Flowers and a facial on main street

Beauty specialist Jessica Jannenga and wedding florist Kelsie Hawksworth. Pictures: JESS BAKER

By Jess Baker

In what is believed to be a Stanthorpe first, a florist and a beauty salon have combined forces to bring locals the best of both worlds.

Last week, on Thursday 10 June, JLUXI beauty and flower bar opened at Maryland Street, offering a range of dried and fresh floral arrangements, gifts, beauty products and treatments.

Beauty specialist Jessica Jannenga and wedding florist Kelsie Hawksworth, both with extensive experience in their independent fields, decided to embark on the new venture together just two months ago.

Jessica, at 28 years old, had owned a beauty room at her family’s boutique gift store Gracious Giving for six years, and felt the time was right to fly the coop.

Kelsie, at 26 years old, had been operating her own floral business from a shop at Rogers Street for two years, and felt like a change of pace and scenery.

“Jess came up with the idea … and two months ago she sent me a text and said ‘come with me’,” Kelsie said.

“I liked the idea of having a shop in Stanthorpe. People are so welcoming and it’s so fun.”

Jessica said her own business had been growing exponentially since early 2020, after she was forced to reconcile with the Covid-19 pandemic and reassess her business model.

Many will remember that Queensland’s first shutdown brought face-to-face beauty services to a screeching halt. But Jessica adapted, and launched her own line of beauty products online.

“It just boomed,” Jessica said.

Today, she sells makeup, brushes, and false eyelashes to customers all over the world.

But Jessica’s favourite part of job had always been – and remains – the social interaction, the ‘one-on-one’, with her clients. Which is why she decided to open a brick-and-mortar beauty bar in Stanthorpe’s CBD.

“I’ve already built up a good client base. Being in a small town, you have a connection with your clients,” Jessica said.

“I’m excited to watch both of us grow.”

Jessica’s passion for beauty began more than a decade ago at age 15, when she visited a makeup stand in the middle of a shopping centre and immediately “fell in love”.

She immediately enrolled at beauty school and completed her first makeup course at just 16 years old. She has since attained a Certificate IV and a diploma in beauty, as well as qualifications in spray tanning, eyelash extensions, brow sculpting, waxing, tinting and facials.

Makeup artistry will always be Jessica’s “first love”, but she provides a plethora of beauty services at her new Maryland Street salon.

Kelsie too began “dabbling” in her chosen industry at a young age, completing work experience at local florist Flowers of Elegance at 16 years old.

Both Jessica and Kelsie are heavily involved in the local wedding industry, with Jessica a prominent bridal artist and Kelsie and popular wedding florist.

Their regular interactions at weddings led to a professional relationship, and then a friendship, that has since blossomed into the exciting new venture that is JLUXI beauty and flower bar.

To shop Kelsie’s collection of dried arrangements and fresh flowers – for weddings, special events, or just because – visit @_pickedbykelsie on Instagram or shop.pickedbykelsie.com.

To book a makeup session, a spray tan, eyelash extensions, a brow sculpt or facial with Jessica visit @jluxibeautybar on Instagram or www.jluxibeautybar.com. JLUXI products can be shopped online at www.jluxibeauty.com.

To satisfy all of your beauty and floral needs at the same time, visit Kelsie and Jessica’s brand new store at 64a Maryland Street, Stanthorpe.