Former director of global spa development at skincare brand Elemental Herbology, Kirsty MacCormick, is to launch the first of a number of facilities dedicated to manicures and pedicures under her new beauty service brand: The Nail Yard. The first facility is in Edinburgh, UK.

MacCormick, who is founder and CEO, formed the new brand with her cousin Sandra Macleod, who is a partner and MD of the venture. The pair's extensive market research revealed an opportunity for a professional brand that provides value for money while also being good for the environment.

The duo have created an open plan nail boutique in Morningside in Edinburgh, which will open on 7 April. The ground floor will house six manicure stations, six pedicure stations and a retail area of 20sq m (215sq ft). The mezzanine level will host a Boyzone – a private space for men – plus four more manicure stations, four pedicure stations and a retail support space.

Having spent more than 26 years in the international spa, wellness and beauty industry – holding positions from therapist to spa director, regional director and finally corporate director of a large hotel group – MacCormick possesses the experience and expertise to develop this new nail venture further afield.

“The expansion plan is to open a number of Nail Yards within key cities in Scotland,” MacCormick told Spa Opportunities. “There is also an opportunity to open a Nail Yard in Berlin within the next 12 months and in London the following year.”

“The concept of the nail boutique is to provide each client with a unique, luxurious experience, which is respectful to the wellbeing of the individual as well as the environment,” said MacCormick. “We also strive to use the least amount of chemicals and the highest amount of natural ingredients per treatment.”

Guests at The Nail Yard can indulge in creative colour therapy – doodling and drawing during a pedicure. A collage of finished pictures will be hung on The Nail Yard wall. Ipads will also be provided for clients to browse the latest magazines.

The brand prides itself on its ‘obsession with cleanliness’, using disposable files and buffers, in addition to non whirlpool pedicure tubs – due to the infections that can be incurred from poorly cleaned pipes. The nail boutique uses only hospital grade sterilised implements and are individually packaged to ensure clients’ health.

The site will offer clients a chance to use a nail art printer, which offers 700 existing designs that can be printed directly onto the nails and sealed with a gel top coat. The printer also has a camera which can take selfies or group pictures for printing on the nails. Images can also be uploaded via a USB and printed that way.

Products chosen to work with The Nail Yard include Orly – the boutique will launch the brand’s new longwear Epic polish in May.

The Nail Yard will be the first nail boutique in Scotland to stock the nail lacquer brand called Kure Bazaar. The formulae for this brand’s products are up to 85 per cent of natural origin, based on wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes and corn.

The boutique will also be the first nail salon to offer Margaret Dabbs’ treatments in Scotland.

Green and Spring is another natural and active skincare that has been chosen for The Nail Yard for its ethically sourced effective ingredients.

“We are also developing some exciting new signature treatments, which will include a Moroccan pedicure, involving hot towels, black olive soap and a Kessa glove,” said MacCormick.

In terms of training, MacCormick said The Nail Yard’s staff are put through a specific boot camp before being named a Nail Yard specialist. This is followed by regular testing and monitoring to ensure maintenance of standards.

“Our staff will not be dressed in the stuffy beauty uniforms of the past,” added MacCormick. “Instead, we have put them in dungarees and converse, which are both comfortable and practical.”