On Pauline De Thierry’s first day running Pamper Me MediSpa, she had three clients and made $80.
Ten years later, the business on Pollen St, Thames, has grown to amass 8500 clients, four staff, and numerous accolades.
It’s an “organic” growth that is in part thanks to the people continuing to walk through the doors.
“It used to be a very traditional beauty clinic with traditional services, but I saw a need in our community for our clients to get results,” Pauline told The Profile.
“That’s when I started expanding into more advanced therapies and paramedical skincare, so, it’s been our clients who have inspired us to introduce new treatments.”
Pauline specialises in advanced skin therapies and cosmetic tattooing, and took over the ownership of Pamper Me in September, 2012.
This month, the team will celebrate their milestone 10 years with a black, white, and gold-themed birthday party.
It’ll be a reflection of the highs and lows over the past decade in the “always-advancing” beauty industry.
“The first several years of my involvement in the industry, it was very stagnant,” Pauline said.
“We were quite behind in New Zealand for some time, but New Zealand is definitely catching up on the advanced therapies available, and not only that, the post graduate education.”
Pauline said highlights throughout the years included being recognised with a number of awards, including therapist of the year and runner up for salon design of the year, as well as local Retail and Peoples Choice business awards. However, there had also been some challenges.
In 2018, the back half of the building sustained significant flood damage after heavy rains and strong winds caused havoc across Thames-Coromandel.
They then discovered there was asbestos in the rear building that had to be removed.
Pauline retained her four staff and for about 10 weeks, they only operated out of the front shop and one treatment room.
However, Pauline said “it was the best thing that had ever happened”.
“Having the flood gave us the chance to take a breath and refresh the back salon, I love adding my own touch and upcycling.
“We’re not perfect, our skin is never perfect, beauty is never perfect, it’s perfectly imperfect, and I grew up with my mum, Jessie, who would bring antiques back to life, so I think I got my creative flair from her and brought that vibe into the clinic.”
At its birthday celebrations, Pamper Me MediSpa will be launching a new treatment called ‘fusion’, which is a combination of therapies remedying “multiple targets across the canvas”, rather than one treatment at a time, this is a combination of advance services at one appointment and is result focused. “We really just want to celebrate and thank our clients for supporting us over the last 10 years, it has been an amazing journey.”
DETAILS: Clients from throughout Pamper Me’s 10 years in operation are invited to join the celebrations with the team on October 21 from 5.30pm at 537 Pollen St. RSVP by October 15 to info@pamper-me.co.nz.
10 years in business for Pamper Me
