Minding their own business (From Stroud News and Journal)

Minding their own business

ONE runs her own beauty salon at just 21. The other, at just 20, is probably the youngest pub landlord in the county.

These two young entrepreneurs did not let their age stand in the way of being their own masters.

Candy Clark has been running Minky's Beauty Salon in King's Stanley since December last year.

The former Archway pupil studied beauty therapy at Cirencester College before deciding to run her own business.

With help from parents Jenette and Steve and the youth business charity the Prince's Trust, she chose to take the risky option, opening her salon away from the big town centres and so far, it seems, the risk has paid off.

"It was frightening - but it wasn't as hard as I was expecting," she said.

"I think people in the village are really taking to it. They have been so supportive.

"At the moment I am very happy here. I always wanted to work abroad, on the cruise ships but then I realised I did not want to work for anybody else."

Candy runs the business as a one-woman show. She admits it can stressful but clearly loves her work.

"It is not about making people look pretty," she explained, "it is about making them feel better about themselves and who they are.

"People come in for something as simple as an eyebrow shape and leave feeling so relaxed and happy. It is really nice to be able to do that to somebody."

Craig Daly, 20, is also an ex-Archway pupil and the current landlord of the Jovial Foresters pub in Inchbrook, near Nailsworth.

A keen rugby fan, he started working at Kingsholm, the home of Gloucester Rugby Club, on work experience and spent five years working in the stadium.

While at the club, he studied for an NVQ in hospitality supervision. After spying an advert for the lease of the pub he convinced mum Denise and dad Tom to help him take it over.

"I reckon I must be the youngest landlord in the county, probably one of the youngest in the country," he said.

"It is completely different to what I expected. Here we have locals who come in at a certain time and have a particular drink. You get to know so many different people and the way they live their lives."

Since he reopened the Jovial Foresters last year, Craig has seen a surge in customers. customers young and old now flock to the little pub and many locals have attributed its changing fortunes to his stewardship.

"We get a real mix of people in here now," Said Craig.

"We still have the regulars, some real characters and a crib team and two pool teams. We also get a lot more young people in here now, especially with the big screen.

"The main thing I was worried about, being so young, was gaining people's respect. But I cannot fault anybody. Everyone has been very supportive."

Although the work is hard, these two young people have shown that success is not beyond those determined to succeed.

"It is not until I am mopping the floor at the end of the day that I suddenly think 'oh my god, this is mine'," said Candy.

"It is nice to know I have done it on my own. It's is not for anybody else's benefit. This is for me."