Business Live South West’s Post

Rowan’s is a chain of 40 piercing stores that use nurses instead of part-time teenagers, valued at $100MM. At the heart of Rowan’s success is its founder, Louisa Serene Schneider—a finance professional turned innovative entrepreneur who transformed personal observation into a groundbreaking business concept. With a robust background in finance, having worked at prestigious institutions like JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley, and holding an MBA from Columbia Business School, Schneider was different from your typical startup founder. Her entrepreneurial journey began with a deeply personal moment: witnessing her niece’s ear-piercing experiences in a typical mall setting. What most would have seen as a routine event, Schneider recognized as a significant opportunity for improvement. The impersonal, potentially unsafe environment sparked a mission to reimagine ear piercing as a safe, celebratory, and professional experience.  A Mission Beyond Business Schneider’s vision for Rowan went far beyond creating another retail service. She sought to modernize an experience that had remained essentially unchanged for decades. Her approach was comprehensive: nurse-led piercings prioritizing safety, hypoallergenic studs, and a welcoming environment that celebrates individual expression. The company’s growth reflects this vision. From its initial concept, Rowan has expanded to nearly 40 locations across the United States, including innovative partnerships with Target stores and standalone studios. They’ve even pioneered at-home ear-piercing services, where nurses make house calls—a testament to their commitment to accessibility and customer comfort. Although I have zero interest in ear piercing, there are valuable lessons about building a brand and puncturing a business opportunity. Learn more about Rowans on The Marketing Sage blog, where I share insights for other brands looking to sharpen their story. https://lnkd.in/esD4PHxj #entrepreneurs #retail #insightfromobservation #branding #marketing Jamie LeLiever Robert Williams David Cost Ifeoluwa Temitope Lisa Nichols Christine Nguyen Mitch Gilbert Scott Jordan Michael Ekwok Leah Messina

One of our very favorite holidays is almost here! Bet you can’t guess what it is. 🇺🇸😉 As we reflect on our independence, we’re so grateful that we live in a country where we have the freedom to start a business, do what you love, and help provide a living for multitudes of people. Speaking of starting a business, check out our blog to learn more about our founder, Brian. His story is a good one: https://lnkd.in/g8TFquvA. #WeAreNatina #IndependenceDay

Braiding was my first business venture, earning £15 in the playground was just the start! If I had realized its potential as a business, I wonder how that would have altered my professional path 🤔. Would TreasureTress still exist? In a different form perhaps? I'll never know but what I do know is that last Friday was a reminder that representation is crucial. My younger self needed to see the inspiring women on Friday’s ‘Salon Sessions’ panel to understand the possibilities: braiding academies, signature styles, viral videos, and beyond! I have immense respect for braiders. The skill, technique, and multitasking required to run a braiding business and build a personal brand are remarkable. At the inaugural TreasureTress x Palmer’s UK Salon Sessions, to celebrate the launch of Palmer’s Amino Bonding Hair Care Range, we discussed the braiding industry's "unregulated" status, (for context) similar to vaping products, Uber drivers, and e-learning platforms. This is unsurprising, given the historical neglect of textured hair, although change is on the horizon. While I advocate for regulation and high-quality training, those within the beauty industry, particularly the textured hair industry, deserve the same ability to take risks and innovate as other sectors. It's essential not to stifle innovation and potential by overanalyzing business ventures. Women in particular should leave no room for self-doubt or overthinking—the world will do it for us 😅 Special thanks to Lauren Parchment for hosting an incredible panel, and to Tia-Jade Mckenzie, Ruth Obediah, and Elle's Chair for your valuable contributions. Our sponsors E.T. Browne Drug Co. and in particular Krista Omer for personally joining us at the event. The energy in the room was unmatched and the discussions were a perfect balance of — vulnerability, honesty, and openness. Birmingham, you were fantastic (as usual)! Next stop: Manchester! https://lnkd.in/errNJUhF Ruth Taylor #anotherone 🏆 #Entrepreneurship #BusinessInnovation #WomenInBusiness #ProfessionalGrowth #BeautyIndustry #RepresentationMatters #HairBraiding #IndustryRegulation #Empowerment #Networking

Anyone else have this issue? After a really busy day on the quayside yesterday with record sales to date and a sunburnt back I could have done with a day of catching up on admin, design work, wrangling manufacturing deadlines and getting ready for my Creative Heritage Studios CiC Directors meeting next month. But I spent the morning getting ready for an event that I would later find out I am a month early for - queue eye roll! June and July wreak havoc with my dyslexia. Why because when I scan read things I get the months mixed up!! So I am now sat in One Strawberry Lane where they gave me a complimentary drink to rehydrate before I head home to crack on with my day. How lovely is that. What I love about this place is that they understand the challenges of being neurodiverse and that we have barriers that need a little support. A cold drink on a day like today is a blessing. I think it’s also so important that neurodiverse entrepreneurs show the hidden challenges that they face around staying on top of work. Like swans there is a lot going on beneath the surface of every neurodiverse person. We are professional and often over deliver due to our barriers and low self esteem. And sometimes we will even arrive a month early for an event or an appointment!! Ok back to my day and getting organised for two wonderful commissions that I cannot wait to share on here. Have you had any eye roll moments recently? #Neurodoversity #ManagingYourDiary #CreativeEntrepeneur

