Clomaná influencer to open new store next month

Chloe Walsh, 26, from Dalton-in-Furness, started out cleaning hot tubs before she re-trained as a make-up artist and started her own brand called Coco Cosmetics by Chloe in 2018.

Since then she has re-branded to Clomaná Beauty with products now stocked in Sephora, ASOS, Beauty Bay and Boots.

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The business ticked over nicely for the first two years before Chloe trusted her instincts in taking the business to the next level.

She said: "It really started to take off in 2020 due to viral TikToks. I was laughed at for being on TikTok - people in my local town called it ‘cringe’ - but thankfully I didn’t let their opinions stop me."

As her sales increased, so did her social media following. At the time of writing, she currently has 445,000 followers on TikTok.

It was the launch of ground-breaking product, the Marshmallow Sponge, the same year, that really turned the brand into a seven-figure business, however.

Clomaná's popular Marshmallow Sponge which has sold millions (Image: Clomaná) The super soft, lightweight, latex-free makeup sponge is a unique shape that can apply makeup in seconds to all skin types.

This is due to its ability to double in size when squeezed under water.

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It was cited as ‘favourite makeup sponge of 2023 and 2024' by Dutch make-up artist Nikkie de Jager-Drossaers, known as Nikkie Tutorials online, who has millions of followers on several platforms.

In December 2022, Chloe launched a luxury night and loungewear brand CMFRT.

This started out as a small ’side range’ which has now become a brand in its own right due to huge demand and 60-second sell-outs.

Clomaná products are now stocked in Sephora, Boots and Asos (Image: Clomana) Chloe said: "Everything just kept getting bigger and bigger until 2023 when we hit a legal problem due to our original name.

"We were given very little options. The only one that allowed any growth was to completely change the name.

"This was a devastating time but was purely down to my ignorance -  as a business owner, you need to learn the basics.

"Before naming your company or a product, make sure there are no trademarks that are the same or similar.

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"This cost us six figures in legal fees and did set us back a little bit, which was challenging, but we still turned it around and made things work.

"Now, I think it was a blessing in disguise because I prefer the new name a lot more and we had a chance to change the aesthetic."

Clomaná has begun operating from a bigger warehouse in Barrow in the last few months.

The bigger warehouse when it was first moved into (Image: Clomana) The former PC World unit has now been turned into a shop, salon and more which will be open to the public seven days a week soon.

Chloe said: "This was a risk for us, as it is pretty expensive, but in business you have to take these big leaps in order to grow.

"It's cost us a lot of money so far to renovate so I am excited for it to be fully up and running.

"We are also going to be running lots of fun activities and events, plus inviting lots of different influencers, celebrities and more down to the Clomaná.

"I want to bring something to Barrow that is unique, different and exciting."

She also added some advice for anyone young entrepreneurs who wish to chase their dreams: "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and never become complacent."

Chloe is aiming to open the new store on Ashburner Way on April 17.