{"id":20495,"date":"2024-08-26T08:00:35","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T06:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/?p=20495"},"modified":"2024-08-26T15:55:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T13:55:17","slug":"taking-the-plunge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2024\/08\/26\/taking-the-plunge\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the plunge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carol Cox is flexing her entrepreneurial muscles with the launch of her pampering range of bath products.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When is a bath not just a bath? When it\u2019s a beauty aid – sure. When it\u2019s part of a relaxation ritual \u2013 of course. But what about when it\u2019s a step on an entrepreneur\u2019s journey?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what TranquilTub is for Carol Cox. Already a successful business owner, having opened her beauty salon, Refresh Body and Mind, back in 2005, the launch of her luxurious product marks the next stage in her entrepreneurial revolution.<\/p>\n

Carol\u2019s interest in beauty therapy started, perhaps naturally enough, with a teenage skin outbreak. One of her friends suggested she go for a facial, which she thoroughly enjoyed (obviously). But what she remembers most about the occasion was that, for the first time, Carol realised that all the little ways she loved to pamper herself could actually be the makings of a career. \u201cI\u2019d never heard of beauty therapy before,\u201d she admits, \u201cbut as soon as I got talking to the therapist, asking all about what her job entailed, I had a brainwave: I was already doing this kind of thing for myself, and I loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This insight led to three years of study, with the third focusing on treatments that feature less frequently on traditional spa menus, but which have an accent on holistic healing – think reiki, reflexology and crystal healing. These learnings had a profound effect on Carol\u2019s approach to beauty.\u201c The concept of healing really resonated with me. I think that many of us practice the principles of, say reiki, unconsciously. We hug our friends because we\u2019re glad to see them, but we transfer energy as we do. When someone hurts themselves, we hold the injured part and tell them we\u2019re sorry \u2013 and even that can make a difference. \u201c One of the reasons Carol is fascinated by the healing arts is because she was frequently sick as a child. The idea that it\u2019s possible to heal a body with tools besides medicine \u2013 such as diet or releasing suppressed emotions – intrigues her, and she enjoys exploring this with her clients, helping them become aware of what might be going on in their bodies and finding ways to shift negative energy.<\/p>\n

This is one of the reasons she decided to open her own salon. Although she gained invaluable experience working at a large chain, she wanted to create her own experience; one where clients felt like they were the priority, and that someone was investing time in their wellbeing rather than rushing them from one treatment to the next. She also wanted to work in a space that was dedicated to being as gentle on the earth as possible. As a vegan, she places enormous emphasis on sustainability, and every product she uses reflects this ethos.<\/p>\n

She has loved every part of being a business owner, from taking that initial scary step to building long-standing relationships with repeat clients. But, she says, she also realises that there will come a time \u2013 even if it\u2019s well into the future \u2013 when she no longer has the energy for full body massages. Because she has no desire to expand into an empire of salons, she wanted to find another way to grow the business \u2013 which is how the idea to launch her own product range was born.<\/p>\n

After completing a qualification in cosmetic chemistry, Carol introduced a range of scrubs and lotions. However, after listening to her friends (fitness enthusiasts who long for a good soak to ease those aching calves and abs) and thinking about her own pet loves (a long soak at the end of the day), she decided to shift focus to more high-end products. The result is TranquilTub, a restorative muscle soak that\u2019s added to the bath. Carol collaborated with a laboratory, tweaking product formulations and rethinking ingredients until she hit on a blend she loved – Magnesium sulphate to detox and ease muscle cramps, assorted plant oils to hydrate the skin while addressing inflammation, cannabis sativa (another potent anti-inflammatory offering a plethora of healthy skin benefits) and essential oils to soothe anxious, stressed minds. \u201cIt\u2019s for anyone who has had a day where they\u2019ve been rushed off their feet, given their all in a training session or faced down hectic deadlines,\u201d Carol says.<\/p>\n

And this is just the beginning, she adds. She has plans to grow TranquilTub into a range that has goodies for shower lovers, as well as skincare. True to her philosophies, each product will be cruelty free and sustainable (TranquilTub\u2019s packaging isn\u2019t just recyclable, it\u2019s also been recycled) and will feature natural ingredients like hemp.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all in the future, though. For now, Carol is concentrating on her salon and her other great love, photography. \u201cMy husband always says that if you can\u2019t find me, it\u2019s because I\u2019m down on the ground looking at the world through my camera lens!\u201d Getting grubby in nature might seem a world apart from her usual world of masks, makeup and moisturisers, but it\u2019s where Carol finds her magic \u2013 and as she says, that\u2019s what life is all about.<\/p>\n

Feeling stressed? Try this:<\/strong><\/p>\n