It has been 16 years since Ms Smith took over running the Brisbane Street beauty salon and earlier this year she decided it was time she worked more in the business.

“When I took over it was an existing business and we had one other staff member,” she said.

“I’m good at my job, but after 16 years the management side was wearing a bit thin.”

Over 16 years she has built the business up, with a database full of long-standing clients and four additional staff members as a testament to its success.

While she loved her business, Ms Smith had a yearning to follow her passion and so was thrilled when Ms Howard was willing to take Ambiance on.

“My passion is the beauty industry. I love research and innovation and it’s through this I’ve been able to retain a long-standing staff,” Ms Smith said.

“Both Hollie and myself are in two different stages of life. Hollie is where I was 16 years ago and I am looking forward to seeing what she does with the business.

“I’ve had a good time with the business, and I’ll still be very hands on. It’s a sideways step for both of us,” she said,” she said.

It has been a month since Ms Howard took over running Ambiance and the new business owner is thrilled with the transition.

“It’s very exciting; it’s been busy, but really good,” she said.

With 10 years experience in the beauty industry, Ms Howard said she was ready to sink her teeth into a bigger challenge.

“Julie-Anne and I have a really close relationship and we had been tossing up ideas [about the business] for a few months. We came to an agreement at the end of September and I took over on October 1,” she said.

In addition to working with her existing clients, Ms Smith is acting as a mentor for Ms Howard.

“Julie-Anne has done an amazing job building the business and I’m hoping to keep it up,” Ms Howard said.

“I’m really lucky to have Julie-Anne by my side and I’m grateful to have her as a mentor.”

One of the business values Ms Howard will continue is the salon’s commitment to clients.

“We do have a lot of long-term clients and most are returning clientele, which we’re lucky to have. We like to have a friendship with our clients,” she said.

Ambiance opens Monday to Saturday at 40 Brisbane Street, Launceston.

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