A BEAUTY salon owner is 'made up' after she re-opened the business to customers following lockdown.

Jill Bryce, who owns Karma Beauty and Style Bar in Gourock's Shore Street, says she is thrilled to see all her customers again after four months.

She admits it was 'touch and go' if the shop was going to re-open at one stage, but is delighted to have made it through the crisis thanks to her staff and loyal clients.

Jill said: "It's been a long four months.

"Everyone was furloughed but I kept them on their proper wage.

"It was touch and go, and there was a point when we thought we weren't going to re-open, but then you keep driving forward.

"I couldn't stop crying when we came back, I couldn't believe we were here."

Jill says she thought of different ways to keep the business afloat and stay in touch with clients while the premises were shut.

She said: "I tried to keep busy at home selling gift boxes and vouchers and keeping the shop online.

"I was working as hard as I could to do what I could, and think 'out of the box'.

"We kept our appointment system going to help gauge demand when we re-opened.

"It worked well."

"Staff have been working extra hours to cope with demand since re-opening."

Jill says the team have taken advantage of their outdoor space to check clients' temperatures.

She said: "It's lovely to see everyone again and get back to a bit of normality, the hardest thing is not being able to hug people.

"It's great to see clients and staff back and having a buzz about the place and everyone being together again.

"I feel as if I've won the lottery without the money!"

"So many people have been so anxious about lockdown, so it is so nice to see people and being able to unwind and feel a bit more normal.

"Lockdown has been hard for the business and so many other businesses but I think it's also been a time for people to re-evaulate, so some good has come out of it.

"We couldn’t have re opened if it wasn’t for all our clients.

"Their support saw us through."