Founder of Brow Wow specialist brow and beauty bar, Megan Patrick first launched the business in 2014 after retraining as a beauty therapist. Originally a professional dancer, a health condition forced her to give up dancing and look for new career opportunities.
Determined to bring the same dedication to business as she had to dancing, she completed a beauty course and discovered a passion for brow treatments while working at a Benefit Brow Bar.
Megan recently accessed Gateshead’s Digitalising our Town Centres Programme to help grow her business. The project is funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
What began as a small operation working from her mother’s kitchen has since grown into an award-winning beauty brand with a loyal customer base.
Megan says,
“I loved how something as simple as brows can help people feel more confident. That’s where the idea for Brow Wow began.”
Initially, Megan operated the business as a mobile service but, over time, she realised that to grow and be able to take on staff she would need a permanent premises. While daunting, this move enabled Megan to build capacity and grow the company’s customer base.
“Moving to a fixed location made a huge difference,” she said. “It meant we could serve more clients and begin building a team around the business.”
However, transitioning from self-employment to becoming an employer brought new challenges.
“I’d never managed people before, so that was a big learning curve,” Megan said. “Over time, with the right support and training, we’ve built a fantastic team and I feel much more confident in that role.”
Now, with a decade of business experience under her belt and having fully established Brow Wow in Gateshead, Megan is focusing on expansion and turning her success story into a national one.
“Franchising has always been the goal, but I wanted to build the brand first. Now, we’re in a position to take our winning formula and give it a new life in other areas. And not just in the North East, we’re currently talking to an interested party in Glasgow.”
How Gateshead’s Digitalising our Town Centres programme supported business growth
Megan first connected with TEDCO Business Support at the start of her business journey in 2014, receiving help to develop her business plan and financial forecasts. She has since continued to work with the organisation as the business has evolved and, most recently, enrolled on Gateshead’s Digitalising our Town Centres programme.
Through participation in the programme, Megan developed a clearer understanding of how digital tools and platforms could support the next stage of Brow Wow’s growth. In particular, refining the business’s online presence has helped strengthen brand visibility, improve customer engagement and create a more seamless client journey from discovery through to booking.
This enhanced digital approach is also playing an important role in supporting Brow Wow’s expansion ambitions. From attracting new customers in existing and future locations to showcasing the strength of the brand to potential franchise partners, a more strategic use of digital channels is helping to position the business for sustainable growth while reinforcing its reputation within Gateshead and beyond.
Megan says,
“The support from TEDCO has been invaluable. Having someone external to talk ideas through with is incredibly helpful. Running a business can sometimes feel lonely, so having a sounding board with experience and contacts makes a real difference.”
In response, TEDCO Business Advisor, Alan Dodsworth, comments,
“Working with a driven and talented business owner like Megan is always a pleasure. It’s no accident that Brow Wow has won multiple awards and gained interest from potential franchisees. At TEDCO, we’re proud to have played a small part in her journey so far and can’t wait to see what the coming months and years hold for Brow Wow.
Next steps
Reflecting on her journey so far, Megan says the thing she is most proud of is how far the business has come and the ability to give back to others:
“Seeing how much we’ve grown and being able to help people develop their careers is incredibly rewarding,” she says.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Megan’s advice is simple: consistency and belief are key: “Even if it’s just one task a day that helps move your business forward, keep going,” she says. “Believe you can do it and never give up.”
Digitalising our Town Centres (DTC) support is available to town centre retail businesses from across Gateshead, aiming to increase and improve digital skills within businesses. The aim is to help retail businesses adapt to changes within town centres and drive more traffic into stores and therefore town centres as a whole.
This project is funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness heads the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) serving an area of 2.2 million people including County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. For more information visit www.northeast-ca.gov.uk
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