Page 45 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

I love my clients, I just love to know that they feel at home,

and that’s my main priority.

Navigating Loss the difficulties, Beverley’s passion for beauty therapy never
Owner,
Bev’s Beauty and Wellness Beverley’s career is marked not only by her professional wavered.
achievements but by personal challenges, including Throughout her career, Beverley has remained steadfast in
everley Murray has dedicated her life to the world profound loss. She had moved to Durban to be with a her belief that beauty therapy is more than just a job—it’s a
of beauty therapy and now operates from her childhood sweetheart, only for him to fall critically ill calling. “For me, I want people, when they come in, to leave
B salon Bev’s Beauty and Wellness located in Hirsch’s shortly thereafter. “He was misdiagnosed, and they only feeling better than when they arrived,” she says. Whether
Umhlanga. Over her 44-year career, she has cultivated not
realised what he had in April. He died in August,” she that’s through physical pampering or emotional support,
only a love for her profession but also for the people she
recounts with sorrow. “After he passed, I realised I had Beverley’s goal has always been to make a difference in the
serves. “I love my clients, I just love to know that they feel
to get up. I had to get going. A week later, I was back at lives of her clients and creating a space where clients feel
at home, and that’s my main priority,” she says.
work, pushing all my energy into the business.” valued and cared for. “People have so much trauma in their
Raised in a family of beauty therapists, Beverley’s career During this challenging time Beverley met Viv, who lives, and I think since Covid, they’re not where they were
path was predetermined. Her mother, Isabel, owned a introduced her to Umhlanga Women Achievers. five years ago. For me, it’s important to be there for them.”
beauty school and salon – Mondeor Institute of Beauty, “Networking was crucial for me because I didn’t have
and from an early age, Beverley was immersed in this any other way to connect with people,” Beverley says. For Beverley, success is about more than just financial
environment. She reminisces, “I grew up in a salon, and Through the group, she not only built her client base but gain—it’s about building lasting relationships. “I’ve always
from the time I was a little girl, I would ask, ‘Please, can I said, you come as a client and leave as a friend,” she reflects.
paint the ladies’ nails, Mum?’ They used to love me and found personal growth. “I used to be quite introverted, Looking Ahead
allowed me to work on them. So, I think the passion had but through the Achievers, I learned how to speak in
always been there.” front of people. Now, if I get asked to do a talk, I’ll do it In addition to her work in beauty therapy, Beverley is deeply
without hesitation.” Of note Beverley won the Umhlanga committed to charitable causes. Through her involvement
Beverley worked with her mum for 20 years, and then Women Achievers of the Year 2022. with Umhlanga Women Achievers, she has organised
started her own business. She has had her own salon for numerous charity initiatives, supporting organisations
24 years. Not only did Beverley learn the trade from her Beverley credits much of her success to the support she’s like Hospice, Open Door Crisis Centre and the Jess Ford
mother, but her own daughter Mechelle has also followed received from people along her path, including Margaret Foundation. One of her proudest accomplishments is
in their footsteps. Hirsch, a major influence and mentor. “Margaret has done
so much for women, and she’s done so much for me,” the monthly coffee club she organises to support a small
Beverley briefly dabbled in hairdressing when her she says. coffee shop. “It’s been going for four years now, which we
mother bought a hairdressing salon, but she realised also use as a platform for charity,” she says.
where her heart truly lay. “My passion was beauty,” she Resilience in Adversity
reflects. Her dream of owning her own salon became a Covid-19 brought another set of challenges for Beverley. Looking to the future, Beverley hopes to continue growing
reality in Johannesburg, where she built a large, thriving Having opened a new salon at Hirsch’s Umhlanga, her business while finding more time for herself. “I’ve got a
business. At one point, she managed a team of six, with the timing couldn’t have been worse. “I had taken my wonderful lady, Nondumiso, who’s been working with me
her daughter occasionally helping out, making it a true finances to do the shop up, and three weeks later, Covid for two years. I’d love to one day be able to say to her, ‘You
family affair. can run the shop more, and I can start taking a bit more
hit,” she explains. However, Beverley says when Covid time off,’” she muses.
Relocating to Durban 13 years ago, however, forced struck, Margaret was one of the first to offer support.
Beverley to start from nothing. “One of my major “She said, ‘Bev, don’t worry about the rent right now,’ In her free time Beverley enjoys sitting and watching the
challenges was trying to get a salon off the ground with and that meant the world to me.” Beverley’s resilience ocean, finding peace in its presence. “ I go to church on
absolutely no clients,” she recalls. Yet, her tenacity saw her once again saw her through. “What saved me was that Sundays—that’s where I get my soul food from. She
through. “I went post box to post box, walking the streets I was alone in the shop. People didn’t want to go into expressed her gratitude for the community, noting,
and putting flyers on windscreens. You just have to do big salons during Covid, but with me, they could come “They’ve been incredible for me on my path in life; they’ve
what it takes.” one by one. It was just what people wanted.” Despite been wonderful,” she concludes.

Beverley MURRAY | 43