WHEN the announcement came through that Orange’s Myer store would close its doors, Karla McDiarmid played a hunch.
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By taking on some of the department store’s soon-to-be-unemployed costemics staff, she thought she could launch a second Central West spa to complement her already successful Bathurst business.
“I saw an opportunity to help the community by employing young talented women who are soon to lose their jobs in the cosmetics area,” Miss McDiarmid said in September last year.
That decision well and truly paid off when Orange Medi Spa was recently named Best Emerging Spa for Oceania at the 2017 World Spa Luxury Awards.
The award was one of three the business picked up, with Macquarie Medi Spa crowned the global winner in the Best Beauty Salon in the World category, and Ms McDiarmid herself taking out the Best Spa Manager for Oceania title.
The awards were presented in a black tie gala event in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Ms McDiarmid, who has been in the industry for 16 years, said the secret behind her success was long hours and training, training and more training.
She said it was vital that she and her team of 17 Orange and Central West skin therapists were at the leading edge of industry developments.
“I’ve got a wonderful team of girls and we keep growing every year,” she said.
“Thank you to our team of incredible skin and spa therapists who do an absolutely amazing job.
“And a very big thank you to our guests and clients who voted for us.”
She said opening the Orange spa was a dream come true, and the plan is to continue to offer world-class treatments.
She said it was vital her team were at the cutting edge of the industry, which is why she places such heavy importance on training.
Having just returned from the Las Vegas Beauty Expo, Ms McDiarmid said she is already introducing the latest industry developments in the salon including the number one laser hair removal machine on the market, SyneronCandela.
She said with the many developments in skin care, she also ensures her clients have access to the best of the best.
“If I wouldn’t use it on my skin, I wouldn’t recommend it to others,” she said.
She said she was lucky to own two medi spas in regional centres, where she has built up a loyal following from clients.