Some Goodbyes Are Filled With Gratitude: A Letter From Grace Beauty Founder Terri

People often ask me, “How do you work with your parents… and your husband?”

I always smile, because for me the answer has never been complicated.

I don’t just work with my family, I work because of my family.

As many of you know, Grace Beauty has always been a family business. While I may be the face that many of you see, behind the scenes my mum and dad have quietly been the heartbeat of our business for many years. They have never sought recognition, but their fingerprints are on almost everything we’ve built.

They’ve kept the wheels turning when things became overwhelming. They’ve packed orders, solved problems, organised the countless behind-the-scenes jobs that nobody notices until they aren’t done. They’ve celebrated our wins and steadied us through the challenges that every small business inevitably faces.

But their contribution goes far beyond business.

They have been my safe place. They’ve been the people I could call after a difficult day. The ones who reminded me to keep going when I questioned myself. The ones who knew exactly when I needed advice and when I simply needed someone to listen.

When work required us to travel, they stepped in without hesitation to care for our children, allowing us to grow Grace Beauty knowing that home was in the safest hands possible. That kind of support is something you can never put a price on.

Working alongside your parents isn’t always what people imagine. Yes, we’ve had different opinions, passionate discussions and plenty of laughs along the way. But underneath it all has always been something incredibly special, complete trust. I’ve always known they have my back, and they’ve always known I’ve had theirs.

One of the greatest gifts they’ve given me is the freedom to simply be myself. I never had to pretend, wear a mask or be anyone different. They accepted every version of me, the determined business owner, the exhausted mum, the dreamer with another crazy idea, and sometimes the person who simply needed a hug.

That is a privilege I will never take for granted.

Now it’s time for an exciting new chapter.

Mum and Dad are retiring from Grace Beauty and heading back to South Africa for an extended stay, where they’ll spend precious time with my sister as she prepares to welcome her third beautiful baby into the world. There is no better reason to press pause on work than to embrace family, make memories and enjoy the moments that matter most.

While we’ll miss seeing them every day, there’s also so much joy in knowing they’ll be exactly where they need to be.

Mum and Dad, thank you.

Thank you for believing in me long before Grace Beauty became what it is today.

Thank you for every early morning, every late night, every quiet sacrifice that nobody else ever saw.

Thank you for your unwavering loyalty, your wisdom, your patience and your unconditional love.

Most of all, thank you for showing me that business is never just about products or sales. It’s about people, relationships and caring for one another.

Grace Beauty will certainly feel different without you walking through the doors each day, but your legacy will always remain part of who we are.

To our wonderful customers, thank you for embracing our family over the years. Many of you have come to know Mum and Dad personally, and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing them nothing but happiness as they begin this next adventure.

Because at the end of the day, Grace Beauty has never just been a business.

It has always been a family.

And it always will be.

With all our love,

Terri & the Grace Beauty family