Local Business Spotlight: Lithia Skincare Studio

Following our conversation with Paula Doucette of Bella Vino, we chatted with Patti Irwin from Lithia Skincare and Wellness Studio.

Irwin's establishment is a best-kept secret tucked up above Fences Unlimited in the Indian Rock Road plaza.

Here is our Q&A session with Irwin:

Patch: What is the first thing that people need to know about running a skincare studio.

Patti Irwin: First of all, the education behind everything. I have been educated and I have ongoing education on a consistent basis. Staying current in the industry is probably the most important thing for the client and skin care therapist. I'm current in whatever is actually going on in the industry, within the dermatology industry. I think knowledge is the most empowering thing for a client and therapist relationship.

Patch: What made you choose your industry?

Patti Irwin: I actually really wanted to do makeup. I'm an artist by nature. I did that for many, many years, and that was a draw for me. But once I got involved in the schooling of it all I found that I have the passion for the people. A lot of people with just issues with their skin and really having self confidence because I think that has to do with a lot of things. I found that the compassion for the people was my overwhelming thought, so I built the business around the schooling that I had and just the knowledge that I had.

Patch: Explain your location in town.

Patti Irwin: I am in the commons of Windham. I'm kind of in the center of town. I'm a pretty well-kept secret in the fact that I'm on the second floor, so that's a little bit of a challenge. However my clients like it because it's very private. There's nobody else going to be walking in. I'm one to one. When you call me you just get me. 

Patch: Why Windham?

Patti Irwin: First of all, I've lived in Windham for 34 years. I worked in the school system and I've been an active member of the community for 34 years basically. When I started the business there was nothing available here in town for me to actually rent, so I went in to Londonderry. But I always wanted to be back here. When my lease was up by the luck of the draw, this particular space was open. At the time the economy was still going fairly strongly so there wasn't a lot of availability for space. So, I grabbed this spot, and I wanted to serve the people of the community I lived in. I had an office in Nashua, I had an office in Londonderry, but it just wasn't the same. That was important to me to be in Windham and to be a connection with the community that I live in.

Patch: How long have you been in your Windham location?

Patti Irwin: I've only been in this location for four years.

Patch: What has your relationship been like with local businesses?

Patt Irwin: I try to partner with a lot of different businesses. Windham Pilates is one that I have a connection with. At Bella Vino, Paula (Doucette) has hosted several events of which I have been party to. I like to connect with a lot of the businesses. I'm part of the Windham Women's Business Connection. So I'm trying to partner with a lot of the other businesses within the community for just networking more than anything.

Patch: How important is it for a town to foster the local business community?

Patti Irwin: I think that that's key. Without local businesses supporting one another and without local people supporting local businesses, none of us are going to surive. That's why I came back to this community, because I wanted to get back to the people of the community that I lived in. I also wanted that connection. I think that's the toughest part of any small business at this particular time in this economy. It's to really get the message out that if you want to be supportive, you need to come. That means for me, to go to Windham Pilates, for me to go to Paula to pick my wine, also important for me to take a class at Yoga Sanctuary. That's support to me. Not only community wise, but business to business wise.