In less than four years NABU Bronzing Bar in Kenny Street, Wollongong has earned a national reputation for its service.
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Just one year after opening the business founded by Blair Petiquin was named a winner at the Australian Beauty Industry Awards (ABIAs).
NABU was runner-up the following year and now for the third year in a row has just been named a finalist in the Tanning Salon/Service of the Year category for 2018.
The ABIA Awards are considered among the highest accolades in the industry in Australia for honouring the best-of-the-best.
“They are judged by a panel of experts from within the industry,” Ms Petiquin said.
“We have grown organically from word-of-mouth. I think it is because we do things differently and with a lot of passion.”
“I have the best team which I really could not do without. Andy Gurova was one of my first employees. She has been with me since 2015.”
Ms Petiquin has a cosmestics and photography background.
“I did fashion photography. I then took a year off that and did my makeup diploma. I have always studied business and loved it.”
Ms Petiquin decided to start NABU after taking a year off because of illness.
During that time she figured out what she wanted to do.
She realised she wanted to run her own business.
“I had a passion for spray tanning for a long time. My little sister suffers from a loss of pigmentation in the skin. With all the makeup and beauty experience I had, she never liked any other beauty treatment. So I fell in love with spray tanning over a decade because of that bond I grew with her.”
Ms Petiquin then thought about what was offered in the market and decided she wanted to provide more choice.
“I thought why is it when you go to most salons you only have three options. A light, medium or dark. Coming from a cosmetic background I thought shouldn’t it be like choosing a foundation.”
Ms Petiquin said with cosmetics different things worked for different skin types – dry to oily and everything in between.
That is how the idea came about for NABU carrying over 100 different blends from brands from all over the world.
“I am a big believer in there is no such thing as one blend for everyone,” she said.
“The last six months has been about developing our own range which will be launched around September.”
NABU has temperature controlled rooms and keeps a tanning diary for each client because skin changes at different times of the year.
ABIA Award winners will be announced at The Star on September 9, 2018.
Ms Petiquin puts her success at the national awards down to her team’s passion and purpose and the way they make people feel.
She said people she gets to work with each day are like a family.
Ms Petiquin said the biggest change in the industry recently was the number of men coming through the door for a spray tan.
She said the market was very broad and her clients included men and women of all ages.
“Everyone is going for a more natural look now,” she said.
“And more women are doing it more regularly - weekly and fortnightly so they can have a more even complexion. But there is also a huge market for people who just tan for special events.”
Many people are having spray tans for sun safety.
It wasn’t planned that way but NABU opened at the same time as tanning beds were made illegal in Australia. And spray tanning was heralded as a safe option.
NABU has operated a pop-up store in Sydney recently and has a second private studio in Flinders open for Shellharbour clients seven days a week.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
