Brief encounter: sam pearce

Sam Pearce is partner, alongside her parents, at Eastthorpe Hall the Health and Beauty Spa in Mirfield, West Yorkshire -- winner of Day Spa of The Year at the British Beauty & Spa Awards 2007. “Eastthorpe is somewhere you can come and do a bit of shopping for the soul! Superb one-to-one treatments; unsurpassed environment; unbelievably loyal clients -– a real hidden gem in the heart of Yorkshire,” says Sam proudly. How did you get into the beauty industry? By accident! My degree was at Central St Martins in London, in fashion; I think the fashion and beauty industry are inseparable. From there I worked for Lynne Franks for the likes of Phillip Treacy, Jimmy Choo and Vidal Sassoon and loved all the fashion forecasting and predictions -– those experiences at London Fashion Week were invaluable. What is your greatest business achievement? Without a shadow-of-doubt, the British Beauty & Spa Awards -- it just confirmed it really is worth all the sacrifices. What has been the most satisfying/rewarding moment in your career? Seeing in print we were one of the top seven spas in the world -– as voted by Sunday Times Style. Also being voted the top spa in Yorkshire; winning Day Spa of the Year at the British Beauty & Spa Awards 2007; and being awarded five ‘bubbles’ by the Good Spa Guide. What is the best business/career advice you have ever been given? You are only as good as the last client you have dealt with. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, keep your dignity and above all remember that you do it with spirit and love -– without sounding too weirdy-beardy! Three things you couldn’t do your job without? A sense of humour; compassion; and above all a really supportive family -– without who none of this would have been possible. Best/worst bits of your job? The real results we see from clients -– life changing stuff. The worst is being recognised in Sainsburys without my make-up on. Future business ambitions? To keep striving forward and to prove you really can achieve anything if you believe in it and want it badly enough -– really. It is worth wishing for -– dreams do come true. Imagine you are at the start of your career, what would you change? I would definitely be less self-critical and realise that it is okay to make mistakes and from these you build solutions. Would you do it all again? In a heartbeat.