A BEAUTY business serving customers in the North Tyne and beyond has moved into a new premises.

Melissa’s Beauty Box, owned by Melissa Pick from Bellingham, specialises in hair, nail, eyelash and eyebrow treatment.

After a successful year at Bellingham Town Hall, the business has relocated to a new premises in the village on Lockup Lane to cope with the rise in demand.

Melissa said: “I started working as a mobile service travelling round in my car and slowly built up a reputation to be able to move into the town hall in March last year.

“Increased demand in my service soon made me realise that being based in one place is a lot better, especially in Bellingham as I’m the only beautician around.”

In just under a year, it was time to move again for Melissa as the ever-growing business attracted wider appeal – she is fully booked for the next five weeks.

She is managing to run and maintain the business all on her own, as well as being available for weddings and special occasions.

The 27-year-old said: “The relationship I have with my clients is great.

“They’re all friends not just customers. I feel like I’m now a part of the community.”

The ambition to become a beautician stemmed from a Newcastle College course she took a few years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since.

And although she suffered a minor setback last year, she continues to look forward.

“I tried to buy a premises last year but it didn’t work out.

“It put me down a bit but I was determined to carry on, and happy with where I am now,” she said.

Although she’s relishing in her current success, Melissa hasn’t forgotten where she started. She would also like to help other aspiring beauty therapists on their road to success.

She added: “Ideally I would like to take on placement students from Newcastle College. It would be great to get someone in who has been in my situation and help them work their way up.”