My Business Journey: From a Baby and a Beauty Couch to a Tonbridge Shop

A baby, a portable beauty couch and a twist of fate. That was my starting point in 2005, not a grand business plan or a shop window with my name above it.

What followed was a business that grew alongside my children: homemade price lists, late-evening appointments, family teamwork and some rather unexpected turns. Eventually, that little beginning became a treatment studio, an online shop and a shop of my own in my hometown of Tonbridge.

I’ve gathered all twelve chapters of My Business Journey here so you can follow the story from the very beginning, or dip into the moments that interest you most.

Start with Chapter 1: A Baby, a Beauty Couch and a New Beginning.

Small beginnings, sleeping babies and a room of my own

I was a new mum looking for a way to contribute to our family finances without returning to the London commute. An unexpected opportunity brought me my first clients, and Paul and I began fitting treatments around naps, shifts and family life.

There were price lists printed, cut and folded at home, leaflets posted through local doors and, eventually, a living room that could no longer keep doubling as a treatment space.

Family life and business life were never very far apart. Looking back at these photographs makes that wonderfully clear.

Finding my people and the work I loved

A dedicated room was only part of the story. Discovering Éminence Organic Skincare helped shape the treatments and advice I wanted to offer. Local conversations, recommendations and shopping events helped people find me, but looking after those clients mattered just as much as meeting them.

Not every new direction was the right fit. My investment in permanent cosmetics taught me new skills, but stepping away helped me recognise where my enthusiasm really lay: organic skincare, facials and personal advice.

And behind it all? School runs, evening appointments, a constant mental list and a family helping to make it work.

When everything changed, we found another way

The COVID years brought treatments to a sudden stop. They also brought a conversation over coffee: Paul wondered whether he could build an online shop.

That idea became another way to stay connected with customers. The first At Home Facial Kits followed, including a snowy weekend delivering more than forty kits. Those small moments of care meant a great deal during such an uncertain time.

Life after lockdown brought different appointment patterns, new conversations about skincare and a clearer sense of what I wanted the business to become.

A family affair and a Tonbridge dream

My name might be on the door, but this has never been a solo effort. From Paul’s technical help and carefully packed orders to the children’s leaflets, laundry and deliveries, my family has been woven through every stage.

In 2023, I felt ready for a change. Opening a welcoming skincare and makeup shop had long been a secret dream. Finding 2a Avebury Avenue gave that dream a home.

From appointments around nap times to a shop in my hometown. A huge change, made possible one small step at a time.

Read all 12 chapters of My Business Journey

Here is the complete story in reading order. Each chapter includes the full series list, so you can always find your way back.

1. Chapter 1: A Baby, a Beauty Couch and a New Beginning

   The unexpected opportunity that brought my first clients and started the business in 2005.

2. Chapter 2: Sleeping Babies and Homemade Price Lists

   Growing a little business around two children, Paul’s shifts and homemade leaflets.

3. Chapter 3: A Permanent Home

   Moving beyond the living room and creating a dedicated space for treatments.

4. Chapter 4: Discovering the Skincare Range That Shaped My Business

   Finding Éminence Organic Skincare and a range I loved sharing with clients.

5. Chapter 5: Finding Clients and Keeping Them

   Small targets, word of mouth, community connections and the importance of client care.

6. Chapter 6: The Ultimate Juggling Act

   An honest look at school runs, evening appointments and the rewards of family teamwork.

7. Chapter 7: The Pivot, Finding My Niche

   A significant investment, a change of heart and a clearer focus on the work I loved.

8. Chapter 8: The COVID Years

   How lockdown led to our online shop and the first At Home Facial Kits.

9. Chapter 9: A New World After COVID

   Changing routines, organic skincare conversations and introducing INIKA Organic Makeup.

10. Chapter 10: A Family Affair

    A thank-you to the precious gang behind the business, from tech support to packed parcels.

11. Chapter 11: A Huge Change

    Finding 2a Avebury Avenue and turning my dream of a Tonbridge shop into reality.

12. Chapter 12: On into the Future!

    Celebrating twenty years, remembering special milestones and looking ahead with gratitude.

Twelve chapters, so many people to thank

Looking back on twenty years brought so many memories into focus: family moments, loyal clients, a special award, sponsoring a cricket team, my first podcast and watching my daughter step into the beauty world herself.

The biggest thread running through the whole story is people. My family, the clients who took a chance on me, fellow local business owners and everyone who has visited, ordered or offered encouragement.

This is the complete twelve-part series, but it isn’t the end of the business journey. Thank you for being part of it.

Come and be part of what happens next

Explore Karen Alexandra Beauty and Well-Being for skincare, makeup and wellbeing favourites, or visit me in Tonbridge for a browse and a chat. Personal advice remains at the heart of what I do.

Lots of love,

Karen xxx

Karen Alexandra Beauty and Well-Being

2a Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent