An award-winning Aberdeen beauty salon has reopened with new owners, saving 12 jobs.
Nailco Nail Bar, on Union Street, closed in April following financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Sisters Lucy Slattery and Claire Tester are the new owners and have rebranded the business as Moossh Nails and Beauty.
Ms Tester, 31, worked for Nail Co for three years and was one of 12 employees facing losing their job.
‘Amazing opportunity’
But after teaming up with her sister to rescue the business all the staff were kept on.
Mother-of-two Ms Slattery, 35, said: “Claire has always wanted to own her own business so when this came up it was an opportunity we decided to go for.
“We see an amazing opportunity to build the Moossh Beauty brand here in the heart of Union Street.
“I’ve been a mum for the last few years and have wanted to do something (in business) for so long.
“When this opportunity came I grabbed it. It’s exciting for me to have something of my own.
“The drive behind it as well was to try to keep the 12 girls in employment as they were all going to lose their jobs.
“We spoke to them all and said we’d try to do our best to make it happen.
“We invited them all round to my parents’ house and told them what was happening. They were over the moon.”
Brand-building
Looking to the future the pair hope to continue building the brand and open another salon.
Ms Slattery, mother to 10-year-old Millie and seven-year-old Oscar, said: “This has happened at the right time.”
“It’s learning stages at the moment, but we hope to expand and make the name a brand.”
Small businesses need support
Nailco was launched in Glasgow five years ago as a nail salon only.
In 2018 the business expanded north, opening its biggest outlet in the Granite City.
The salon was unable to open for four months during the first lockdown, and was forced to shut for another four months during the second lockdown.
An Instagram post announcing the closure urged people to support small businesses.
It said: “We urge you to go out there and get behind the other businesses you love in any way you can. Trust us, they need you.”
Conversation