Fran Rankin and Linda Tella, who between them have decades of experience in the business, have acquired the shareholding from the firm’s founder, Nigel Senett, who is moving to the UK.
‘I was really surprised when Nigel asked us,’ said Ms Rankin, ‘as I had suggested it as a bit of a joke.
But now we’re relishing the challenge.
Mrs Tella said that as account managers they were already experienced administrators.
‘We know how to buy, what to buy, how to balance the books and fill out stock sheets – this is just on a bigger scale.
Ms Rankin, who has lived in Jersey since she was 15, studied hairdressing at Highlands College and after travelling started in cosmetics on the Lancaster counter at the former Le Riche at Red Houses.
After seven years she moved to Voisins as the Lanc?me account manager, at the same time as Linda was working for Lanc?me at de Gruchy’s.
Then after House of Fragrance opened in 2003, and with her young son at La Moye School, it made sense to work closer to home.
‘We’ve known each other for years because we used to go on Lanc?me training courses and to conferences together,’ said Mrs Tella, who originally started her career in fashion before moving to Voisins as a cosmetics girl.
She has worked for de Gruchy’s for the past 15 years, at first on the Elizabeth Arden counter and then on Lanc?me products.
