Opt-in membership is available to businesses that either exist out-with the catchment area of Nairn BID, or whose property’s rateable value lies below the £1000 threshold, but still wish to support the BID and receive most of the benefits that members do. As Nairn BID exists for the improvement of Nairn as a whole then supporting the BID can be a valuable way of saying to your customers that you as a business are contributing to making Nairn a better place.
Opt-in members receive the same benefits as other members, they just don’t have the voting rights that levy area businesses do when it comes to the renewal ballot for the BID. For the five year business plan which outlines the main areas of spending and objectives of Nairn BID, please click here.
They can apply for free stalls at our events and markets, benefit from free marketing and promotion (website listing, social media sharing and member of the month), and attend our meetings, business workshops and networking events.
Nairn BID organises street markets along the High Street several times a year. The BID also runs Taste of Nairn, Wheels of Nairn and the Countdown to Christmas events.
If you think your business would benefit by being part of the BID and you would like to join, please fill in our application form. You can also send us a photograph and listing wording for the VisitNairn website.
Opt-in membership starts from £125 a year. Membership runs for our financial year from 1st October to 30th September. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch – office@nairnconnects.com
Member of the Month
Gelous
December 2024
Making people feel good is the highlight of her job for Susan Davidson who owns Gelous, located in the town’s Leopold Street.
Susan launched the beauty business 14 years ago and it now operates as a mini spa offering a wide range of beauty and health treatments from manicures, waxing, lash lifts and tinting to massage and reflexology.
The self-employed team making the people of Nairn feel good are Susan, Kimberley and Katie who specialise in in the beauty therapy side of Gelous and Lauren who is a complementary therapist.
“I love talking to people and I think I’m good listener,” said Susan. “When you are with a client you get chatting and quite often you become close to your customers and they become friends. I just love the satisfaction of making people feel better or good. It’s a lovely experience.”
Susan qualified as a beauty therapist 20 years ago and she freely admits that her path was partly made due to her school grades: “I got my grades and let’s just say they weren’t the best. My mum said I had to find something to do, she was a hairdresser, so I suppose I chose something that was similar to that. Here I am now with a business that has been around for 14 years, and I feel that me and the team have done well.”
Susan added: “I don’t really consider myself a businesswoman, but when you reflect on what we have done over the 14 years, and how we have adapted to changes in the industry, then I think we are doing well. I didn’t really know about running a business. I knew my trade, but running the business was totally new. I have kind of learned as I have gone along. However, although we are all self-employed, me and the girls are a close team and we are very supportive of each other.”
Highs and Lows
Over the 14 years, Susan says that the highlight was opening, but like for many of us, the covid pandemic was a huge low.
“My highlight has to be when I opened. I had such a buzz, I was here all the time, I should have just slept here. I love working within the town that I am from. I have grown up with the business. I had my son when I was relatively young but having my own business has given me the flexibility to be there for him. My clients have been really understanding of that too and that means a lot.”
She added: “In the beginning there were three of us and I was also an employer, however, that had all changed when the pandemic hit and I think in hindsight that was a good thing. I am not sure that I would have been able to sustain having employees with a business that couldn’t open. We were closed for four or five months during covid and it was awful. Not seeing the customers and seeing each other was horrid. We are a work family and we thrive off each other.”
Community
“I couldn’t work by myself I need to have the contact with the girls and the customers,” continued Susan. “I also love the Leopold Street community. We all look after each other. Sometimes if we need a hand with a tricky screwcap on a bottle of varnish, we have been known to nip through to the butcher for help,” laughed Susan.
Growth
“Nails and nail treatments are probably the biggest part of the business. The trends are constantly changing, it’s a big thing and we have to stay ahead of that. The nail part of the business has had the biggest growth,” explained Susan. “That’s why there are three of us who can specialise in that. We also do a lot of feet.”
The full list of treatments on offer at Gelous are: Manicures, gel nails, acrylic extensions, pedicures, waxing, lash and brow tinting, HD and lamination brows, lash lifts and extensions, massage, remedial massage, clinical reflexology, facials, hopi ear candles and Indian head massage.
“Between the four of us we really do offer a huge range of treatments. Myself, Kimberley and Katie are the beauty therapists and Lauren is the complimentary therapist. You can come here and enjoy a mini spa experience between all of the services that we offer.”
SPOTLIGHT ON THE TEAM
Lauren
Lauren has 18 years’ experience working as a complementary therapist. A key component of her area of work involves the application of touch and healing therapies. Working in Gelous for over 10 years, Lauren brings her skills to clients helping them with pain management, providing specific treatments and planning methods. When she’s not busy with clients Lauren is taking care of her family.
Kimberley
Kimberley has worked in the beauty industry for 16 years and worked with Gel-ous for over 11 years. She does a bit of all things beauty including Gel nails, pedicures, waxing, intimate waxing, lash lifts and tinting. Out with work she enjoys spending time with family and cycling
Katie
Katie has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and now specialises in HD Brows, Lamination, Lash Lifts and Lash Extensions.
Over time she has found that brows and lashes are her passion and keeps up to date with the latest techniques, trends and products so that her clients can achieve that dream brow and lash look at every appointment.
Outside of the salon, Katie loves cooking for family and friends, reading and having cuddles with her pomchi Edie.
Susan
Susan has been in the beauty business for 20 years now and still loves every minute of it. Susan is beauty therapy trained and does many treatments, however nails are her passion in the business and she has done lots of training within this. Susan loves the client interactions and always looks forward to seeing everybody especially around Christmas time with the buzz.
Out of work Susan loves spending time with family and loves her fitness too.
