Hastings and Bexhill beauty business owner in line for awards after lockdown gamble pays off

Rosie Cook, owner and founder of Rose Petals Beauty, has been shortlisted for the Business Resilience and Pivot Awards in the Sussex Virtual Business Awards for her company’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rose Petals Beauty offers treatments at Bexhill Beauty Salon as well as a mobile beauty service. But these stopped overnight when the first lockdown happened in March.

Rosie, from Hastings, said: “To have to cancel bookings, turn business away and have a sudden stop in income - it was very frightening. If we don’t work, we don’t get paid.”

Rosie also runs the hugely popular beauty salon at the Combe Haven Holiday Park, which has remained shut the entire season, meaning even less money coming into the business.

Luckily Rose Petals had what Rosie refers to as “rainy day funds”. But with the uncertainty which came with the first lockdown, Rosie decided to take a gamble to help her business survive and thrive. The mum-of-two said: “The lockdown hit us hard, like many businesses. We had been reliant on our service-based treatments and were super busy with our pamper parties, kids parties and working with some big local businesses. We wanted to offer something online, something that could still provide an income if we had to stay closed.

“The answer was obvious - our own products.

“We had already been researching companies to manufacture our premium skincare range, and carried out some research into what products people wanted, so we went for it!

“It was a risk, there were costs upfront, but the vision was so clear. It would expand our brand, get our name out there, create an income whilst keeping safe on lockdown and when we opened again, we could use our products during treatments and offer them as part of our aftercare.”

The new line, which includes skincare, nail varnish and even shimmery hand sanitiser, was an instant hit with customers. Rosie said: “It has been more popular than we could have hoped for. We didn’t have a huge expectation launching during a pandemic, but we have been overwhelmed with support and orders.”

Inspired by the success of the product line, November’s lockdown provided an opportunity for another innovation - the launch of the Rose Petals Beauty subscription-only Beauty Club.

Rosie was a runner-up in the Innovation Award category in the Women’s Business Club awards earlier this month. Rosie finds out on Thursday (December 17) whether she will take home either of the two awards she has been shortlisted for at the Sussex Virtual Business Awards.

Rosie said: “I am so nervous! It makes you feel so vulnerable putting yourself out there, being judged. I’m still surprised I was nominated and made it to the finals.”

She added: “I started this business by myself in 2013, just going out and doing £5 bookings. “In the last two years we have gone from three beauticians to 12, hired a social media manager, accounts manager, business assistant manager and events manager.

“And we have only just begun!”