A woman gained widespread attention on TikTok by showcasing her innovative project: transforming an old ambulance into a chic beauty salon on wheels.
Kirsty Martin, hailing from Faversham, Kent, invested £2,300 to acquire the decommissioned vehicle from Facebook Marketplace.
With a decade of experience in the beauty sector, the 36-year-old sought a mobile space to conduct her array of services, spanning from brow and lash treatments to makeup sessions. Opting for a vibrant pink hue, Kirsty had the ambulance repainted and adorned with eye-catching graphics before commencing the interior redesign.
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The outcome? A mobile beauty haven aptly named the ‘Glambulance,’ which quickly gained traction on TikTok, amassing an impressive 746,000 views.
Reflecting on its reception, Kirsty shared with What’sTheJam.com, “Lots of people stop and take pictures of it outside wherever I am.”
“When I was searching for my own workspace, I had specific criteria in mind: a vehicle spacious enough for me to stand comfortably. While an ambulance wasn’t initially on my radar, upon viewing it, I was immediately captivated by its ample interior,”
Kirsty explained. Acquiring the ambulance for £2,300, she proceeded to invest £2,000 in adorning it with a vibrant pink coat of paint and an additional £400 on eye-catching graphics. With the exterior revamped, Kirsty turned her attention to the interior, recognizing it as the primary challenge.
“My family and I undertook the task of stripping it down, handling the electrical work, and installing cladding,” she detailed. “Then, I enlisted the expertise of a professional for plumbing and the creation of the seating area.”
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Addressing any concerns about the vehicle’s past use, Kirsty reassured, “I don’t feel like it’s spooky at all. I love it and I’ve even taken it camping, never felt any spooky spirits in there.”
Kirsty’s investment in the van and its transformation amounted to an estimated total of £10,000. Reflecting on the renovation process, she admitted, “It was hard work renovating it – some things didn’t go to plan, and electrics were really tricky.”
However, upon completion, Kirsty experienced a sense of relief and relaxation, stating, “Once it was finished, I felt so relieved and relaxed.” Despite initial concerns about its reception due to its unconventional nature, Kirsty found that customers were enamored with the ‘Glambulance,’ asserting, “Customers absolutely love it.”
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Expressing her aspirations for the future, she shared, “The dream is to have a whole fleet of them.” Operating from the comfort of her mobile beauty haven, Kirsty offers an array of services including lash and brow treatments, airbrush makeup, as well as hosting events featuring glitter, face painting, hair braiding, and body art.
Speaking of her clientele, she revealed, “I have lots of bookings for kids pamper parties and weddings. I also have a Barbie-themed hen do coming up and even a few music festivals.” Sharing the van’s transformation journey on TikTok garnered significant attention, with the post amassing 51,000 likes.
However, some viewers expressed discomfort upon learning about the van’s previous use as an ambulance.
Lucy expressed her reservations, sharing, “Idk if I’m too into haunted things but it would weird me out knowing that it’s almost 100% certain people have died in there!”
Arlo chimed in with his concerns, stating, “This is a cool concept but after being rushed to hospital in an ambulance so many times I’d have PTSD flashbacks.”
Annabelle imagined a scenario, musing, “Imagine someone needing an ambulance and this comes past.”
Matt, reflecting on the vehicle’s previous function, remarked, “So pleased you ripped out the floor as trust me you don’t want to know what goes on those floors.” Another commenter speculated, “Bet that’s well haunted.”
However, amidst the skepticism, there were voices of approval. Katie praised the business name, exclaiming, “Glambulance is the best name for a business I’ve ever heard!” Jasmine, a paramedic, offered her endorsement, stating, “As a paramedic, I approve.”
Dolly echoed the sentiment, expressing, “I think this is an amazing idea.” Lo hailed the concept as ingenious, declaring, “Glambulance is genius.” Responding to the mixed reactions, Kirsty shared, “I did have a few people comment to me that it was too strange as people have died in the ambulance, but the majority of people love it.”
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