Latest news with #LaurenO'Connor
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Influencer refuses to pay for lash appointment - then staff make wild discovery
A beautician who runs a small business from her home was left stunned after a client refused to pay after claiming to be an "influencer" who could promote her work online - then she made a shock discovery A beautician was left baffled after a client refused to pay for her £50 lash and brow appointment - claiming she thought the treatment would be free because she planned to post it on Instagram. The small business owner, who runs a beauty studio from her home, says she had spent over an hour carefully tinting and styling the woman's brows and applying a fresh set of classic eyelash extensions. The client, described as "an absolutely lovely girl," had spent the entire session discussing her upcoming holiday, explaining she was getting the appointment ahead of going away. But when Lauren O'Connor politely asked whether she'd prefer to pay by card or cash at the end of the appointment, the unnamed woman's mood shifted. "She pulled out a selfie light and started taking pictures of her lashes," the beautician said in a TikTok video. When asked for payment, the woman then allegedly said: "Why would I need to pay? I've just took my pictures." The client then is said to have informed the stunned beautician that she didn't think she'd need to pay at all - because she was planning to post the results on social media and tag the business. Despite having fewer than 1,000 followers, she seemed to think her post would offer great exposure for the small business, according to Lauren. "I said, 'right well, well negotiate, how many followers do you have?'" That's when the 'micro-influencer' revealed she had less than 1,000 across Instagram and TikTok. At no point before or during the booking had the client mentioned being an influencer, the beautician claims. "You're going on to me as if you're Molly Mae," Lauren raged in the video. "I'm not being rude, but from our DMs when you booked in, I sent the total, I sent the confirmation, you didn't once tell me your intention was to not pay me." When it became clear the client was unwilling to pay, the beautician stood firm and reiterated her prices. The woman, who "seemed shocked", eventually paid - but later allegedly blocked the beautician on all social media platforms. "Why would I let you have a free set of brows and lashes?," Lauren adds. "She didn't even post beauty content, it was her going to the gym. What is that going to do for me? "When I have done brand collaborations in the past, they've done a whole video for me, and let me post them too. This girl literally took two photos and said 'I'll post that for you'." After sharing the experience online, other beauty professionals and small business owners came forward with similar stories, revealing just how common this kind of behaviour is becoming. The beautician added that while she's open to working with content creators, it's something that needs to be discussed and agreed in advance - not sprung on her after a service has already been provided. "She eventually paid me but blocked me on everything," she claims. "She was fuming."
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Tesco shows support to local Inverness school
As part of their 'Stronger Starts' programme, Tesco has donated £1,000 to the Inverness Royal Academy to create a clothing bank, after concerned teachers approached the company with their concerns for pupils. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dedicated teachers noticed many of the students were arriving at school in the morning with inadequate clothing on certain occasions, such as during snowstorms or non-uniform days. They urged the parent council to apply for funding from Tesco and were delighted to be awarded with the grant. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The creation of the clothing bank now gives pupils discreet access to school uniform items, sports kits, appropriate outdoor clothing and accessories, casual clothing for dress down days and formal wear for special occasions such as Christmas dances. Trevor from the Tesco Inverness Superstore is a former pupil at the school. Lauren O'Connor, a teacher at the school said: 'During the aftermath of the pandemic, pupils were required to take their break times outside and classroom windows were to remain open during the winter months to ensure ventilation. I began to really notice how many pupils didn't have appropriate clothing. 'We now have a stock of pre-loved uniform items and warm jackets thanks to the funding from Tesco, and we will be able to support more families comfortably.' In addition to the clothing bank, teachers are now able to provide pupils with access to a 'grab and go' breakfast item before morning registration class, plus snack boxes within classrooms, which pupils are encouraged to take from when they don't have lunch with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Julie Douglas, a member of the Inverness Royal Academy parent council, said: 'The funding we received from Tesco has allowed us to better support pupils and their families, who are incredibly grateful for the helping hand. Tesco has donated £1,000 to the Inverness Royal Academy to create a clothing bank. 'We aim to ensure that every pupil has a good school day and knows that if they are in need of anything, we are there to support them. 'On behalf of the whole school, we'd like to thank all of the team at Tesco for helping us create such a vital project.' Claire DeSilva, Head of Community for Tesco, said: 'At Tesco we believe it's incredibly important to support local schools, community groups and charities throughout Scotland, including in and around Inverness and the Highlands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We hope this funding will help to make a difference to the pupils of Inverness Royal Academy and their families and reduce the stress that can be caused by the school routine combined with the current cost of living crisis.'
