Telford-based Koili Haircare and Curly Girl Coaching were founded by Rima Young, a textured‑hair specialist with more than five years’ experience in the hair and beauty industry.
Rima spotted a gap in the market for more education and support for black and mixed‑heritage hair textures and what began as one‑to‑one coaching and social media content quickly grew.
She developed a strong relationship with Telford & Wrekin Council’s family support team, providing her expertise within the local community.
Her coaching support includes helping people understand their own hair texture and supporting parents and carers to understand different hair types and how to care for them.
As demand increased, she began shaping Koili Haircare – a natural, toxin-free product line designed to support healthy hair routines and provide high‑quality, culturally informed solutions.
Rima accessed support through Invest Telford – the hub’s business support delivery team in Telford & Wrekin – via the Business Start‑Up Service and Business Advice Service.
This support played a central role in helping her transition from a single coaching offer into a multi‑stream business with strong foundations for growth.
She gained access to workshops, new funding opportunities and 16 hours of one-to-one mentoring with a business coach.
“Having someone to sit down with face-to-face to talk about things has been really helpful. Having the business coach also opened up a whole network. I was able to meet a product distributor and go to events. It was a really good experience and has been invaluable.”
Through one‑to‑one mentoring, Rima received guidance on business structure, long‑term planning and how to build a sustainable commercial model.
Specialist advice helped her prepare Koili Haircare’s products for market and included support to develop new product lines such as a pre‑wash butter blowdry and a beard moisturiser.
With the Hub’s support, Rima has expanded from one‑to‑one coaching into two complementary business ventures, Curly Girl Coaching and Koili Haircare.
Her products sold out on launch day and she is now concentrating on building up her social media presence and driving sales through her website. A regional product showcase is planned, with potential for bulk orders and wider distribution.
Rima has strengthened her industry connections, gained access to new opportunities and continues to grow her presence at exhibitions and trade events. At the same time, her community impact remains central – supporting families and individuals to improve textured‑hair knowledge and care practices.
Looking ahead, Koili Haircare is preparing for national distribution, while Curly Girl Coaching will continue expanding its education and outreach work.
“Support from Invest Telford has been invaluable, helping me better structure my business, grow in confidence and connect with the right people to take my next steps forward,” says Rima.
“I know the support I have received has really accelerated the business. I would definitely go for it if you are thinking about it.”
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