Two Lisas and the new Kosa Hair and Beauty salon
Opening a new business at any time is challenging, but doubly so in the pandemic situation of 2020, writes Brian Byrne. Still, two young women are doing just that in Kilcullen in the coming week with the opening of their Kosa Hair and Beauty salon at Hillcrest.
They are a ‘duo of Lisas’ — Lisa Considine and Lisa Doyle — and between them have 26 years of hairdressing experience, formerly with the Mandika Studio in Naas. They’re opening their new enterprise on Tuesday, following the lifting of the restrictions of the last six weeks.
“We chose Kilcullen for a number of reasons, but mainly because we like the town,” says Lisa Considine. “Also, I live in Athy and Lisa lives in Naas and that makes it convenient for both of us.”
She also notes that Kilcullen will be accessible for their respective cohorts of clients, especially because it is easier for parking than Naas. “That’s always an issue for our clients, parking in Naas is just too difficult because it is so busy.”
During the last six weeks, the two women have been working day and night to get the Hillcrest premises ready. “I have to take my hat off to the other Lisa, though,” Lisa Considine said. “She has been doing most of the work. We both have young families, but mine are one and two, and it has been tricky … but we were determined to get everything right to a 'T' before we opened.”
She acknowledges the challenge, both of getting a new business going and of the difficulties which the pandemic has caused. “But we both have our own lists of loyal clients, and that’s a help in starting out. Through the lockdowns our clients have stuck with us and waited for us. We’re expecting that we’ll be busy through December.”
The two Lisas will look after the hairdressing side, and they have a room to rent on their premises for somebody who would like to develop a beauty-related business in tandem with Kosa. The name? “Kosa is Croatian for ‘hair’, and we just liked the sound of it. There’s no actual Croatian connection.”
Though Croatia also conjures up images of sun and sea and stunning scenery, which thoughts should cheer up many of their clients in this part of our winter.
