Polish Nail Spa
Polish Nail Spa opened in 2006 in Parkwood, Johannesburg, and operated for more than a decade before closing in 2019. At the time, the nail landscape sat at two extremes: functional franchise salons with harsh lighting and acrylic fumes, or high-end spas where nail services were often an afterthought. Polish was conceived as something different.
The intention was both entrepreneurial and practical. My sister and I had left corporate careers and wanted to build something tangible and consumer-facing. We were interested in creating a business that employed people, engaged directly with customers, and responded to a clear gap in the market. In a city where grooming was already a well-established ritual, nails offered continuity and reliability. Once trust was built, the business became an annuity, with many clients returning weekly or monthly on standing appointments.
Polish focused exclusively on nails. The service was deliberate, the products carefully chosen, and the environment calm and considered, with interiors designed by Mezzanine. It felt markedly different to anything else available at the time. The pricing reflected the experience, but remained accessible, and the studio quickly developed a loyal and engaged customer base.
The reality of running the business proved more complex than the original vision suggested. Processes that seemed straightforward on paper were difficult to execute consistently. Some early product decisions were costly, and staffing required constant attention and emotional energy. While many customers were generous and supportive, a small number were exceptionally demanding, testing boundaries and resilience. At the same time, the depth of loyalty that formed was immediate and genuine.
One of the more difficult lessons lay in partnership dynamics and scale. We both worked full time in the business, yet a single location could not sustainably support two partners in that way. It was something we did not fully acknowledge at the time.
The experience taught me lasting lessons about boundaries, with staff, clients and business partners, and about not taking every challenge personally. It also highlighted the importance of stepping back to work on the business, not only within it.
Looking back, Polish Nail Spa was where my understanding of community first took shape. Attention to detail mattered, but so did relationships. Friendships formed through weekly rituals, conversations sparked ideas, and meaningful connections were built in that space. In many ways, it was an early expression of what continues to underpin my work today: creating environments where people feel seen, return often, and become part of something larger than the transaction itself.