February 5, 2018
When former Nanango student Shanae Van Den Brink found she couldn’t find a job in her chosen career, the qualified beauty therapist decided to create her own.
The result is Nae’s Beauty Service, which officially opened on Monday at 22 Markwell Street in Kingaroy.
Shanae admits that building her own business at the tender age of 18 has been a steep learning curve, particularly as she only decided to do so on Australia Day!
“It’s been a busy time, buying stock, sorting out a business name, setting up the clinic and starting social media pages,” she said.
And it’s a risk as well.
Shanae has invested her own money in the clinic, using savings left over from buying her first car.
“I’ve been saving since I was 14,” she said.
“I’ve always wanted to go into beauty, because I love making people feel better about themselves. I especially love helping people with skin conditions and disorders feel good.
“Eventually, I want to become a professional skin therapist, but that will take extra training and more money, so I’ll be working towards that too.”
Shanae, who also volunteers for the South Burnett St John Ambulance, kept getting knocked back when applying for full-time work, despite having years of customer service experience with KFC and Yummy Kettles Popcorn.
She followed up graduating from Nanango State High School with a Vocational Academic Award in 2016 by obtaining a Diploma of Beauty Therapy at Demi International in Toowoomba, where she also won the Academic Student Of The Year Award.
The budding entrepreneur also holds a Certificate 1 in International Digital Media Technology, a Certificate 3 in Business, and a Certificate 2 in Medical Emergency.
“Despite that, I just couldn’t seem to get a start in my beauty career,” Shanae said.
“I was a little annoyed and upset at first,” she admitted.
“At times, I was told I was great and promised that I had a job, and then I wouldn’t hear back. I didn’t feel I was good enough.
“My only choice seemed to be to move away from the South Burnett to find work, like so many other people my age do.
“But I had to do that when I went to Toowoomba to study for my beauty diploma and I missed home.
“I would come back every weekend to see my family and to work.
“The South Burnett is home, and I love my volunteer work with St John Ambulance. So I decided if no-one would give me a job, I would give it a shot and make one for myself.”
The idea came from Kingaroy businesswoman and hairdresser Alicia Gauld of 3C’s Hair Studio, who suggested Shanae start up on her own.
“Alicia said that she could hire Shanae but her skills were so good that she’d be better off starting her own business,” said Shanae’s proud mother, Astrid Van Den Brink.
“She said she’d started off at 18 herself, and she wanted to pay it forward by giving someone else a go.
“She’s been so supportive and is renting Shanae a room for her clinic inside her shop.”
As a point of difference, Shanae lists all her prices up-front on her Facebook page and will not pressure clients into buying expensive products to take home.
“However, I will tell them how to best take care of themselves and maintain their health and looks after their visits,” she said.
“This is really important, and it will be simple things they can do at home.
“I am not just interested in beauty – I am interested in each client as a person and improving their health and their quality of life.”
At this stage, Shanae will specialise in waxing, reflexology and massage, including Indian Head Massage, and the first 50 clients will receive a gift.
For bookings, go to Shanae’s Facebook page or phone 0474-634-747.
