About Face & Body: Laser & Wellness Clinic
About Face & Body: Laser & Wellness ClinicHave you ever dreamed about making a career change? Doing a 180 and going in a completely different direction? Karen Callies did exactly that when she left her job as a sales and marketing rep with the Sarnia Journal and purchased Sarnia’s About Face & Body Laser & Wellness Clinic in January of 2019. “I was looking for something new and the opportunity came about so I seized the day,” Karen says.
Indeed she did. As the owner and director of operations at About Face, Karen immediately noticed a huge change in her day-to-day activities. “It was a culture shock. I had no previous experience in this line of work, and I was used to being in my car a lot because I was in sales. It took some time to get used to being at the Clinic most days.”
About Face has been in business for 35 years and offers plenty of services; from Body, Nail and Hair Treatments to Skin Rejuvenation, Twinlight Laser Treatment, Body Contouring, Injectables and Skin Resurfacing. “I had to learn about the treatments and the product when I took over the business. Fortunately, the previous owner was very good with helping me make this transition.”
With the help of a dedicated staff of seven (plus a doctor and nurse on contract), Karen and her team have continued to offer services, even through the COVID pandemic. “I certainly was scared at the beginning of COVID, but my husband told me not to worry and that everything would be okay. I also have a business coach, Kathleen Mundy, who helped me navigate my way through it all.”
Although operating About Face has its challenges, Karen says being the owner has its perks as well. “I love the satisfaction of knowing that I am accomplishing running a business on my own.” Karen was once advised that when it comes to running a business, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. “I always kept that in mind because the highs and lows of running a business affect you personally more so than being an employee. There are days when it is all sunshine and roses and there are other days when it is all doom and gloom. But I wouldn’t change any of it.”
Aside from running About Face, Karen has a deep sense of community. “I am involved in a lot of different events and charities because I think it is important to give back.” Her charity, Couture for the Cure, sponsors different charities from time to time, and this year worked with the Sarnia-Lambton Alzheimer Society to host a Kentucky Derby- themed party. “At About Face I want to offer incredible services to this community, and that also means being an active participant.”
Related Stories
DeGroot's Nurseries
DeGroots Nurseries began in 1957, the same year that John DeGroot was born. We've been around a while. The business has become part of the fabric of the community, DeGroot explains. The business was started by his parents, John Sr. and Attie DeGroot, who had emigrated from Holland in 1952.
Sarnia Imperials
The Sarnia Imperials football team was founded in 1928, and was a member of the Ontario Rugby Football Union, a league that preceded the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Imperials appeared in three Grey Cup championship games, winning twice in 1934 and 1936. They are now part of the Northern Foot
Studio Q Designs
Amy Q Cooper found herself in a peculiar predicament. "Similar to many university students, I graduated in hopes of finding a job," Amy says. "But since the pandemic had recently started, basically every single company had pulled the job openings off their websites. They wanted to take care of"
For Scott Palko, owner of Revelree Entertainment Inc., creating an annual music festival in Sarnia was a matter of getting it right and not just doing it quickly. That's why it took nearly seven years of planning, and of course additional planning time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the
Related Stories
Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals
When it comes to caring for feral cats, Julie Medeiros just can't say no. Sometimes I'll get a call at 2 a.m. about a cat that has been hit or all kinds of other situations and you just have to react to it, Julie says. It is that kind of dedication that has helped Julie rise to the position.
Munro Honey & Meadery
After serving during World War II, Howard Bryans left the Canadian Royal Airforce and returned home to the Owen Sound area. Howard and his younger brother Vincent wanted to start a bee business. The brothers grew up around beekeeping and had bees on their family farm growing up. Both Howard's fath
Uniquely Yours Cards and More
Amy Spadafora was looking for a career change. While she loved her work as a recreational therapist for kids with special needs, her job was beginning to wear her down. I had been talking to women in business for about five years to see what they liked about it and what they didn’t like, Amy
Northgate Dentistry
Dr. Stephane Lefebvre was curious about the dental profession from a young age. He asked his family dentist, Dr. Ken Clark, a lot of questions when he visited. In Grade 11, Lefebvre researched tooth decay for his high school scien...
