Founder Of Laloge Reem Abou Samra Reveals Her Secrets To Success
“Never stop investing in yourself”
Tell us about your background and journey of becoming a seasoned entrepreneur in the UAE.
I was born and raised in Syria and after university, where I studied French literature, I got married and we moved to Dubai in 1994. I have always been very ambitious and even though I am very dedicated to my family, I also need to keep my brain busy to feel fully alive. When I moved to Dubai, my English was very weak and I knew that this would hold me back, so I threw myself into English language studies and I was fluent within a year.
I then went on to study business, and I was one of the first to study and learn about the internet and e-marketing. In the years that followed, I developed new skills, learning about jewellery design and gemology, and was always looking to continue gaining knowledge in any way that I could.
Laloge Beauty Salons & Spa at Address Montgomerie, Dubai
After I became a mother to my twin girls, my first business was born out of spotting a gap in the market. It was a children’s clothing store called ‘Kids Puzzle’ and it was the first luxury children’s boutique in the UAE which opened in The Dubai Mall in 2007. Later came ‘Little Angels’ and then I started looking into new ventures that fell more into my area of passion: beauty and wellness.
What inspired you to launch Laloge Beauty Salons?
I have always loved everything about beauty. I love the confidence that it gives a woman when she has just walked out of the salon with a new haircut and colour and a fresh set of nails. Every woman wants to look and feel their best and I saw that there was a gap in the space between a luxury spa and a salon.
Laloge at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
Spas have traditionally offered the ultimate luxury but are generally very expensive, whereas salons have never offered the same level of luxury and relaxation. I wanted to change this by giving the best of both – the luxurious feel and service of a spa, but with the affordability of a salon. When you combine these two ingredients, you can’t really go wrong. My friends all loved the idea and they convinced me that it was a great idea. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
We are growing consistently, and we are also getting many enquiries about franchising across the Middle East, but for me, I have to take my time with this as it is more important for me to find the right partner, rather than the first partner. The quality and service at LaLoge is second to none and it is very important for me to make sure standards stay high and only grow higher.
Laloge Beauty Salons & Spa at Address Montgomerie, Dubai
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way and how did you overcome them?
I think there is no bigger challenge than surviving a pandemic, such as the past year. Along with many other industries such as F&B, the salon and spa industry took a massive hit, with us having to close completely for many months and then take limited bookings thereafter.
The bad times teach you resilience and appreciation for the good times. I think it is always good to have a reminder that no matter how much you grow and learn, there are always going to be new obstacles in your path, but it is how you navigate around these that will set you apart as a businesswoman.
Laloge Beauty Salons & Spa at Address Montgomerie, Dubai
With five different locations around Dubai, how do you decide where to launch Laloge?
Well, we are soon to be six, with our new location launching in a matter of weeks. We always look for partnerships with brands that hold the same values as we do. A love of great service, attention to detail and luxury. This is why we have chosen the venues that we have.
The Address Downtown is our newest location, and with four of our six venues located within Address hotels, it shows the strong bond that we have. In addition, Mandarin Oriental is one of the most elegant and beautiful locations on the Jumeirah beachfront and Caesars Palace Dubai in Bluewaters was a perfect fit for us too, both due to the prestigious location and the quality of the hotel.
Laloge at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
What are your top three career tips?
Never stop investing in yourself. Learn as much as you can and soak up the knowledge that is right in front of you. People invest in stocks and shares because they want a return on their investment, to see their money grow. But many fail to see the return on investment by investing time in your own self and learning process.
Do something that you truly love. If you are truly passionate about something, it will naturally shine through in everything that you do. This is contagious and everyone around you and your business will feel it too.
Laloge Beauty Salons & Spa at Address Skyview Hotel, Dubai
Create balance. You need to have a good work/life balance in order to be at your best when it comes to decision-making. It also helps to have the support of your loved ones, who can’t support you if you are not working as a family unit.
What is your secret to success?
I choose to create something that I personally love. If you are going to cut corners, you won’t be proud of your work and others will notice. I don’t chase the money, I chase the dream of what I want and I live for the momentum.
When you see something moving faster and faster due to the good work you have done, it is a real buzz. I know if I create the best that I can, I can never be upset with myself no matter what.
Laloge Beauty Salons & Spa at Address Skyview Hotel, Dubai
What is the interior design of each lounge inspired by?
The inspiration is from the name, Laloge. This is the space that an actress or performer gets ready before a big show, where she is pampered and celebrated before she steps onto the stage.
This is how we want all our customers to feel; like the start of the show. Our colour theme is very classic, with black, white and gold being the main three colours and we chose the best quality for all of our interiors, with designer chairs, the most comfortable hair-wash stations and glamorous chandeliers. It all adds to the Laloge experience.
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