Bello Beauty began to make Yass feel beautiful. After less than three years in operation, the Yass Valley Business Chamber decided to return the favour.
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The passion and hard work of founder and beauty therapist Jessica Robertson were recognised at the inaugural Yass Valley business awards on August 10.
Ms Robertson received the young entrepreneur award, which recognises an inspirational person aged 18–35 years old who has built and operate a successful business.
It is an award that came for the beauty therapist at only 22 years of age.
Asked about the recognition, she said the award was unexpected.
“I do it because I love it. I just want to make people feel good and look good, so it was surprising and exciting,” she said.
The business, in which ‘Bello’ is Italian for beautiful, began in April 2015 as a mobile service.
Ms Robertson bought a van and “decked it out” and used it to visit clients all over Yass Valley.
During that time, she operated the mobile service while completing her 12-month diploma of beauty at the Canberra Makeup Academy.
I do it because I love it. I just want to make people feel good and look good, so it was surprising and exciting.
- Jessica Robertson, founder of Bello Beauty
It was a competency-based qualification that she said allowed her to apply what she learnt as soon as possible.
“I’ve always been into beauty and wanted to combine it with business for flexibility,” she said.
In 2016, a storefront along Comur Street became available and she grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Bello Beauty has become a mainstay in the centre of town since July 2016. It took a little more than a year for Ms Robertson to establish the business on main street.
“It went so quickly, I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Asked whether she threw a party to celebrate the anniversary, she said they held specials to mark the occasion.
Ms Robertson said her parents were role models to follow. “Growing up, they always had their own businesses, so they were quite influential,” she said.
Indeed, her mum, Michele, also completed the same diploma and is a fellow beauty therapist at Bello.
After securing the award, Ms Robertson said her parents were also proud about what she has achieved so far.
As for her long-term goals, she said she was unsure about expanding into other locations but was keen on new services in waxing, tanning, facials and massages.
“There are always new technologies coming out, so there’ll be more training and a lot of money spent,” she said.
Renovating the interiors of the building are also on the agenda.
As for the van, she said her brother now drives it. “So I’ve still got it and it still has everything in it,” she said.
Unfortunately for her brother, she was not able to give the van the Bello Beauty paint job.
“We were planning to, but then the shop became available and we chose that instead,” Ms Robertson said.