Middlesbrough’s Beauty Vendor is ensuring that makeup and hair products are affordable to all
A chance meeting at Marton Road’s Hair and Beauty Club first brought friends Kayleigh Jones and Shelley Broughton together.
Shelley, 39, has been in the hairdressing industry for the past 24 years, where Kayleigh, 36 has become a regular customer at the salon.
A conversation and a shared passion for beauty products between the Park End based pair sparked an innovative idea to ensure that makeup and hair essentials are accessible to all.
“I’ve been conducting various beauty treatments myself on and off for the past ten years,” said Kayleigh, who also works as a teaching assistant.
“Between us both, we have a combined experience of over 30 years within the industry. We discovered we also have a shared passion for price inclusive beauty products.”
Earlier this year, the pair decided to launch the region’s very first beauty vending machine in the heart of Middlesbrough.
“We were inspired by similar ideas we’ve spotted on trips to America and closer to home in Essex and the South East, where vending machines with a twist are really taking off,” continued Shelley.
Located at Dundas Indoor Market, this vending machine distributes no ordinary products.
Instead of chocolate and crisps, there is concealer, eyelashes and hair accessories.
“We choose Dundas as our first location, as they were very supportive of our idea and we are aware that lots of local students visit the Indoor Market,” continued Shelley.
“Young people may not have a lot of disposable income to spend on beauty products and we thought that our unique vending machine will give them and people from lower incomes access to some little luxuries, especially when times are hard.”
The most expensive product in the vending machine is capped at £5 each, with many items available to purchase for just £1.
The duo often place some free gifts into the vending machine too as a random act of kindness to cheer up someone who maybe having a difficult day.
Since the launch, the unique business venture has been well received by locals.
“We’ve had some fantastic feedback from the public on social media, young people especially are very keen to take selfies alongside the vending machine and we’ve even gone viral on a TikTok!”
“The response to it has been overwhelming.” says, Shelley.
The vending machine with a twist has become popular selfie location with customers of ages.
For the meantime, the pair source their products from wholesalers but are hoping to work alongside local manufacturers to create their own brand of nails and lashes. They are also hoping to team up with Middlesbrough based creatives to refresh the design of their products and machines.
“We’re already in talks with introducing new beauty vending machines to other shopping centres across the country,” continued Kayleigh.
“Locally, the Coulby Newham Shopping Centre have approached us, so it’s great to see that there is a demand out there for what we are offering.
“Other UK based centres have also been in touch, so it’s nice to see they are taking notice of what we are doing here in Middlesbrough.”
Over the next year, the pair have big plans for the future with the business.
Expanding their range of products is high on the agenda, where they are hoping to stock affordable sanitary items to help tackle period poverty alongside expanding out to other UK locations.
“But for the meantime, we are focusing on keeping our business here in Middlesbrough, so local people can take advantage of affordable makeup and skincare products.” says, Kayleigh
Full credit to: We are words by Grace Lancaster. Article online at https://www.wearemiddlesbrough.com/our-stories/the-glam-entrepreneurs-making-beauty-products-accessible/