Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today?

I started my career as a beauty therapist at the world-renowned Champneys Health Resort in Tring where I gained valuable experience which led to a job in the inaugural Champneys Spa, onboard the cruise ship The Oriana. This position sparked my passion for retail sales and when a role at Clarins within Harrod’s came up, it felt like the perfect opportunity to hone and develop my sales skills. Following three successful years there, I joined Decleor and Carita UK, managing the promotions and events team. I worked my way up to National Sales Manager at the age of 25.

I was subsequently head-hunted by Champneys and re-joined the team where my key responsibility was to develop and train 200 therapists, raising company standards as well as developing and launching the popular Champneys product line.My final role before launching my business, Shared Beauty Secrets was as Sales Director for Italian skincare company Gerards where I gained the experience, knowledge and the confidence to set up my own company.

What was the catalyst that led you to setting up your own business?

I discovered Lava Shells whilst on my honeymoon in Turks and Caicos. You could say that it was my lightbulb moment, an opportunity to apply what I had done for other brands but this time for my own business, so I created Shared Beauty Secrets.

I have learnt so much from every job and made some amazing professional and personal connections along the way. It is these experiences and people that were important to me when I started Shared Beauty Secrets. Many are still around me today as the business continues to grow. I know where my strengths lie and have an amazing group of people who support me in making a success of my business. We all have complementary skills which is what makes it such a dynamic and rewarding environment to work in.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I didn't have any particular career ambitions as a child. Most people who know me now may find it hard to believe that I was quite shy. I loved all sports, particularly team activities and realised how competitive I was and I enjoyed the success of achieving.

As I grew older my interest in beauty developed, and with it my confidence. I enjoyed the sense of satisfaction I felt from making people feel good about themselves, particularly seeing the results that treatments could offer.

What do you wish you had known in your first role that you know now?

That you don’t need to prove anything to anyone apart from yourself.

Describe yourself in a sentence…

I am a hardworking, ambitious, caring, passionate, creative and energetic person who lives to achieve the unachievable while helping my team grow and achieve their dreams. I aim to have a great work-life balance and be successful and happy, both in business, but more importantly, within my family life.

Can you tell us a piece of advice that’s stayed with you throughout your career, and why?

This quote from Richard Branson’s book ‘Losing my Virginity’ - “to be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running”

What's the biggest challenge you've faced?

To keep positive when times are tough. When you’re running a business there are always difficult times and I have certainly had some ups and downs but it’s the ability to pick yourself up, to demonstrate resilience and persistence that makes a difference. It’s so important to look ahead and always focusing on moving forward.

What is the proudest moment in your career?

Celebrating 10 years of my company, Shared Beauty Secrets. To have reached this milestone and see how far we had grown was incredible. The company was set up on what would have been my brothers 24th birthday, providing me with the necessary drive and focus to succeed in his memory.

At our 10th anniversary party, everyone was brought together for an evening of celebration at the iconic Café de Paris. From salon and spa owners and staff, to press, and celebrities, alongside key suppliers, friends and family. It was an amazing and memorable occasion. On the night I was incredibly proud to announce that we had raised £10,000 for the charity MIND.

What is the most memorable thing you’ve experienced in this industry?

That would have to be meeting Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island. There were a string of coincidences which resulted in meeting him, making it all the more special for me. I was reading his book ‘Losing my Virginity’ when I discovered Lava Shells so right from the start there was a connection. Just weeks later I launched the company and the spa on Necker Island became my very first account; this was followed by receiving a message from Sir Richard Branson himself on the fifth anniversary of Lava Shells.

A few years later, my husband and I booked a trip to the island for our 40th birthdays and had the opportunity to meet with him while we were there. Then, last year I returned as a guest with my family and he surprised me with a signed copy of his book. I see him as the most inspirational businessman, so it was amazing to meet him and spend some time with him on Necker Island.

What motivates/drives you?

