How a Northamptonshire nail tech perfected her work-life balance by opening a garden salon
By Lilly Delmage | 02 October 2024 | Feature, Salon & Spas
Nail tech, Kim Hearn, behind byKIMI Nails, shares how opening her garden salon helped her create more definitive work-life boundaries.
The nail pro previously worked from a console table in her living room, and found that this not only left her three children without a space to play, but hindered the growth of her business.
She then decided to run byKIMI Nails from her garden, building a studio with the help of her family: “With the hard work of my amazing partner and stepdad, my vision of my dream nail studio soon became a reality.”
The relocation allowed her to create more definitive work-life boundaries. “I’ve always wanted to be home-based, but needed my home to be just that: a home,” Kim shares. “Moving the business into the garden has meant that I can still serve my clients, whilst also being close enough to my family.”
Nestled in a cosy corner of Kim Hearn’s back garden now sits her ‘dream nail studio’. Its minimalist-chic interior was an intentional choice to encourage a soothing ambience. “I wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere, so clients can unwind,” Kim tells Scratch. To achieve her sanctuary-like space, she opted for a colour palette of ‘neutral hues, mixed with warm oak and gold accents’.
Since qualifying in 2021, the tech has offered services from her home, and notes that there are many benefits for clients: “I have ample parking surrounding my home, which reduces stress for first time customers. I am also very central in Kettering, and there are accessible routes to get to the studio.”
Kim finds many personal benefits of owning a home salon, too. “I love the lack of commute, the low running costs and the feeling that when I’m in my studio, I’m catching up with friends – it doesn’t feel like work,” she smiles.
ByKIMI Nails focuses on natural nail treatments, with Kim noting that maintaining the health of nails is important to her. Clients can choose from gel polish overlays and builder gel enhancements, and the tech prides herself on her nail art skills, which she offers in three tiers.
Looking forward, she says, “My only hope really is that I’m lucky enough to just continue working successfully in my own little space. I honestly couldn’t ask for anything more than I’ve got right now, it’s perfect.”
She continues, “Maybe at some point in the future I’d like to look at adding an academy aspect to my salon and train likeminded people. Perhaps even one day have my own larger salon in a way that I can still make feel like a warm home environment.”