Salon growth plan

Rochelle Raye-Anthony shares her journey from solopreneur to The Apprentice runner-up

Meet the remarkable RochelleRaye-Anthony. She might just be our modern-day superwoman – juggling the roles of a mother, a salon owner, an influencer, and a TV sensation. A dozen years ago,Raye-Anthony embarked on her entrepreneurial journey by opening The Dollshouse Salon in Milton Keynes as a solopreneur. Fast forward to 2023, and she captured the hearts of viewers across Britain as the runner-up on BBC 1 show The Apprentice.

A unique selling point

Your unique selling point (USP) is what makes you stand out from the rest, expand your footprint and catch people’s eye. In Raye-Anthony’s case, she chose the path of the feel-good factor.

She elaborates, “This is a billion-dollar industry and it’s no secret why. That feel-good factor…you just can’t put a price on it. I always knew that my business was going to be a safe haven for women to come and sit down and get a bit lost in time.”

The challenges

Navigating challenges with positivity is crucial to success, but how does Raye-Anthony confront challenges as a salon owner?

“For anyone starting a business, you have to understand it isn’t going to be a nine-to-five day job. Your business is active from the minute you open your eyes to the moment that you shut them,” she says. “There are going to be times you don’t feel good and you feel stressed. It’s important to listen to your body and take some time for yourself. Then, you dig deep and find that resilience and patience, and you keep going.”

How to stay organised

Raye-Anthony swears by Vagaro, a beauty management tool. “Luckily, I found Vagaro pretty early on,” she shares. “It’s been such a handy tool – for both me and my clients – to be able to arrange online bookings and take card details. Whether you’re using an iPhone or a laptop, it’s accessible from anywhere.”

“What’s even more helpful with Vagaro is its value for money,” she adds. “In today’s cost-of-living crisis, everyone is having to pull back where they can, but Vagaro is so worth the money. If you need help, there is a personal agent in the UK who is always happy to help.”

Start your 30-day free trial today to get found, booked, and paid with Vagaro.