In an interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Samantha Foley, owner of The Scene Medical Beauty Bar, discussed her transition from working with a renowned plastic surgeon to opening her own beauty business. Samantha’s vision was to demystify beauty treatments and create an accessible, inclusive environment that invites consumer engagement and dispels the typical intimidation associated with the beauty industry. Her innovative open-air concept and focus on efficient, medical-grade skin treatments cater to a clientele that values both results and convenience, which has resonated well in Toronto’s Forest Hill and Leslieville neighborhoods. As an expert injector and trainer for InMode, Samantha continually integrates the latest technologies and training into her services, ensuring The Scene is at the cutting edge of cosmetic treatments. Her approach is about offering high-quality, scientifically backed services that fit into the busy lives of her clients, making regular skin care maintenance feasible and enjoyable.
Samantha Foley is the owner of The Beauty Collective by INJCT and The Scene Medical Beauty Bar, as well as a trainer for InMode, a leading medical technology company. As an entrepreneur and registered nurse, her journey into the beauty realm began alongside a renowned plastic surgeon in Montreal, Quebec, where Samantha’s passion for the industry was ignited. Through this pivotal experience, she honed her expertise, paving the path for her venture into pharmaceuticals. During this time, Samantha pursued her MBA, cultivating brands and refining her business acumen. Drawing from her diverse background in pharma, technologies and business, Samantha adeptly applies her skill set to foster the growth of The Beauty Collective and The Scene Medical Beauty Bar, as well as equipping other professionals in the beauty industry to do the same.
Could you walk us through your journey from working alongside a renowned plastic surgeon to founding The Scene Medical Beauty Bar? What inspired you to make this transition and start your own business in the beauty industry?
I wanted to create a space that made these types of treatments accessible and approachable. Beauty can be an intimidating industry as a consumer and I wanted to create a safe space for people to ask questions and receive the best treatments. I saw a space for a more inclusive, fun and accessible setting and took the leap.
The Scene Medical Beauty Bar offers a distinctive open-air concept and a range of top tier, medical-grade skin treatments. What motivated you to develop this unique approach, and how has it been received by your clients in Toronto’s Forest Hill and Leslieville neighbourhoods?
We all know the importance of taking care of your skin so I wanted to remove the frills and excess that tend to drive up the cost for everyone, as well at the time commitment required to keep up your results. By creating open air spaces and service stacking we can see more clients, reduce the time they need to take away from their day and provide better price points. We all know a soft and slow self care day is always needed, there are many places that fulfill this need and very few that focus on results plus time and cost saving that is required when you are consistently taking care of your skin. It has been well received so far, people really see us as a true skin health centre and a part of their regular routine. We are bringing social beauty to the forefront and checking a box for people they weren’t initially aware they were missing. We have been welcomed warmly and love the neighbourhoods that we are in!
As a trainer for InMode and an experienced injector, how do you integrate the latest technologies and training into the services at The Scene?
In my position I am privileged to be exposed to new developments, advancements, and research early on so in turn am able to assess, dissect, and implement into my practice and locations early. This creates the opportunity for us to become experts in the field as we have hands on and time spent from the implementation. It also allows for me to weed out anything that is trendy vs science and results based. I am extremely through and have high requirements to bring a new service, product or technology to our carefully curated and mastered offering.
With your extensive experience in cosmetics, technologies, and business, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the beauty industry today?
Follow your passion and find your niche. When you are passionate about something people feel that and respond to it! Many think this is an easy industry to break into or to make money in, but it takes dedication, knowledge, and grit. The overhead is much higher than people would imagine and it is imperative to make yourself standout and apart. I would suggest to find a mentor and collaborate with peers, it will take you further faster and the ride much more enjoyable!
Looking ahead, what are some of the exciting developments or expansions planned for The Scene Medical Beauty Bar?
More GTA locations and beyond, exciting partnerships, and programs are all being prepared for roll out- stay tuned!
