a Business - Advice, Thea Green

Posted by Helen Loveless on Sunday, October 17th, 2010 at 11:26 am.

Filed under Business Icons, Careers, News, SMEs, Starting a Business, Tagged as: , famous entrepreneurs, Female Entrepreneurs, Nails Inc, Starting a Business - Advice, Thea Green.