- 4 August, 2024
- 964
- Articles , Woman Of Worth
Bev’s Beauty and Wellness – Beverley Murray
My name is Beverley Murray, and I own Bev’s Beauty and Wellness at Hirschs Umhlanga. I come from three generations of beauty therapists. My mom, Isabel, had a training school and a salon in Mondeor, where I worked for 20 years. Later, my daughter Mechelle joined us, solidifying our family legacy in the beauty industry.
When my youngest son was born with severe eczema—one of the worst cases in South Africa—I decided to start a home-based business so I could care for him when needed, as he often fell ill due to infections. With just five clients to start, it took a lot of courage to put myself out there and persevere.
I literally walked door-to-door, distributing flyers and visiting local businesses to leave pamphlets. My business grew steadily because I believed in providing excellent service and fostering deeper connections, resulting in meaningful friendships. By my fourth year, I hired a wonderful employee to help me, and by my sixth year, I had three more staff members.
In 2012, I went through a divorce and relocated to Durban on August 1st to be with my childhood sweetheart and to be closer to my father, who was battling cancer as well. At that time, I was flying to Johannesburg once a month to manage my business, which my mom was running until I sold it.
I started my new business at Gumtree Lodge in Mt. Edgecombe in December 2012. However, in January 2013, my partner fell seriously ill, and I put my work on hold to care for him. He was initially misdiagnosed, and it was only in April that we learned he had an aggressive form of cancer. He passed away in August, marking a devastating period in my life. Nevertheless, I knew I had to rise up and get my business off the ground. Just a week later, I poured all my energy into walking the streets with flyers and promoting my services.
At a pop-up market, I met a woman named Viv, who encouraged me to join the Umhlanga Women Achievers networking group. Participating in this group profoundly impacted my life; connecting with like-minded businesswomen and hearing motivational speakers inspired me and helped me learn to speak in front of an audience.
Meeting Fantastic Businesswomen and building strong connections
In 2019, I was introduced to Margaret Hirsch’s Women of Worth networking group, where we met fantastic businesswomen and built strong connections through our monthly meetings. In March 2020, I opened my new salon at Hirschs, and I am immensely grateful to Margaret for providing the perfect space I needed. I used my savings to renovate the shop, but just three weeks later, COVID-19 hit.
During that time, I faced significant challenges, as all work ceased and we couldn’t see clients. However, my saving grace was that I could operate alone in my shop, which made clients feel safer in that environment. I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to my clients, giving them 110% of my time and effort.
Starting Networking Connect Coffee Club.
Owning a business is no easy task, but if you love what you do and enjoy seeing your clients happy, it’s all worthwhile. A few months later, I spoke with Helene Griffs from Granny Griffs Sugar Shack, who was struggling to keep her outreach coffee shop open for the elderly and ill patients. I suggested starting a Networking Connect Coffee Club to attract more customers. Now, four years later, we are still going strong under the Umhlanga Women Achievers umbrella. I served on the Umhlanga Women’s Achievers committee from 2019 to 2021 but stepped down during 2021 when my partner was diagnosed with cancer, and he passed away in February 2022.
Being awarded the Umhlanga Women’s Achiever of the Year
Through all the ups and downs, I have maintained hope and faith in my ability to make my business successful. I have worked hard to uphold high standards and use the best products. A highlight of my career came in November 2012 when I was awarded Umhlanga Women’s Achiever of the Year. This experience taught me to believe in myself, as many of us often feel less successful compared to others simply because our businesses are smaller.
It’s not about size but rather the impact you have on your customers and community. If I could offer advice to anyone starting a business, it would be to remain consistent and never give up. Believe in yourself and your accomplishments; even small steps are progress. Always give back to society and charities, as it helps you become a better person without expecting anything in return.
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