For The Lakeshore Esthetics and Tanning adaptation has been the key to success in Chestermere.
“You always need to be adapting,” said Owner Jody Nakoneshny, “especially in the beauty industry, nothing ever stays stagnant or the same for very long.”
In a city with a high turnover in businesses, The Lakeshore Esthetics and Tanning, which just celebrated its fifth business anniversary Sept. 6, is one of Chestermere’s success stories.
Nakoneshny credits her success to three things; her staff, her focus on service and their ability to adapt to customer needs.
Since she first opened her doors, the spa has grown from a near even split between tanning beds on one side and massage and esthetics rooms on the other.
“When we opened…there were three of us total,” she said.
Nakoneshny now employs 11 people. The spa has also expanded in the space to focus on the spa services with only one tanning bed left.
“The tanning I saw something that would be in greater demand,” she said.
“Probably within the year, realized that wasn’t the case,” said Nakoneshny, “there was a great demand on the spa.”
She continues to adapt to the needs of her clients and utilize her experience in the industry.
Nakoneshny has been working in the beauty industry since 1999.
“I actually ran a small business from home in Chestermere,” she said.
She started to work from home in 2002 after she and her family moved to the city.
“There wasn’t a lot of places out here when we moved in,” said Nakoneshny.
Running a home business gave Nakoneshny the flexibility when her kids started school to be home when they got home but also kept her busy when the kids were in class.
As the kids grew up, Nakoneshny started to investigate purchasing or opening her own spa. She started her search in Calgary before an opportunity here in Chestermere appeared.
“Everything just kind of fell into place…and then all of a sudden we were signing a lease,” she said.
“Five-years-later here we are,” said Nakoneshny.
While Chestermere has grown and changed significantly since they first moved here, growing from a population of 3,500 to over 20,000 today, Nakoneshny said a lot has changed even in the last five years.
She has watched both the plaza around her business fill up with other businesses alongside the huge residential growth in the city.
“I like the growth,” she said, “I like to see that.”
“I think it’s exciting to see all these independent businesses come,” said Nakoneshny.
While she has enjoyed watching the independent business come to the city, she has also watched many of them close too.
“It’s actually very difficult to watch independent businesses close,” said Nakoneshny.
Those owners, like her have taken out loans and the risks associated with running a business.
Motivated by the fear of having to close up shop, Nakoneshny plans to keep being adaptable so that The Lakeshore Esthetics and Tanning is still open to celebrate its tenth anniversary in another five years.
“Perseverance is a huge thing,” she said, “I have tried to make sure that we have something the customers want all of the time.”
