An interview with SUL Ambassador, Moody Cow Nails

Every year, we invite businesses that have benefited from a Start Up Loan to become ambassadors and share their unique stories with aspiring entrepreneurs.

One of our inspiring Start Up Loans 2024/2025 ambassadors is TJ Bouchada, the founder of the independent nail salon Moody Cow Nails in Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes.

Moody Cow Nails opened in January 2024 and provides bespoke nail services. 

It offers clients individual attention in a comfortable environment, so they leave feeling their best.

We spoke with TJ to learn more about her start-up journey, how she has managed to stay competitive in a popular market, and her future plans for Moody Cow Nails.

Moody Cow Nails’ origins

After being made redundant from her marketing role at a football club during the Covid pandemic, TJ found herself with a pivotal decision – to find a new job or create one for herself.

“The redundancy was a bit of a blow, and there was also the pandemic to deal with, but at the same time, I felt like I was ready,” she says.

TJ explored various creative avenues, from tattooing and music production to painting, before deciding to focus on nails.

“I was going to start doing nails for myself, but then it stuck,” she explains.

“I liked it enough to think I could make something out of this.”

TJ went on to successfully earn a VTCT L3 Certificate in Nail Technology – the qualification she needed to become a licensed ‘nail wizard’, and made Moody Cow Nails a reality.

When it was time to fund her start-up, TJ conducted extensive research before deciding that before deciding to apply for a Start-up Loan.

“You need to be very smart in how you navigate financial research. I didn’t want to just pick whatever sounded good without weighing up the pros and cons of each option available to me,” she says.

As for the memorable business name, this was decided after a conversation TJ had with her sister.

“I think it came from a 2am phone call, but neither of us remembers how we got there!”

The challenges of an oversaturated market

In 2023, nail salons were the fourth fastest-growing beauty business on UK high streets, making competition fierce even within TJ’s local area.

“Even on my street, there are at least five salons just a stone’s throw away,” says TJ.

She quickly realised that to make Moody Cow Nails a standout success, she would need to focus on the quality of her work and on delivering the highest-quality customer service.

“The value lies in customer service and privacy – most people have been to nail salons where it’s like a conveyor belt of people, and there’s zero conversation,” she explains.

“Since the Covid pandemic, I think the way we interact has changed – we crave conversation, but it’s not always easy to spark that when you’re in a busy, public salon.”

“You’re supposed to feel relaxed and comfortable in a salon, so I thought a lot about the environment and services.”

As a result, TJ created Moody Cow Nails as an oasis of calm that feels like a luxurious treat for clients who want to enjoy a pampering session.

Self-care as a start-up owner

As someone working in a crowded market as a service provider and business owner, TJ also learned the importance of taking care of herself during the early days.

“Four months in, things were starting to pick up, and I was working to the point of burnout,” she says.

“I wanted to make the business work, and I thought working seven days a week was the way to do it.”

“But I started to hate what I did, and I didn’t think I could continue because I wasn’t paying attention to myself. I was killing my own drive and creativity.”

Balancing her well-being with the professional demands of a fledgeling business, TJ discovered that enjoying her passions outside work helped fuel her creativity and motivation.

One way she takes time for herself is by enjoying her hobby of creating miniature models of items, including animals, furniture, and plants.

This, in turn, helps to hone her nail art techniques.

“Nails are small too, so I can practise my skills without any pressure.”

TJ has also gained self-awareness through the challenges she has faced on her journey to becoming a successful business owner.

“I’m a glutton for punishment,” she says, “I will leave things to the last minute, and then they get closer and closer and are about to blow up before I think, I should probably get onto that.”

In addition to mastering the art of time management, TJ has learned other important skills that are powering her success.

One key insight is not being too hard on herself and allowing herself time to grow as an entrepreneur.

“Once you’ve settled in within yourself and understand how you learn and how you do things, you do start to feel a bit more secure with your business over time.”

Finding the right support

The right support can go a long way in helping start-up business owners turn their dreams into reality.

For TJ, this came in the form of the Start Up Loans mentoring scheme, which offers successful loan applicants a year of free business mentoring.

“The Start Up Loans mentors were really helpful with breaking down what documents I needed,” she explains.

“For example, they gave me guidance about what a good business plan should include, and pinpointed what I could do specifically to give my business the best chances of success.”

TJ’s clients have also been fantastic in providing useful insights about their preferences and new ideas for future opportunities.

“What I do is so people-centred, so my clients have helped me get an idea of what they like as well as what they don’t like, and how I can stand out from other salons.”

Partnering with other businesses has been a successful strategy for TJ, as she and the local chiropodist frequently refer clients to each other.

The entrepreneur also supports MyTime4Carers, a charity that provides unpaid carers with complementary leisure and educational services.

The daily life of a nail salon owner

TJ’s days typically last from 9am to 7pm.

As the main service provider in her nail studio, TJ starts by checking her client messages and setting up her studio for the day’s appointments.

“Some tasks are day-to-day, like those in the studio, but others are weekly and include checking finances and inventory,” she explains.

“After those tasks are done, I can catch up with my clients.”

“The conversation is different every single time, and I think there’s beauty in that – no two days feel the same.”

TJ can often be found talking to a client on the phone about their appointment as she cleans polish bottles and equipment.

However, after the working day, she decompresses by chatting with her family or hanging out with friends.

“I don’t have the balance right just yet, but I think it’s a process, and I’ll eventually find a rhythm,” she says.

Staying productive and positive is important to TJ, particularly as a business owner offering client-facing services.

“If I have a good evening, I’ll definitely have a good morning, so in the evenings I try to switch off and relax.”

“I like to do some yoga, which helps me sleep well.”

“It’s very simple and basic, but if I’m well-rested, things feel easier to handle.”

The future of Moody Cow Nails

So where does TJ see Moody Cow Nails in another four years?

Community is going to play a large part in TJ’s future plans.

“The natural next step would be to get a bigger place and hire people,” says TJ.

“I’d love to explore getting local freelancers in to work out of the salon.”

“For example, it would be great to work with tattooists and piercers in the same space, instead of the typical brows and lashes you see in other salons.”

As a small business owner, TJ understands the value of starting out in the right salon, so she hopes to do the same for other self-employed creatives.

“I want to build a creative, communal space for people who can’t necessarily afford steep overheads – creatives who are just starting or who just need a home for their business for six months.”

TJ is also planning to expand with podiatry services offered by a licenced practitioner in the future.

Business tips for new entrepreneurs

After a successful first year as a start-up entrepreneur, what are the key lessons TJ has learned?

“I wish I’d been smarter with my money and used it to upskill myself more,” she says.

“There will be quieter periods as a small business fluctuates, so I wish I’d taken advantage of that time to learn more.”

For other budding entrepreneurs hoping to start a business, TJ’s tip is: “Just do it!”

“I feel like society marginalises people who act on impulse, but it’s not always impulsivity for the sake of it,” she explains.

“If you have a gut feeling to do something you’re passionate about, you just have to go for it.”

However, she advises taking a smart approach: “Baby steps is my everyday mantra.”

For TJ, it’s important to make steady progress and make informed decisions along the way.

“The unhealthiest thing for an entrepreneur is to be too big for their boots. You have to get the foundations right before you can go ahead and build on all your amazing ideas,” she says.

“Stay humble and listen to the people you trust and who know you.”