As part of our Women of vision series, we want to highlight the professional challenges and career aspirations of the women working here in Ireland. Women in Ireland have a strong entrepreneurial spirit: the rate of female early stage entrepreneurs in Ireland is the 5th highest in Europe. The agility and resilience of women during the pandemic has been a testament to their strength and courage.
Tell us a bit about you?
I am Olivia, a native of Tullamore but now live on beautiful Lough Derg in Terryglass, Co Tipperary. I am blessed with 3 beautiful kids that tend to keep me on my toes. I have 4 sisters that between us all it’s a great testing ground for any new product or treatment with honest answers.
I work in the beauty industry, specialising in skincare. I have always enjoyed my work and am so happy to still be so passionate about it 15 years later.
Tell us about your business?
It has been a work in progress for years. It all started with a love and passion for an industry. I still feel the same about it now as it has evolved to having three arms.
OPM is an umbrella for a skin clinic and beauty salon based in Tullamore, the business has evolved to a full online skin care consultancy business and shop www.skinandbeauty.ie. Our ethos is to treat the full person not just the skin, our unique approach has seen us meet many new customers with distance no longer been an issue. We also distribute Marie Reynolds London in Ireland. Here we take care of the stockist, education and sales for the brand in Ireland.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in growing your business?
I think it’s hard to pick just one person. I’ve worked closely with Celia Holman Lee and I have always admired her energy and drive, she always has a positive outlook on life.
I think of Jeanne Brophy who I will always say gave me my spark for skincare, many moons ago now as a result of her education. I changed my career path to focus on what I had a natural interest in.
My Dad always led me to believe ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’ and that ‘hard work won’t ever kill you!’. This way of thinking has helped me in so many times along the way in business life.
What do you love most about having your own business?
I love its flexibility, I love the freedom, the time to be creative researching and developing.
It’s the real and honest conversations with clients and getting to know the person behind the skin. When a client updates me on progress of perhaps a skin improvement but also how that has positively impacted their everyday life. That is absolute job satisfaction right there.
What has been the most significant thing you have done to grow your business?
Possibly the expansion of the clinic to a bigger premise in a new location and rebrand. The investment in this and the technology we added 11 years after first opening was a marker , getting to have a floor specifically for Skin was a dream for some time.
The inclusion of Marie Reynolds London distribution to our family of arms amidst the pandemic is also quite significant at the moment.
What is your business and what led you to start it?
My business is OPM skin clinic and beauty salon and online skincare consultancy business and shop www.skinandbeauty.ie. It all started from very humble beginnings and a sheer love for skincare. I started doing facials on friends in a box room years ago and my dream grew bigger and it expanded from there where I have clients all over Ireland and abroad
What is your number 1 tip for anyone struggling to overcome entrepreneurial overwhelm and keep going?
Build and keep a tight support network, business is tough at times but its full of rewards. Have people to remind you of that when you need it!