Joanna Tompkins talks about life as a Scratch Stars Award winner

French & Drench founder, Joanna Tompkins, winner of the Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year award 2018, paid a visit to Scratch HQ to chat about her career and light after the big win.

While I was treated to a signature French & Drench manicure, I chatted to Joanna about what the business has been up to since scooping the accolade…

Scratch’s Sophie with Joanna

Tell us about your lead up to the Scratch Stars win…
I had never entered the Scratch Stars Awards before and it was the first year that I had completed a full year that in the industry due to having my babies, so it was the first opportunity I had to enter. My nail mentor and trainer, Anna Lee, really encourages us to enter competitions – I’ve entered Nailympia twice before – and I was inspired by Metta Francis, who had won Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year twice previously. I was determined to make it into the finals, so I set out a year before making a plan of what I needed to do in order to achieve it. I spent a lot of time manifesting my win and I achieved my big dream.

How did it feel to win Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year 2018?
Absolutely amazing! I was so excited to even be named a finalist and I was up against the most amazing competition, so I couldn’t quite believe it when French & Drench was called out as winner. To have all of my team around me was just the icing on the cake. It was definitely a career highlight; although I’m not quite sure how I’m going to top the next team night out!

What have you been up to since?
I’ve mainly been having selfies with my trophy! Honestly, the summer was completely crazy. We have been so busy and the whole team has been booked up solidly ever since. This is incredible but it also means I am now trying to recruit more team members and train up our newest recruit so we can cope with the demand – but these are good problems to have. Winning has definitely given me the confidence to carry on growing my business and to start trying to build my name and brand within the industry.

What would you say to anybody thinking about entering the Scratch Stars Awards 2019?
Don’t hesitate – just enter. What have you got to lose? You’ll better yourself and your work if nothing else! Also, start thinking about it now. Check out the Scratch website and start figuring out which categories you want to enter, how you can set yourself apart from the competition and what you need to do to win.

What are your goals for the next 12 months?
My goals are to keep hold of my title as Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year and to take French & Drench to the next level. We are currently on the look out for more nail techs to join our friendly team so that we can help even more women to enjoy beauty treatments at home and to help grow this sector of the industry.

Check out French & Drench here and enter the Scratch Stars Awards from 1 February to 17 March by clicking here.