Their first beauty salon came within a hair’s breadth of disaster after flooding caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But entrepreneurs Mark and Kerrie Owen were determined their business would continue to grow and have opened a second salon, offering hair, nail and beauty treatments.

Lush-By-Design in Pelham Road, Gravesend, opened its doors on Tuesday, two years after its sister beauty and tanning salon, Tantalize, in nearby Painters Ash, Northfleet, was flooded.

Mrs Owen, 46, said: “We opened Tantalize in 2010 and in 2012 an upstairs tenant left a tap on and went away for the weekend.

“Someone was walking past the shop on the Sunday and saw water pouring out of the door. It was completely ruined and we had to close for three months to repair the damage.

“But we were like the Phoenix that rose from the ashes to become an even better salon than before.”

The couple have no experience of working the shopfloor in the hair and beauty trade but their business skills coupled with a knowledge of what catches the eye in an ever-growing industry has led to them branching out.

“The second salon was Mark’s idea,” said Mrs Owen.

“We were just driving past and thought it would be an ideal location because there are already too many hair salons in the town centre.”

The couple signed the lease on the former TV shop in the parade, at the junction with Perry Street, in January and have ploughed every spare moment creating four floors offering hair styling with beauty and nail treatments for men and women.

“I can’t explain how much hard work it has been,” said Mrs Owen.

“We haven’t slept for weeks but it’s been worth it.”

The couple have appointed a team of 10 qualified staff, including manager Natasha Collier and Deanne Paxton to oversee nail and beauty.

If you are opening a new business, email us at gravesendmessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk