Tell us who you are and what your business is/does
Hello! I’m Rachel, owner and founder of Aquamarina Beauty. Our mission is to provide beautiful, natural skincare alongside crystal based tools, for a magical daily skincare ritual. We offer natural, cruelty-free and vegan friendly skincare alongside tools such as Jade Rollers, Gua Sha Massage Tools and our best-selling Rose Quartz Eye Mask – everything you need to treat your skin and lift your spirits, every day.
What made you decide to set up your business?
I have always wanted my own little shop – since I was a child helping out in my grandparents sweet shop! My previous career was in retail buying for ten years, before I left to re-train as a massage therapist for a little bit of a quieter life (!)….which I absolutely love. I have a little treatment room in my garden, and it’s so rewarding to help people relax and feel good about themselves. Something was missing for me though, I missed the buzz and creativity of developing products so much! Just before the first lockdown I had started to developed my own little skincare range for my own clients, and the rest is history after lockdown hit – all treatments had to stop – and I switched to focusing entirely on developing products to help people relax, unwind, and treat their skin at home. We are now selling them all over the UK (and further!) and – hopefully post lockdown – my bricks and mortar shop dream will come true!
What gets you most excited about what you do?
All of it! Developing the products from the beginning, hearing the ping of an order coming through, spending time carefully packing up the orders, but most of all – hearing lovely feedback that customers are loving using them – it means so much!
How have you had to adapt through the lockdown?
Totally changing my business from providing treatments to selling products! The biggest challenge has been juggling growing the business and homeschooling at the same time, a lot of late nights!
What’s new in your business and what are you planning next?
I just started selling crystals which is making me so happy! Love getting the deliveries, and it’s been so great how much customers have been loving them! There will also be some new and exciting skincare products joining the range over the next few months. I’ve also recently launched a monthly subscription – Calm Cloud Club designed to deliver moments of calm in a box of self-care treats, with the option of adding a treatment voucher (as soon as treatments can re-open). It’s been fantastic working with other small business finding the perfect products for the boxes, and getting to know salons and therapists all over the country where customers will be able to use their vouchers.
What’s your absolute favourite way to chill out?
A spa day with lots of relaxing treatments! However at this moment in time, anything that involves seeing friends and family would be my absolute favourite way to chill out! Missing them so much! Oh and of course, a nice relaxing home facial and massage with one of our tools would have to be up there too!
