How Gwynedd beauty boss doubled her make-up business - in Covid lockdown

During lockdown most hair and beauty businesses came to a standstill but one make-up boss refused to pause her venture.

Poppy Johnson runs Faces by Poppy beauty salon and also a training centre POISE Academy in Bangor.

These closed in March in line with the Welsh Government Covid lockdown but she refused to put her feet up - and even used her pregnancy as a "countdown" to hitting milestones.

She pivoted her business, creating a brand new online venture Make Up Bible.

Poppy Johnson, owns Faces by Poppy (Poppy Johnson)

It has taken off instantly and now brings in double what she was making with her salon and academy.

She also combined her other business, POISE Collections, a make up brush company into this new idea and sold more make up brushes during June and July than in she did in the previous nine months of trading.

Poppy said: “People are often scared to make changes in their business, for me, I saw an opportunity and just went for it using my expertise and knowledge.

"I wanted to take my customer experience in the salon, online, so I created a brand new online product called the Make Up Bible.

Poppy Johnson, owns Faces by Poppy (Poppy Johnson)

"The ultimate online make up and skincare learning guide is designed for individuals to learn how to apply make up on themselves, learn the key skincare routines, giving them exclusive lifetime access to in-depth tutorials, product recommendations, tools, techniques, discount codes and community access.”

She added: "Being pregnant during the lockdown and growing my business has just made me even more determined to succeed.

"With pregnancy it's like a countdown, I've been using the countdown to create more milestones in my business."

Now that hair and beauty salons are allowed to perform their treatments with caution and the right PPE in the salon, Poppy is back delivering make up courses in person, but is continuing to grow her online empire in the background.

She has big plans to work alongside some big make up brands and artists.

Poppy added: “Changes in your business can be good.

"It strengthens your mindset, pushes you outside of your comfort zone and forces you to do better."