Making Everyone, Feel Like Someone.

By Louise May

Meet Karen Geiszler, the visionary owner of Karen Geiszler Hair & Beauty Laser & IPL Clinic, in regional Queensland, who clinched the coveted 2023 Australian Beauty Industry Award (ABIA) for Sole Operator of the Year. With over 30 years in the industry, Karen seamlessly runs a thriving one-woman salon alongside a national aesthetic training venture.

Her secret to success? A passion for continuous learning, ensuring her clients receive the latest and safest treatments.

Beyond offering an extensive array of services, including specialised laser treatments, Karen’s unique approach extends to personalised client care, from tailored treatments to ‘Silent Appointments’ for those seeking a quieter experience.

Her commitment to building deep client relationships goes beyond beauty, as she offers free treatments to cancer survivors seeking to remove radiation marks. Despite being based in a small Queensland town, Karen’s salon draws clients from far and wide, a testament to her exceptional skills and personalised approach that sets her apart in the ever-evolving beauty industry.

Beauty Biz editor, Louise May, chats with Karen about her journey, success, and recent recognition as the 2023 Australian Beauty Industry Award (ABIA) Sole Operator of the Year.

What inspired you to begin in the beauty industry?

I had struggled with grade 3 acne for years and my dad had spent thousands of my skin as he was so concerned that I would end up with scarring on my face, it was really bad at one point. I met a beautiful lady named Kim and she had a clinic in Hurstville, and I would see her once a fortnight to help clear up my skin. It changed my world as I had always covered my acne with that much makeup so no one would see it and she helped me get my confidence back. I remember that feeling of looking in the mirror and actually loving my skin and I wanted to be able to give women this feeling every day.

So, at 19, whilst I was hairdressing, I enrolled in my CIDESCO Diploma Of Beauty Therapy at About Face Academy in Five Dock NSW with Shirley Strickland, I attended the college 3 nights a week for 2 years.

They said you can be anything you want to be …… “I wanted to BE that kind of person that made EVERYONE feel SOMEONE …So, I became a Hairdresser & Beauty Therapist.

What specific moment or accomplishment stands out as the turning point that defined your success as a sole operator in the beauty industry?

I think the specific moment that was my turning point was my dad's 1 non-negotiable that I had to do a small business management course, this set me up to not only run a business at a young age but also showed me how to know my numbers and run a profitable business.

Clients travel considerable distances to visit your salon. How did you establish such a dedicated clientele, and what strategies do you employ to maintain their loyalty?

Deep and trusting relationships with clients are very important to me, and I believe one of the keys to my success. I have a very personalised approach to every individual and am genuinely invested in their lives - not just in their amazing treatment results! I cater my treatments, my communication style, and my practices around my clients’ personal preferences as much as possible.

This includes my ‘Silent Appointments’, which I created for my clients who are anxious, autistic, tired, sensory-sensitive, mentally drained, or just don’t want to chat that day. I also offer free treatment to cancer survivors wishing to have radiation marks removed.

It’s so rewarding to give back in this way, it makes such an incredible difference to their lives, launched skin memberships in the clinic, which are paid weekly or monthly, guaranteeing regular income to the business.

This concept has been around in the industry for a long time, but I don’t believe it has been very successfully executed by many. It is a great fit for my type of regional clientele, as they are committed to seeing me.

They receive better value from the membership structure, and I achieve better client satisfaction as their results are significantly better when their skin is treated regularly - memberships give them the opportunity to see that first-hand.

Your recent initiative, the Long Lunch series, aims to connect regional salon owners and therapists with industry experts. Can you tell us about this and what inspired this idea?

The Long Lunch series was designed to give education and networking opportunities to regional salon owners and therapists who often cannot travel. I find it a privilege visiting regional clinics across Australia but heard the same sentiments over many conversations with therapists.

That was, “We miss out on so much as we can’t travel to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane to go to training, attend conferences or

Beauty Expo, or we can’t take the whole team as we can’t afford to close our clinics for three days with no income coming in.”

