From High-Stakes Hustle to Heartfelt Success: Lisa Comber’s Entrepreneurial Odyssey

Ever wondered what it takes to build a beauty empire while navigating the most turbulent waves of personal loss and professional scrutiny? In this episode of Beauty Business Matters, host Susan Routledge sits down with the irrepressible Lisa Comber, a serial entrepreneur who has spent over 20 years turning grit into glamour. From her early days as a mobile technician in Gran Canaria to the helm of multiple high-performing salons and a regulated training academy, Lisa’s story is a masterclass in resilience. We dive deep into the "messy middle" of business ownership—the sudden salon closures, the transition from solo therapist to team leader, and the grueling four-year battle with HMRC that threatened everything she built. Lisa shares with raw candor how she balanced the demands of a growing brand, Perfect 10, with the profound grief of losing her parents. Whether you are a budding therapist or a seasoned business owner, Lisa’s "Lisa-isms" and her relentless drive to be her own biggest cheerleader offer a grounded, witty, and deeply inspiring roadmap for anyone looking to master the beauty business. SOCIALS & IMPORTANT LINKS ⁠https://susanroutledge.com⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/susan_routledge/⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@beautybusinessmatters⁠ ⁠https://marketing.susanroutledge.com/beauty-and-the-best-chapters⁠ SPONSORSHIP ⁠https://www.phorest.com/⁠ ⁠https://share.hsforms.com/1Z3Q1VRM8TNqfn11f4cZyPA1c4ta⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠ HOST BIO Susan Routledge is a distinguished figure in the beauty industry with over 38 years of experience. As a multi-award-winning salon owner and international business consultant, she's recognized among the top UK industry influencers for her passion and dedication. Known for her down-to-earth, light-hearted approach, Susan is an international speaker and established awards judge. She founded the exclusive Beauty Directors Club, a global membership community for salon, clinic, and spa owners, offering business resources and multi-expert advice. Susan also created the online "Salon Success Freedom" program to help beauty businesses thrive. Susan founded and has grown her clinic of 36 years in Co. Durham into the largest independent beauty salon in Northeast England. She is the creator of the trademarked STABLE business formula and author of "The Little Book of Client Retention" and the world's No. 1 bestsellers "Beauty And the Best" 1, 2 and 3. She serves on the Professional Board for BABTAC, helping to represent and raise industry standards, and on the advisory board for the prestigious PHAB Service Stars. Susan's expertise continues to shape and elevate the beauty industry worldwide.