LOCAL FOCUS
CLOSE UP
with Shine owners Stephanie, Sandro and Carla YORK HALL SPA
In a nutshell, how would you describe Shine? Carla: A place for all your hair, health and beauty needs Steph: A vibrant and contemporary collaboration between hair, beauty and health professionals. Sandro: A unique experience. How did the three of you come together to create Shine? Carla: After opening Shine on Church Street, I knew that expansion was going to require help. Choosing Steph and Sandro was about finding people with a similar work and life ethic. Steph: I have years of hairdressing experience and a diploma in Shiatsu so I developed and managed the health side of the business. Expansion in Newington Green was a case of finding a third person sympathetic to and excited by the brand. We were happy to find Sandro! Sandro: It was a bit of a risk to go into business with people I hardly knew, but it was clear that the Shine concept was the challenge I was looking for! Nearly four years later, I can safely say that I was right to go for AMICI MIEI it. I couldn’t
ask for a better mix of personalities What is the company ethos? Carla: To provide a space that offers its customers and staff a place of nurturing, care and growth. There really is something for everyone. Steph: To provide an oasis from the stresses of city life. Feeling well is fundamental to looking great; the internal and external both have a chance to be nourished at Shine. Sandro: To provide wellness for our clientele with a relaxing environment and a group of fantastic, professional people that will make you look and feel great! There are a lot of hair and beauty salons in the North London area. What makes you stand apart from the crowd? Carla: Our passion for people. We select our team very carefully. Steph: Carla and I spoke in 2003 about creating a centre of excellence. That has underpinned our philosophy ever since and shapes who we attract. We believe if you set high standards, people will strive towards them. The health centre was the unique selling point and has continued to develop into an incredibly multidisciplinary practice. Sandro: I think what really makes us stand out is our passion for what we do and the constant attention to detail. We also have a very strict training programme. You have a lot of treatments available, how did you come to find such a wide
selection of practitioners? Carla: Both Stephanie and I have a background in complementary health. Stephanie is constantly searching for practitioners who are at the top of their fields. Steph: It’s a dynamic and organic process. Sometimes we pro-actively seek, sometimes we are approached by people wanting to join the team. Sandro: I think that Stephanie really has a gift for always choosing the right practitioners Are you planning any new ventures at the moment? Carla: No! (Whilst quietly dreaming of an East End spa!) Steph: Not yet, but Shine Italy would be a bit warmer! If you ever have a moment to yourselves, where do you socialise? Carla: We are creatures of habit and fine food. We’re often found at local food haunts Homa, Trangallan and Fred & Fran, which is new to Stokey. Steph: We love to explore the local ventures in and around East London - it’s so vibrant! York Hall spa for relaxation, the Rio Cinema and Arcola Theatre for culture and fun dancing at the Rivoli in South London. Sandro: Well I am quite addicted to food (I’m Italian after all). I love Homa, Amici Miei, The Empress, Trullo and many others. shineholistic.co.uk
26
CLOSE UP FEB 2012.indd 26
30/01/2012 17:06