Sheona Will, owner of Bloom Group Salons, recently shared her experience of intentionally scaling back her business, finding renewed passion and greater impact after previously focusing on aggressive growth. Three years ago, Will realised she had stopped actively participating in her core role, a situation exacerbated by focusing on expansion.
She noted that while scaling up Bloom Group Salons from zero to £750k–£800k turnover in three years was an achievement, success shouldn't be solely measured by size. Will observed that smaller, less ambitious salons can be more profitable. The drive for growth led her to delegate operational tasks, ultimately resulting in a job she no longer enjoyed, despite owning the business.
Will began her deliberate scaling-back process towards the end of last year, following the sale of her London salon. This shift allowed her to re-engage with her team of approximately 30 individuals in Scotland, focusing on their business analysis, goal setting, and professional development. She is now deeply involved again in the systems, marketing, and education aspects that originally excited her but were neglected during the expansion phase.
Her advice for businesses currently scaling up centres on establishing strong culture and leadership foundations before significant expansion. She questioned the creative and operational capabilities of future leadership layers and emphasised ensuring margins can support projected structures. Will stated she does not regret her decision, feeling re-energised and more impactful, having essentially reclaimed her job. She would consider scaling up again only with her current understanding of business dynamics.
