Crystal

Christine Overend has transformed a run down sun bed shop in Handsworth into a thriving health and beauty salon with everything you need to pamper yourself all under one roof.

 

As well as offering facials, waxing, massage, Botox and nail treatments, Christine also runs fitness classes upstairs to provide a complete tailor-made package.

 

Having spent 10 years in the beauty trade working her way up from receptionist to manager, Christine decided that it was time to start up her own business back in February. With the help of BiG: Make it Your Business she opened the doors of ‘Crystal’ just five months later in July. Christine explained:

 

“A relative popped round to my house to tell me that there was a business fair on at Meadowhall one day, so I headed straight down there!

 

“There were lots of stands offering advice on starting up a business, but the people behind them were all using jargon I didn’t understand. It was ‘networking this and networking that’ - I thought networking was something you did on the internet! Then I came across the BiG stand and they actually spoke to me in layman’s terms. 

 

“That’s been the best thing about BiG helping me through this process of starting my own business. I know I can always rely on them - they put me in touch with the right people, reassured me at every point and made me see that my business would work if I persevered.”

 

Christine received help with everything from sorting out business rates to getting stationary. In the next few weeks BiG will be helping Christine to build a website and learn about accounting. BiG have also helped find training for Christine’s partner to do a nail technician’s course.

 

“I wanted to bring something nice to the area” she adds. “It’s not just ‘that sun bed shop’ anymore. We offer naturalistic products and beauty treatments, and upstairs we’ve got a fitness suite. I’m a qualified fitness instructor offering a wide range of programmes including Pilates and spinal rehab. I’m doing everything that I love all under one roof.”

 

Everyone at BiG has been overwhelmed by the change that Christine has made to the area with ‘Crystal’.

 

Director of BiG, Kevin Bennett said: “Christine has turned a run down salon into a successful business. She has put emphasis on customer service and satisfaction. The ambience of the place is beautiful.”

 

To pamper yourself at Crystal call the salon on 0114 253 0699.