New chapter for long-standing Whanganui beauty clinic The Edge

Sharon Rowan (left) takes over from Paula Wade, long-time owner of beauty clinic The Edge.

Paula Wade is putting down the brush as her 36-year-old Whanganui beauty business changes hands.

The Edge provides nails, makeup, piercing, tanning, facials and waxing services from its Victoria Ave clinic.

Wade thanked all her clients over the years as she moved full-time to her lingerie business, Top Draw, next door.

“Being a local business, I’m really proud of being able to be in business so long in Whanganui,” she said.

Sharon Rowan is the new owner of The Edge and has two new part-time staff.

“I want to wish Sharon all the best in taking over my legacy,” Wade said.

“I wish all the best to her staff and I would love for my clients and new clients to come along.”

Rowan said she planned to pick up where Wade left off but may consider changes later.

“We’re looking forward to taking up the stewardship of Paula’s legacy and the foundation that she’s built.

“Our biggest focus, like Paula before, is our customer care. So once you’ve done that, it gives you a platform for everything.

“It is such a long-standing salon here and it’s in a lovely space. Everything about it is inviting. And I like the feel of it.”

Wade first entered the building in 1990, joining a friend who ran a hairdressing business, New Image.

Four years later, she moved into the block beside it and set up The Edge.

Wade said the 2008 recession and Covid-19 lockdowns taught her not to overspend or overcommit.

“I went through the 2008 recession. That was a very, very difficult time. Lots of businesses closed down over that. I practically did, but I managed to make it through.”

Financial support from the Government during the lockdowns had also helped.

She said her services had diversified over the years as beauty products and trends changed.

French tips, tooth gems and lash extensions were popular when she started in the 1990s, Wade said.

“Once the nail bars opened, I stepped back from doing the acrylic nails. Left it to them. Competition in business is healthy, I think, but there’s always a place for everybody in the market.

“There’s a lot more available for ladies in the beauty field now than there used to be. Introducing laser and appearance medicine, and waxing a lot more parts of the body than ladies used to in the 90s.”

Piercings were popular, especially among people in their 20s and early 30s.

“I started doing ear and nose piercing, and then developed into doing body piercing. Navels, nipples, eyebrows,” Wade said.

“In this industry, you get a lot of women once their children leave home, or they have extra time and cash to look after themselves even more.

“We tend to look after our whānau first and put ourselves second. Things like that have never changed.”

Noam Mānuka Lazarus is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle.