*Laura Viligurskaite, Indre Grigaityte, Renalda Viligurskaite and Dovile Burke.
IN A salon on Francis Street in Ennis, amidst the whirlwind of blow-dryers and chatter, lies a testament to the power of sisterhood and the limitless potential of women in business.
As The Clare Echo celebrates International Women’s Day, we spoke to two sets of Lithuanian sisters who run A New You hair and beauty salon in Ennis. Founded almost 13 years ago by Laura Viligurskaite and her sister Renalda Viligurskaite, Indre Grigaityte, and her sister Dovile Burke – the salon has weathered the storms of language barriers and entrepreneurship.
Over a decade later, the four ladies all have young families based in the Ennis area, with two of them marrying local men. And they all admit that their love of the people of Ennis has made their journey all the more enjoyable.
The salon’s origins trace back to a leap of faith taken by Laura and Indre over a decade ago. In the years that followed, they were soon joined by Indre’s little sister Dovile, a nail technician, and then Laura’s sister Renalda who is in charge of lashes at the salon.
“It’s easier to do something together than on your own,” Laura recalls, “We used to work in another place in town when we came to Ireland, and Indre left that place and I didn’t want to work without her because my English wasn’t strong enough and she was always backup for me and I said, ‘will we do something together?’. So, we started, slowly, bit by bit. Found a place to rent and began renovating it.”
The pair admit that the fit out and dealing with trades men was amongst their biggest challenges to date. “We didn’t know what tiles to buy and what to put on the floor or even the electric works, we were in our early 20s at that point. The workmen were asking us to get certain things and we were going into the wrong places for them!” she laughs.
Fueled by determination, they persisted and together with their younger sisters, the quartet poured their hearts into transforming their vision into reality. “We were working with no days off, from Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm” Renalda reminisces, highlighting the sacrifices made in the formative years as they began to carve a niche for themselves in the competitive beauty industry.
What sets A New You apart isn’t just their skillful expertise but the warmth that greets every customer who walks through their doors. “Customers feel like family, like friends,” Laura beams, emphasizing the strong bonds forged with their loyal clientele. From haircuts to nail art and eye lashes, the salon offers a range of ser vices, each delivered with a personal touch that keeps patrons coming back for more.
Reflecting on their journey, the sisters acknowledge the unwavering support of the Ennis community. “The people of Ennis have been so good to support our business,” Dovile says. They also note that the arrival of the Ukrainian community brought with it a further business opportunity. Indre explains, “Two of us can speak Russian – the younger generation, they don’t – and that was a big bonus because the Ukrainians came with no English and they still want to get their nails done, their hair done.
“One person came in and realised we speak Russian, next thing half of Lisdoonvarna was into us! It got to the point where we started getting busy and we had to keep a certain amount of hours free for our regulars only.”
In an industry often defined by trends and transformations, A New You stands as a beacon of authenticity. Their advice to young women looking to embark on a business journey is to go for it. “You’re better to be sorry for what you have tried than to not try it,” Dovile advises, echoing the sentiment of seizing opportunities and embracing challenges head-on.
The girls continue to welcome customers who walked in on their first week in business. Indre says, “People who came in with their little boys, I cut their hair since they were babies and now they are coming in with their girlfriends. There are a lot of people who have supported us from the beginning and we’re very grateful for that.” As International Women’s Day dawns, it’s fitting to celebrate the remarkable journey of these Lithuanian sisters who have helped to shape Ennis’s beauty landscape and community.
