A new identity for the reinvigorated Dowling St clinic

BEAUTÉ Beauty Clinic has relaunched, with new owners, new branding, new products, new energy, and more.

While many of the changes were planned, a flood in early May sped up the process, and the clinic at 28 Dowling St has now been radically refreshed.

Owners Franca Vallinoti and Clayton Ellis have embraced the chance to reinvigorate Beauté from the ground up, investing in a new interior, staff training, more efficient systems, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.

"We turned the flood into an opportunity,'' Clayton says. ``It has allowed us to do everything at once and create the new identity that we wanted to establish.''

Beauté has existed in its current location for well over a decade. Although Clayton owned a 50 percent share of the business, he was a silent partner living elsewhere, including eight years in New York. 

Now he and Franca have returned to Dunedin to live, and bought out the the other owner's share.

They've been working hard since to re-establish Beauté, using the experience gained from long careers in business.

"There is a lot of stuff under the covers that we've been working on, especially around how the supply chain works and how we manage the business,'' Clayton says. "And we're letting people know about the change of ownership, so if they've wandered away they should come back and try us, and hopefully they will like it.''

New services, such as a full service teeth whitening treatment, have been introduced, alongside the extensive range of treatments already offered. These include advanced facials, hair removal, male grooming, massage, and more.

The product range has also been greatly expanded to include Environ skin care products, the Ginger&Me line of neuro-cosmetics, the local Botanical Kitchen naturopathic teas, and the reintroduction of the Beauty Chef range.

"We're trying to be at the forefront of trends,'' Franca says. ``If we introduce a product, it's about making sure our customers know what's out there and that they have access to that.''

The relaunch also extends to Beauté on Lampton Quay in Wellington, also owned by Clayton and Franca.

While renovations are an ongoing process there, more efficient systems have been put in place for the management of both clinics.

We're getting into a good place,'' Clayton says. "We've invested heavily to differentiate ourselves, from product to services, and investing in our staff and training. We've got clients coming back who we haven't seen for years which means we're doing something right.''

Beauté Beauty Clinic: Open 9am-4pm Monday, 9am-8pm Tuesday and Thursday, 9am-6pm Wednesday and Friday, and 9am-3pm Saturday. Bookings are recommended. 28 Dowling St, Dunedin. Phone (03) 477-7223, website www.beaute.co.nz

The following businesses are proud to support Beauté Beauty Clinic: