Owner of YFL Studio Florian Lau gives customers a personalised service from her beautiful home-based studio. Photo: Florian Lau.
Ginninderry’s first local centre is planned for 2027, but business isn’t waiting for shops to open their doors in this burgeoning sustainable community.
Instead, it’s spilling out of kitchens, garages and spare rooms as local entrepreneurs step up to serve their neighbours. It proves a thriving community starts with small businesses – and big dreams.
From fitness providers to beauty services, Ginninderry residents are tapping into their skills and expertise to ensure customers need not venture too far for services.
But one local business owner says it’s about more than convenience.
“Consumer behaviour is changing in a lot of industries, and certainly in beauty,” says Florian Lau, owner of home-based make-up, brow and lash business YFL Studio.
“Customers are looking for a personalised experience – they want a connection, and to get along with the professionals delivering their services. That’s why I have a mix of regulars and people on the hunt for their new service provider who tell me they’re trying to find the ‘right’ person.”
YFL Studio operates from a spacious bathroom in Florian’s Strathnairn home. With its own entry point and chic interior design, it emulates a boutique studio.
“I barely go into my studio if I’m not working,” she says. “I find for me that segregation has been key to a good work-life balance.”
In her almost decade of experience in the industry, Florian has always operated from home. So she is no stranger to setting up a professional operation there – or the benefits that come with it for service providers and customers.
“The biggest one is that there are a lot of benefits cost-wise. With fewer overheads, you can stay competitive,” she says.
“I find customers also really value the personalised service they get with home-based businesses, and the consistency they get with small businesses.
“I specialise in eyebrows, and with something that precise, something that can change your face quite dramatically, knowing who you’re getting is very appealing to my clients. You don’t always get that with bigger businesses that can have a lot of staff on different shifts and a fair bit of turnover.”
Operating independently has also allowed Florian the agility to quickly adapt to industry trends.
“For instance, brow treatments and lash lifts have become more popular as customers move away from full glam, high-def eyebrows to a more clean beauty look,” she says.
“The high maintenance services I provide mean my clients can be low maintenance day to day, and as the business owner I can move quickly to meet the demand.”
The ability to keep up with trends, service consistency and personalisation are proving a winning combination for Florian, whose client base is building steadily with the growth of the area.
YFL Studio is far from alone. Numerous other businesses have joined the fray and opened in the new suburb, including maternity wear and breastfeeding-friendly clothing line The Bump Boutique, music tuition service Sun Bear Music, nail and beauty salon Reinas House of Beauty, and a second branch of massage and fitness studio The SMART Centre.
Florian says Ginninderry works with business owners to help them build awareness of the services on offer in the community.
“The Ginninderry team has done a great job in building the community and has been very supportive.”
For more information visit Ginninderry.
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