For the last 26 years, Julie Gamble Advanced Skin & Beauty Clinic has been a mainstay of Sittingbourne High Street. Currently employing nine people, the business provides technology led, anti-ageing treatments, effective skin care and a range of beauty services.
Julie discussed her 30-year journey in Sittingbourne: “I moved to Sittingbourne in 1989 and could not find beauty services that were, in my opinion, of an acceptable standard, so I asked a local hair salon if they would rent me space. I wanted to bring good quality services to the area, as there had to be like-minded clients thinking the same as me! I took a nail table; then six months later expanded to two beauty rooms. I quickly had a full column, so I employed and trained my first full-time therapist, followed by a further full-time member six months later, then two further part-time staff over the next seven years. By then we were running out of room for stock and equipment. When premises next door became available in 2000, we moved and created four beauty rooms, two pedicure stations, a reception/waiting area and four nail stations. In 2012 I was able to secure our future by purchasing the property myself.”
Julie has plans to continue diversifying in the future, by expanding into teaching various beauty therapy short courses from the clinic. She elaborated: “By investing in staff teacher training, it recognises my senior team’s experience and will enable them to pass on their skills. Our clinic has a reputation for quality services, and with a collective of 60 years of beauty therapy experience between our senior team, we are well placed to teach. It is important for me to have high standards for students, so the business has gained accreditation for this new venture, which means that students will receive a recognised qualification in the courses they choose to train in.”
Finally, Julie spoke about what she felt made her business stand out from others: “Our sustainability is due to our continual investment in staff and forward planning. The industry moves so fast that you could quickly get left behind with out-dated services and no new training. We never stop learning and investing. We celebrated our 25 years in business in 2018 and still have many clients that were with us from the beginning.”
15 High Street
Sittingbourne
ME10 4AY
01795 420 152
www.juliegamble.co.uk