Brands of Tomorrow is Walpole's business mentoring programme for emerging luxury brands. Over the course of a year, we take up to 12 carefully selected, early-stage brands through a twelve-month programme of workshops and professional mentoring that will help develop their business skills and set them on a path to growth. Discover all of our Brands of Tomorrow 2025 here
Walpole: What is your career background – and how did that lead to launching your company?
Teresa Tarmey: I left school to train as a beauty therapist as it’s what interested me the most, but I had my own skin health struggles that led me to pursue a much deeper interest in treating adult acne and scarring in particular. This is where I discovered how brilliant microneedling is for treating the skin, which is where my love for targeted, results-oriented treatments came from. I converted an outbuilding in my Yorkshire home into a treatment room and began treating local clients. Once demand began to grow, I relocated to London in 2008 where I found a small room at Fitness First in Shepherds Bush from which I could deliver treatments, slowly building and growing my client base mostly through word of mouth; real, visible results were the forefront of my whole ethos. I entirely self-funded my mission, with small rooms and residencies paving the way to the Notting Hill flagship that is now the beating heart of the Terese Tarmey brand today.
I then wanted to allow my customers’ journey to continue even after leaving the clinic and also allow a wider audience to benefit from the TT experience, at home. This led me to create a curated product range that leverages my expertise on what skincare products and ingredients really work, without over-claiming or over-promising. So now everyone can experience Teresa Tarmey results, wherever they are.
Tell us about your company…
Here at TT, we know skin. Our purpose is to transform skin (something we wear every day!) and with it, confidence. Our mission is to educate and empower our customers, and certify the next generation of skin experts both in clinics at home. We do this by redefining the and pushing the boundaries of skincare via expert-led treatment excellence, pioneering product innovation, accessible education and with a global digital and physical presence.
Why was launching this company important to you?
When it comes to skin, I think it is so important that people feel that they are being given information, advice and practices that are rooted in honesty and transparency. It’s such a personal journey and there is a lot of noise in this particular space that can make it feel overwhelming, confusing and over-inflammatory. I wanted to bring something to the market that was rooted in one simple thing: results. There’s nothing I love more than finding a personalised solution to treat an individual’s particular skin concern and helping them achieve visible results that make a real difference. I feel so passionate about sharing all of the knowledge and expertise that I’ve spent so many years accumulating.
How does your company represent the future of British luxury?
I am so proud of my British heritage and Northern roots, and my company is a celebration of that. I lead with honesty, education and integrity, which are all qualities that I think strongly represent British luxury and are also at the root of British innovation.
What’s an important value for you that you’ve ensured is part of your business?
Truth is at the cornerstone of the brand and underpins everything we do. Right from conceptualisation through to decision-making, honesty is at the centre of it all. I believe that when it comes to skincare, the best thing you can do is to break down any myth, taboo or misconception and just strip it back to basics.
Tell us about an obstacle you’ve experienced in establishing your business, and how you overcame it?
Covid was a huge obstacle. It happened at a time where things were absolutely booming, and then I had to close my two London clinics – Holland Road and Belgravia – almost overnight. I also had a very successful shop in Tribeca in New York City that was doing so well, but sadly I had to leave it and shut it forever from over here in London. With most of the business being treatment-based, lockdown meant that this essentially stopped. I had to be as resourceful as I could in order to overcome this hurdle, and also pivot the business offering to focus on innovating products so customers could have the TT experience from home. I have come out of that experience a much more resilient businessperson. I I couldn’t be more delighted that, despite the difficulties, we’ve made it work and come out the other side stronger than ever. Resilience, tenacity and out-of-the-box thinking were key.
What is your ultimate goal for your business? What’s the dream?
I want my business to thrive from the inside out. I want everyone involved – from clients to my therapists to those in my head office – to feel happy, fulfilled and positive. I think when the business is thriving from within everything else just clicks into place. From a practical point of view, I am always so excited and motivated by residencies and retail partnerships, so I hope to be continuing down a healthy path in both of these areas. However, at the core of it all is making the business strong, happy and healthy, in every sense.
What’s a key piece of advice you’d share with another entrepreneur that you’ve learned or been given on your journey?
To go with your gut instinct – it’s rarely wrong. It could be the wrong decision in the end, but at the time it didn’t feel like it was, and that’s what’s important. I’ve made some mistakes, but none that I regret. Some of the biggest mistakes have been the best for my business in the long run. Things don’t happen overnight – it’s all a journey (one that can sometimes be long), so make it worth it. Aim for the stars and don’t be shy!
Learn more about Teresa Tarmey at teresatarmey.com
