The Interview: Margaret Dabbs OBE on fusing podiatry with luxury beauty and expanding her clinics and retail line

Margaret Dabbs London has become synonymous with fusing podiatry-based medical excellence with luxury beauty, resulting in results-driven, high-­­quality treatments and formulations.

Having opened its newest clinic on London's Kings Road earlier this year, the business now consists of eleven clinics in the UK and three outside the UK in A Coruña, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, alongside a growing collection of retail products, including its bestselling Nail Strengthening Treatment and Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion.

In this interview with TheIndustry.beauty, the British brand's eponymous founder, Margaret Dabbs OBE, speaks about the growth of her business, its newest clinic on Kings Road, how effective retail partnerships are, her plans for the future, and more.

When and where did you open your first Foot Clinic & Nail Spa? How has your business developed since then?

After working in private consulting rooms providing podiatry treatments in the Harley Street medical district of central London, I saw a gap in the market and the need to combine medically credible foot treatments which were also beautifying. Traditionally, a podiatrist would look after foot ailment and a pedicurist would beautify the feet. However, it made perfect sense for me to fuse the two together and I created results-driven, innovative foot treatment protocols that are performed by qualified podiatrists.

I opened my first Foot Clinic & Nail Spa in Marylebone, central London, in December 2008, and at the same time introduced beauty therapists into the clinics alongside qualified podiatrists to perform manicures and beauty pedicures. Simultaneously, I formulated my own range of professional foot products to use in my treatments, which were results-driven and problem-solving as well as being beautifying and luxurious to use. I have been fortunate to watch my company grow, and I now have 12 clinics in the UK, with two clinics in the Middle East and one in Spain. My product range has extended to include feet, hands, nails and legs and these products are used in hotels and spas, and foot clinics globally, and they are sold in some of the most iconic retail stores worldwide.

How do you feel about this progression? Do you have any highlight achievements?

The business opportunity and gap in the market made perfect sense to me and I had the added benefit of being underestimated by the beauty industry, which allowed me to quietly grow a credible and successful business. As an entrepreneur, you have a feel for a growing business, and I received regular approaches from major retailers including Harrods and Liberty in the UK. This reinforced my belief in my business, which is embraced by the medical, beauty and fashion industries alike. I manufacture all the products in the UK, and these can be purchased in 38 countries worldwide.

I was extremely honoured to receive an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2023 for my services to business and podiatry. To receive recognition for my vision, entrepreneurship, and hard work by His Majesty the King is truly remarkable.

Why did you want to create your own retail line and how has the product range developed since launch?

Whilst I was working at my clinic, I was being asked by my patients to recommend foot products that they could use to treat common foot complaints such as hard, dry skin, fissures and cracks in the feet. It became apparent to me that treatment remedies were often unpleasant to use, and beauty products did not work on a treatment level. Using my professional knowledge and expertise, I sourced ingredients from around the world and developed problem-solving treatment remedies that were also gorgeous and luxurious to use.

It felt like a natural progression to have the fusion between our podiatry expertise and beauty in a product range developed by me - for use during the treatment and providing after-care.

It all began with my Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion, which delivers that famous ‘walking on air’ feeling. After developing my podiatry-dedicated range, I then developed our award-winning formulations to also care for hands, legs and nails - areas that are so commonly neglected - ensuring they had anti-ageing benefits and were targeted problem solvers.

Where do customers typically shop the retail line most?

Our clinic customers tend to shop in-store mostly, as they enjoy the experience of having a treatment, seeing instant results, and then being able to purchase those exact products to keep up their transformation at home.

We also have a successful website, which showcases our products, as well as third party retail partners. We are very fortunate to have built some fantastic relationships over the years, and it is great to be able to feature our products in some of the most high-profile retail stores across the globe.

How does the retail line perform in comparison to the clinic treatments? Is there a greater focus on one, or is it similar? 

There is a balanced performance between our products and our clinic treatments, and they complement each other very well. When a customer experiences a treatment, they also purchase the products for home use to prolong the treatment results. Having products available for purchase at multiple touch points and sales channels allows customers from all over the world to experience the brand. Customers trust the credibility of the brand, the aspirational products, and the problem-solving treatment results, which means they purchase across our entire selection of products for feet, hands, nails and legs, and once someone buys a product, they want to experience a treatment too.

We also know that once a customer discovers our treatments or products, we have a customer for life, as the high-quality results encourage continued loyalty.

You recently opened a clinic on London's Kings Road. Why did you select this location and how is it going?

We are thrilled to have joined the vibrant community of Sloane Stanley’s King’s Road. Chelsea has been a dream location - it embodies a unique blend of elegance, style, and sophistication, making it the perfect location to introduce our treatments.

The store opening has been incredibly successful, and we have also been able to take part in some local events. Most recently, the Kensington and Chelsea Art Week, where we held an evening with artist Clare Shakespeare. Sloane Stanley as a landlord has also been welcoming, supportive and collaborative, and understand our vision and treatment offering for the very best treatments and products for hands, feet, nails and legs. We are surrounded by some fantastic beauty and wellness brands on the estate, and it’s great to be part of a community that champions independent traders and British brands.

Also available at UK retailers like Liberty and John Lewis, can you tell me about these partnerships and how effective they are for your business?

Getting to work with retailers such as Liberty or John Lewis is an incredible opportunity. They are two of the most respected retailers in the United Kingdom, and they give us a significant platform in major brick-and-mortar stores across the UK. This partnership allows us to create a much larger reach to not only our established and loyal customer base but also expand our clientele.

We are incredibly fortunate to not only have our products featured in these stores but also have our branded clinics in Liberty London and John Lewis in Westfield White City, where we can offer our award-winning range of transformative treatments.

With additional clinics outside the UK, how do these perform in comparison to those in your home market? 

We have been expanding and growing our business over the years and have built up a loyal customer base across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Most recently, we opened a new clinic at St Regis spa in Singapore. Our international clinics follow the same high standards of excellence and quality of treatment no matter the location. Ensuring our international clinics are just as successful as our UK ones and the clients receive the same high level of care no matter where they’re visiting us.

Are there plans to expand the presence of your clinics and retail line further in the UK and/or abroad? 

Absolutely, we are always looking for new solutions to address common problems our customers are facing. I have always listened to my clients and what is affecting them directly, so all products developed have our customers as our overriding focus. We have a very exciting new line of products that we are currently working on and developing that will be with our customers very soon. We also have some exciting developments happening in the UK and abroad for new clinics, so we can continue to deliver our unrivalled selection of treatments to even more of our customers.

Do you have any other ambitions for the business? 

I want to continue expanding our brand globally, increasing the presence of our clinics and products worldwide. We currently have plans to expand further into the retail industry in the US, Australia, Japan and Asia.

I am very passionate about raising awareness about the health benefits of regular professional treatments and premium at-home products through education on the importance of proper foot and hand care.

Additionally, I want to continue to collaborate and partner with luxury hotels, spas, and wellness brands, while also emphasising sustainability in our operations. It is so important, as a leading British beauty brand, to set the standard for better practices across the whole industry.