Spotting an opportunity in the market which isn’t being fulfilled. This is very much the case with the launch of my new brand, Sensory Retreats. From my experience of working with thousands of salon and spa operators, I realised that there was an opportunity for a brand that offers a full holistic experience for massage treatments.

Sensory Retreats fulfils this by using natural ingredients, unique massage techniques, the healing power of touch, mindful experiences, crystals and sounds, to bring about balance and equilibrium through the power of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

Professionally what’s your motto?

Apply yourself, have faith in yourself, never shy from hard work, live life to the full and trust your gut instinct. Work out what’s important to you and always listen to the people around you that have been part of your journey and helped you get where you are.

What's the one thing spas could do to improve their business tomorrow?

A quick and easy win is to focus on marketing, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money or have a team of marketing experts behind you. Sharing your passion and brand image is achievable for everyone using social media especially with the great cameras on our phones. My advice is to be relentless and never get disheartened. It takes time to build a following on social platforms and you need to post regularly to engage a wider audience. Persistence pays dividends as does consistency.

As a supplier, being selective about exhibiting at industry events you attend is important as these can be extremely expensive. Trade Shows like Professional Beauty are great for mass exposure of your brand but for us it’s crucial to be able to meet face-to-face with pre-qualified prospects and in this respect the Spa Life Conventions in the UK have proven to be invaluable.

Also I have made lots of contact with other supply brands  including Spa Find, Thalgo, E’Spa and Elemis, through the networking opportunities at Spa Life, which has led to numerous successful collaborations and dual treatments.

What trends do you see emerging in the spa industry?

The interest in Wellness continues to grow and google searches for the term have doubled in the past 5 years. Pure and authentic skincare brands, treatments such as sound bathing and CBD products are a hot topic at the moment as well as treatments for mental health and holistic wellbeing. True wellness can only be achieved if you treat the body and mind as a whole. With the rise of treatment brands like Sensory Retreats, we can make the client’s experience memorable and at times, life changing.

In your opinion, the future of the spa industry lies in…?

There is a clear trend towards more advanced aesthetic treatments due to the advent of new technologies. However, simultaneously there is a strong trend for people seeking to achieve a sense of restorative balance in their lives.

We need to look outside of our industry to see what is affecting our clients’ lives, then adapt new strategies to respond and alleviate the wellness challenges they face. Never before has there been a time when spas have been so necessary or essential when it comes to offering this balance to our client’s lives.

What challenges do you see ahead? How will you tackle them?

Launching a new brand is always going to be challenging but we have been preparing for this throughout 2019. So far, I have been incredibly encouraged with the initial response and support I’ve received from the industry.
I am impatient and want to deliver all my ideas at once but I have to learn to slow down and try to be as creative as I can on a limited marketing budget to reach my goals.

What are you looking forward to in 2020? What are you most excited about for the year ahead?

This year I’m incredibly excited to see the official launch of Sensory Retreats. January sees the exclusive launch of Mandala Flow at Stoke Park Spa. We are also visiting the British Virgin Islands in February to launch our signature massage Divine Escape and we will be rolling out our full range of Sensory Retreat treatments and products nationwide from March.

Influencers have played a large part in my past business development and I’m truly grateful to those who have already shown interest in Sensory Retreats. I enjoy creating the brand image so people can clearly see my vision. Surrounding myself with people who can help me on that journey is how I always tackle my new ventures.

https://sharedbeautysecrets.com/

About Clare Anderson
Following a successful career in spa and beauty which has included roles as a Beauty Therapist, sales and retail expert with leading international brands and staff development for a prestigious resort spa group, Clare launched her own business, Shared Beauty Secrets, in 2009. Her Lava Shells products and treatments are now available in more than 2,500 venues throughout the UK alone as well as many international locations. The above interview was conducted with Clare as she prepared for the launch of her new brand, Sensory Retreat, which will be available in the UK from March 2020.