WHILE the economy may be in bad, or even hideous, shape people are increasingly striving to look good and feel great.

That is one reason suggested by Diane Taylor, owner of The Beauty Lounge, in Tadcaster High Street, for her business thriving where others are diving. “It is a growth industry as more of us want to look younger for longer,” she says.

And her happy, low turnover staff and growing customer base are also good reasons for Diane to enter The Beauty Lounge in the Small Business Of The Year category of The Press Business Awards 2011.

What is more, her name has been submitted for the Women In Enterprise title.

While she began the venture in two rooms on Bridge Street, Tadcaster in 1999, her policy of re-investing in new ways of pampering customers with technology for new beauty treatments, soon saw her move to bigger premises in the High Street.

Today, after slow but careful growth, Diane employs four full-time therapists, a Saturday girl and a PA.

There is a monthly “staff huddle” to brainstorm new ideas for the company and to refine customer service. Such finesse means that it is not uncommon for places to be booked three weeks in advance.

For that reason Diane also opened Beauty At The Spa within the Bridge Hotel & Spa at Walshford, north of Wetherby where she employs a full-time and part-time therapist.