Aromatherapy business cure for redundancy (From Croydon Guardian)

Aromatherapy business cure for redundancy

6:20am Wednesday 31st March 2010 in News By Natasha Booty

Aromatherapy business perfect cure for redundancy

When Marie-Claire Ferrara’s entire office department was outsourced to India, she saw her redundancy as the chance to start the business she had always dreamed of.

Encouraged by her sister Angela, the 40-year-old got in touch with Stuff Croydon owner David Lashmar and managed to set up her aromatherapy business in time for the store’s January launch.

She said: “It was a perfect opportunity to do what I wanted to do, and everything just happened to fall into place at the right time.

“At first it was absolutely terrifying, but it helped that I didn’t have a long time to worry about it.”

Now in its third month, Marie-Claire Aromatherapy already has a number of regular clients who enjoy the various massages on offer, although Miss Ferrara admits that business can be variable.

She said: “When I started off it was great, then we hit a lull.

“With the snow and bad weather people weren’t in the mood to go out shopping.”

This hasn’t deterred the mother-of-two, who remains “absolutely convinced” that her unique business in the quirky Middle Street store will take off.

She said: “It’s a lot of hard work but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I can’t think of many other places where you can come for an aromatherapy massage and listen to Elvis.”