🌱 Growth Takes Time 🌱 In the world of aesthetics, success doesn’t happen overnight. Behind every thriving business is a story of dedication, patience, and relentless effort. 🌟 When I first started, I was operating out of a spare room with just a credit card. Now, my business is a 7-figure powerhouse with a dedicated team. This journey wasn’t a sprint; it was a marathon. 🏃♀️ Remember, every small step forward is progress. Celebrate your wins, no matter how tiny they seem, and keep pushing towards your goals. Consistency and passion are your best allies. 💪💕 #BusinessGrowth #AestheticJourney #SuccessTakesTime #KeepGoing #CosmeticNursing #EntrepreneurLife #FromHumbleBeginnings #SkincareProfessionals #DreamBig #CelebrateProgress

One very interesting video I watched recently was from Walker Deibel about  acquisition and entrepreneurship. It talks about how truly successful acquisition entrepreneurs are. People buying businesses are hitting around a 70% success rate, versus startups that have a very low success rate—incredibly low. (Even venture-backed startups expect three out of four ventures to fail.) When it comes to acquisition entrepreneurship, the statistics really show the absolute best way to build wealth is to find a business you can buy at a reasonable price, understand where your strengths lie, figure out how to use those strengths to patch up the weaknesses, and grow the business over the next decade. There is a lot of food for thought in Walker’s interview. I've always believed buying and growing a business has a much higher rate of success than launching a startup or trying to build a unicorn company. Walker’s statistics back that up. What inspires you more? Starting your own business or buying a business and making it your own? #10X #ProfitableGrowth

Many founders struggle with the “what’s next” after selling their company. Greg Alexander shares personal experiences and strategies to help you plan for a meaningful post-exit! Check it out to learn more....

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of joining Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood, the founders of COLLAGERIE, at the beautiful 1 Warwick to hear about their successful start-up journey. Thanks to the whole COLLAGERIE team for hosting us so well. I’ve been enjoying COLLAGERIE’s beautifully curated emails for a while now, and they always bring a smile to my face. Their website and emails showcase the best in fashion, interiors, beauty, and lifestyle at all price points. The founders' values and authenticity truly stood out. As a midlife woman, I find Lucinda particularly inspiring, having launched her entrepreneurial career in her early 60s - a living embodiment of Eleanor Mills' #Queenager mantra: "Much More to Come." My key takeaways: 1️⃣ Passion as the Foundation: Start-ups driven by personal passion or need often find stronger momentum. They create a 'North Star' for the rough patches in every entrepreneurial journey. 2️⃣ Complementary Skills & Team Building: Having worked together at Vogue, Lucinda and Serena brought diverse, complementary skills and the mutual trust essential to growing a business and building a balanced and passionate team. 3️⃣ High Standards and Brand Integrity: Staying true to values and quality is critical. Brands that chase too fast revenue growth risk eroding their equity and relevance. 4️⃣  Research, test and Adapt: Early market research and validation is key.  Collagerie started with a focus group of women of all ages enjoying Lucinda's chicken curry and sharing their insights. The founders weren't afraid to pivot and trust their instincts when necessary. 5️⃣ Investor Alignment: It’s important to choose investors who share your vision and values and are interested in your business - financial backing alone isn’t enough. 6️⃣ Strategic Networking: Simple LinkedIn messages and face-to-face networking can open up unexpected opportunities. Don't be afraid to reach out. 7️⃣ Growth and Longevity: Focus on long-term sustainability by prioritising quality and customer relationships. Scaling also requires stepping back from day-to-day tasks to focus on strategy.   Sign up for Collagerie’s newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e_9x3KUZ

Here to make your 2025 business management with an easy way!! #Lenco_by_Broadpay #Easy_Payment_Solutions

You're hearing it here first! Say hello to Work Wives ™ — the community for Canadian women entrepreneurs. 🤝✨ My journey into entrepreneurship started at the age of 24 when I boldly founded posh media a boutique marketing agency. Like many, I was drawn by visions of success, freedom, and that constant hustle. But there’s another side to it that isn’t discussed as frequently—the emotional rollercoaster and loneliness that many entrepreneurs face. Running your own business can be isolating. Entrepreneurs often work long hours, sacrificing personal and social time to build and manage their businesses. In the quiet moments of my relentless hustle, I realized that this path didn't have to be walked alone. It was in those moments of solitude that my vision for Work Wives™ took root. Entrepreneurship is often a lonely road, but it doesn't need to be that way. Work Wives™ is more than a network; it's a community. It's the support system I wished for when I began my own entrepreneurial journey, and I understand that countless others feel the same way. I know that in business and in life, we're not meant to journey alone. Join the waitlist: https://lnkd.in/eKyxkyCt