Hi, I’m Sarah, and I'm the founder of Shwe Beauty and Tanning Salon in Old Harlow.

I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but right now I need to ask for your help.

We need to raise £16,000 to keep our doors open.

Shwe has been part of the Old Harlow community for over 15 years, and we’ve built something I’m really proud of.

A place where people come to relax, take time for themselves, and leave feeling better than when they arrived.

A place where the elderly come in not just for treatments, but for a chat and some company.

It’s not just a salon, it’s a space people rely on. It’s a community.

Like many small businesses, rising costs have put us under increasing pressure.

Since the pandemic, when we were forced to close for months, we’ve not had a chance to catch our breath.

With the increase in wages, the rise in National Insurance, and the ongoing strain of VAT, these costs have now caught up with us.

We are now facing a VAT bill we need to pay to keep the salon open, and I’ve explored every option I can think of before getting to this point.

The truth is, we need help from the people who have made Shwe what it is.

I didn’t want to stay quiet and just close our doors without asking for help.

I’ve seen businesses close without ever asking the people around them for support - the people who made it what it was, who could have helped, or just visited more - and I didn’t want that to be us.

If you’re in a position to support us, any donation, big or small, really does make a difference.

The next few days are really important for us, and we need your support right now.

If donating isn’t right for you, you can still support us by:

• Booking a treatment (link below)

• Buying products in the salon

• Sharing this page with others

This salon means more to me than I could ever put into words.

I’ve spent over 15 years building it, but I haven’t done that on my own.

My team and our clients have all been part of what Shwe has become.

16 people depend on this salon for their livelihood.

It’s always been my goal that every person who walks through our doors leaves feeling better than when they arrived - cared for and looked after.

And I truly believe we’ve achieved that.

Every bit of support right now helps us keep going.

The next few days are really important for us, and we’re hoping to raise this as quickly as possible.

If we reach our target, anything beyond that will help strengthen the business - so we can keep doing what we love, and you still have the place you love to come to.

This place means so much to me, my team, and our clients.

If you’re able to support us, it really would mean everything.

Book a treatment here