This was my Why I started these events. I started brainstorming how I could support regional clinic owners and therapists, to help them feel connected with what’s happening in the industry and have the same opportunity to meet some of the industry experts that they would typically not get to connect with.

It took me two years, but finally the Long Lunch series was born, with 3 events for 2023 year in regional areas (starting with Tamworth). Guests get to mingle with eager to-learn members of the industry in a beautiful location with beautiful food and have the rare opportunity to meet industry leaders like Rebecca Miller, Tamara Reid, Gay Wardle, and Vanessa McDonald Kayla Zigic and Leone Goldspink to name a few.

I see the Regional Beauty Long Lunches as opportunities to strengthen skills, knowledge, and professional networks together in a relaxed and fun but still educational way, with attendees contributing not only to their own success but the success of our industry as a whole with Education Conversation and Connection .

And we already have another 2 events planned for 2024! With 1 being international.

As a sole operator managing various aspects of your business, how do you find the balance between client-focused activities and the necessary behind-the-scenes tasks to ensure the salon’s success?

This is something that’s a work in progress as delegating has never been my strong point, 2024 provides me with a new business model for the clinic with a VIP Client Experience Membership. I will only be seeing 35 clients every 5 weeks so I can give them a truly personal one on one experience.

The has evolved as the training side of the business is expanding at a rapid rate, I have now employed a Virtual assistant to help.

Your commitment to personalised client experiences is evident in your ‘Silent Appointments’ and free treatments for cancer survivors. How do these initiatives reflect your philosophy as a beauty practitioner and educator?

1. Client-centred approach: By offering silent appointments and free treatments for cancer survivors, a Skin Therapist demonstrates a commitment to providing personalised experiences for their clients. It reflects an understanding that each client has unique needs and circumstances, and it emphasises the importance of tailoring services to meet those needs.

2. Empathy and compassion: Initiatives like providing free treatments for cancer survivors highlight the Skin Therapists empathy and compassion. It shows that they care about the well-being of their clients beyond the surface level aspects of beauty. This philosophy creates a supportive and understanding environment where clients feel valued and cared for.

3. Inclusivity and diversity: By offering free treatments specifically for cancer survivors, a Skin Therapist promotes inclusivity and diversity in their practice. They recognise that individuals who have undergone cancer treatment may have specific concerns and challenges related to their appearance. By addressing these needs, the practitioner ensures that their services are accessible and beneficial to a wide range of clients.

4. Education and empowerment: As an educator, the skin Therapist can use these initiatives as an opportunity to educate both clients and the wider community about the impact of cancer and the role of skin treatments in boosting confidence and well-being. By sharing knowledge and raising awareness, they empower clients to make informed decisions about their skin routines and support them in their journey towards self-care and self-acceptance.

5. Social responsibility: Initiatives like offering free treatments for cancer survivors reflect a commitment to social responsibility. They demonstrate that the Skin Therapist is actively engaged in giving back to the community and using their skills to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

This philosophy can inspire others in the industry to contribute to similar initiatives and foster a culture of social responsibility within the beauty community. Overall, these initiatives reflect a philosophy that goes beyond the surface-level aspects of beauty.

They emphasise the importance of personalised care, empathy, inclusivity, education, and social responsibility. By embracing these values, a Skin Therapist can create meaningful experiences for their clients and contribute to the well-being of the community they serve.

What is on the agenda for the future?

2023 has been a massive year.

I celebrated 35 years of Karen Geiszler Hair & Beauty

Won ABIA Sole Operator of the Year

KG Beauty & Modality Training has grown at a rapid rate.

SO…

2024 is the start of an exciting NEW Chapter

As the demand for my face-to-face in clinic training, I am excited to announce that I will be scaling down my clinic to move into Bespoke In Clinic Education.

Launching my Self-Paced Online Theory Portal, Webinars, and a few other surprises

Expanding into New Zealand and USA.

All while living my ultimate work/life balance of living part time on the beautiful Island of Nusa Lembongan off Bali’s mainland.

I will be traveling back to Australia to offer my Bespoke in clinic practical training on a monthly basis .