Sophie Cox is the founder of The Nail Story Co, a stationery company designed by a nail tech for nail techs, to add simplicity and structure to businesses.
The Nail Story Co was launched in July 2023, a few years after Sophie had identified numerous challenges she faced as a nail tech running her own business.
She says: “Every time I noticed something that could make growing my business easier, such as ‘it would be handy to have something to keep check of all my stock’, ‘I wish I had something to plan my nail designs on rather than scraps of paper’ or ‘it would be great to have somewhere I could track the progress of my business’, I would write it down.”
Her all-in-one Planner/Journal was created in response, launching a solution for nail techs to make running a business easier. This was the first stepping stone in her ultimate goal to become ‘the Paperchase of the nail world’.
She shares: “The Planner is amazing for the monthly running of your business, with features like a calendar overview, inventory/stock check, to-do lists, social media planning, monthly reflections, client information lists and so much more!”
The useful resource has been well-received amongst customers: “They say it really does include everything a nail tech needs to stay organised, but without it feeling like a chore.”
The quality of the product was also of optimal importance to Sophie, who shares: “We went through a few different options and decided on a thick hardboard cover. I then added an additional frosted acetate cover to give it extra durability, as well as a pretty finish!”
Another fan-favourite product is the Design Inspo Pads, which was created in response to feedback from the planner’s release: “After launching the planner, customers were asking for a book of just the design inspo pages, because they loved them so much. So, I created the pads!”
Sophie’s personal experience in the nail industry has aided the insight behind the brand: “I have always had a love for doing my nails for as long as I can remember, and actually did my nail training while I was at college training to become a professional dancer.” It wasn’t until years later when she was inspired by the Nail Career Education YouTube channel to turn her passion for nails into a career.
“In 2019, my husband and I bought our first house. I converted the spare room into my dream nail studio and started to grow my clientele from there. In 2023, I reduced my office job to part-time hours to be able to fit in more nail clients, and 2024 was the year I left my job completely to be a full-time self-employed nail tech,” she reflects.
Having merged her knowledge for nails with her passion for stationery, The Nail Story Co was born. Sophie shares: “I have always been a huge lover of stationery! The amount I have spent on journals, notepads, folders and pens over the years… I dread to think of how high the number is!
“One day it just clicked. My love of everything nails and stationery came together and I thought ‘what if there was a planner designed for nail techs that had all of this in one place?’. That was when The Nail Story Co was born.
“Fast forward to today and I have created the Planner/Journal, Design Inspo Pads and Consultation Forms – and even more ideas are in the pipeline!”
Shop The Nail Story Co here, or via www.nailorder.co.uk.
Check out a video of The Nail Story Co Planner/Journal here.