Caroline pays tribute to local support for helping her business thrive since opening in 2018
FOUR years ago, Caroline Wismey opened her own make-up studio on Holborn Street.
Unlike many in her field, the opening of her own premises was a result of a career change as opposed to a long-term presence in the make-up industry, but that hasn’t stopped her and her studio earning an ever-growing reputation in a short few years.
Caroline explained her decision to change careers: “I set up in Holborn Street four years ago, but before that I had been a carer for around 18 years previously in Cregg House. I did a make-up course but not with the intention of leaving that job, but I fell in love with the idea of pursuing it, it gave me a new lease of life and I started renting chairs in town before setting up my own business.
“I heard through an ad on the radio about a make-up school in Galway,” she continued. “I felt it would be something interesting to go and learn about as well as being a positive outlet for me. I contacted the school of make-up, did the interview and attended part-time on my days off.”
Caroline Wimsey’s Make-Up Studio is the former home of a hairdressing academy where she had built up a relationship as a part-time instructor in make-up before the opportunity came along to make this space she had fallen in love with her own.
“I was very lucky as there was a hairdressing academy here.
“The lady who had the academy asked me to come down and teach her hairdressing students make-up techniques as they go hand-in-hand. As time went on she decided she was retiring and I loved this premises so I asked if it would be possible for me to take over the lease. There wasn’t a business plan, it was an opportunity that came along at the right time and I was delighted to take it.”
Caroline was only a year in business before Covid-19 turned life on its head for everyone. Like everyone, Caroline simply had to adapt but she has found positive benefits in keeping some measures forced by the pandemic a permanent fixture.
“We got rid of the waiting area and kept it that way by being appointment only. We wanted to keep the distance between spaces and I still wear a mask in my day-to-day work. We also moved into paper dispensers and kept the hand sanitiser on the go. We feel the changes we had to make and ultimately kept have been beneficial in the hygiene of the place.”
Caroline knows as well as anyone there is an importance in having a presence for her business online – but equally, she doesn’t view this as a means of bringing her new clients with old-fashioned word of mouth still proving to be the best form of marketing.
“A lot of people talk about me doing videos and the like on social media. I get the idea behind it, but for me it is the locals who have me in business, not the 20 likes from people online. “When you post photos of your work online and you see the response, that is a great feeling, but that is where social media stops for me. Word of mouth is the reason I am still here after four years.”
Caroline Wimsey’s Make-Up Studio has had to deal with global challenges in their short existence ranging from pandemic to rising costs, but the loyalty of her clients is giving her a positive outlook on facing these challenges head on and the belief that they can be overcome.
“These are difficult times, but I love the building, the business, meeting people every day but there is a certain point where the bills might force you to close your doors whether you like it or not if they keep going up and up.
“But I am doing everything I can to make sure it doesn’t come to that and weather this storm because the thing with any storm is it has to end eventually.”
Thanking her growing client base for their support, she said: “I am very thankful to everyone for their custom and support. I wouldn’t be open without them, they keep me and other local businesses striving forward and giving us a reason and giving us the confidence to keep doing what we do every day despite the challenges that face us.”
Caroline Wimsey’s Make-Up Studio is based at 10 Holborn Street, Sligo town. Appointments can be made by calling 087 620 0533 or emailing carolinewimseymakeup@gmail.com.
LEFT: The exterior of Caroline Wimsey’s Make-Up Studio on Holborn Street. ABOVE: Caroline Wimsey.
AN increase of €5,000 has been made to the social housing income eligibility threshold for Sligo.
The increase will take effect from January 1, 2023. This significant change is being taken pending the development and roll-out of a revised income eligibility model (and income thresholds) in 2023. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently working on this revised model.
Commenting on the increase, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, said: “This increase will ensure that social housing support is available to vulnerable households in Sligo. It will help protect those most at risk from the recent increase in the cost of living.
“This change, the first in over a decade, builds on the recommendations of the review into social housing income eligibility limits.
My department and I are now working hard to produce a new income eligibility model, which will be completed in 2023.”
The social housing income eligibility review fulfilled a commitment in Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan.
The plan contains a range of actions and measures to ensure that over 300,000 new social, affordable, cost rental and private homes are built by 2030, backed by over €4 billion in annual guaranteed State investment to the end of 2026. To the end of September 2022, over 55,000 homes were either completed (27,773) or commenced (27,417).
The plan’s overall target for housing supply in 2022 is 24,600.