MUMS IN BUSINESS: Nurse Turned Businesswoman Shares on Balancing Family & Business

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Speak to some entrepreneurs and they will tell you never to mix family and business.

According to Lorna Cherry, however, owner of Glasgow’s Butterfly Medispa skin clinic, keeping it in the family is what gives her business its strength and integrity.

“Three of my four daughters work with me at the clinic,” smiles Ms Cherry.

The other one is too young at the moment, but I’m sure she’ll get involved at some point. We all live and work together, so it’s fairly full on – just ask my husband.

The nurse of 30 years decided to set up the business – which offers treatments such as laser hair removal, botox, fillers – four and half years ago after the clinic she was managing failed for the second time. She says she instinctively knew she could do better than the previous owners and was joined in the venture by Ashleigh, 25, Lauren, 24, and Erin, 20, who are involved in both the treatment and management of the business.

“I’d become used to the flexibility of running the business, even though I was doing it for someone else,” explains Ms Cherry.

I didn’t want to go back to working for someone else.

Deep down I had a feeling I could do it and my daughters kept telling me to go for it, so I did. We had just four weeks to take over and make it work, and although it was massively stressful, we did it. It was a very steep but also an invaluable learning curve.”

Butterfly Medispa is now an established provider of anti-ageing treatments and a recent expansion saw the brand expand to include aesthetic facial surgical procedures, performed on-site by an experienced surgeon.

According to Ms Cherry, the clinical beauty and anti-ageing market is growing exponentially.

“We expect most of that growth to continue in the 21 to 35 age group,” the 47-year-old businesswoman says. “The selfie generation is very used to being out there on social media posting pictures of themselves and young people aren’t afraid of saying how good they look. It’s a generation that doesn’t want to age, though that can increase pressure on young women especially.

I’m a nurse first and foremost, and if I don’t think a person would benefit from a treatment, I won’t give it.”

Ms Cherry, who lives in Lennoxtown, says she thoroughly enjoys the flexibility of being her own boss and loves the fact that her job revolves around making women feel more confident.

The other side of that coin, of course, is accountability, which she admits can be stressful, especially as the business is a truly family affair.

“Fear of failure is a big thing,” she explains.

I feel such a personal responsibility towards my daughters and my patients. In some ways I think that makes me a bit risk averse in my approach.”

But the most important thing is to feel comfortable in what you’re doing. You’ve got to know your market well and ensure anyone else you bring in understands that market and what you expect of them.

Remember, ultimately no one is more invested in your business than you are.”

As for the future, Ms Cherry is keen to concentrate on family values.

“I don’t really think of myself as an entrepreneur,” she admits. “It’s my youngest daughter Sophie who keeps reminding me that I am.

“Since setting up the company I’ve found out that I’m not really in this for the money – a fact that severely disappoints my husband, David!

“We need money to survive, of course, but what’s most important is personal satisfaction, doing the best for my patients and seeing my daughters grow as businesspeople in terms of skills and confidence.”

Source: THE HERALD

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