The Pink Philippa: a new 'beauty' coworking in the heart of the Eixample

Coworkingnot always synonymous with computers and meeting rooms. At The Pink Philippa, the main tools are not keyboards or mice, but hands;the tables are transformed into manicure spaces and the meeting rooms into beauty booths, corners for massage, yoga workshops or reading clubs.In the heart of the Eixample, this new project is born with a clear and ambitious idea: to create a space from which to boost the careers of beauty professionals, while building community and redefining the way of understanding well-being.

Community is, in fact, the soul of the project. Not only among clients—who will be able to participate in a wide program of activities to foster collective feeling—but also among professionals, who will find an environment in which to share doubts, projects, and challenges, as well as a springboard to make themselves known and give visibility to their project. This philosophy permeates every corner of the space and every service offered.

"The Pink Philippa is not just renting a space, coming, providing services, and leaving (as happens in othercoworkings)", highlights Helena Prats, promoter of the project. "It is about being part of a strong team, where each one develops her activity, but within a joint project, which unites, projects and promotes." The will is clear:generate collaboration, shared visibility, and mutual support.Because, as Prats defends, "when talent is shared, it multiplies." After years of conceiving and maturing the concept, the space will open its doors next March 20, coinciding with the arrival of spring, at Girona street 116, in Barcelona's Eixample. The former architects' office that occupied this spacious premises has been completely transformed from a holistic perspective, with the intention of integrating all disciplines linked to aesthetics and well-being:from manicurists and beauticians to masseuses, therapists, nutritionists, or yoga instructors.

A space that connects talent and community

The objective is not only to share clients, but also knowledge. "The vast majority of professionals in the beauty sector are self-employed, a path that can sometimes be a bit lonely and confusing," remarks Prats. The intention is that in The Pink Philippa they find the space and the network that accompanies them in their doubts, projects them, and also helps them in the dissemination of their project. The key is community: each professional will work offering their services, but sharing knowledge, visibility, and clients. This concept turns The Pink Philippa into a space that goes beyond the simple idea of coworking and becomes an ecosystem of growth and shared creativity.

For this reason, the space will also offer a common platform for managing reservations and clients, in addition to a joint communication strategy led by Prats, with experience in public relations and communication. The project is precisely the result of the merger between the professional career and personal interests of its founder. After years working in public and institutional relations, and with the desire to undertake her own project, Prats opted for the beauty sector, an area that interested her personally and in which she specialized by pursuing a master's degree in aesthetics. In addition, for some years now she has been collaborating independently with the cosmetic brand Ringana, with whom she plans to organize workshops or pop-ups in the new space.

The initial idea evolved: at first, she considered opening a nail franchise —when there were none in the city yet—, but finally opted for a more ambitious and social concept, a lively space where different events and activities could take place every day. With the advice of Barcelona Activa, the idea of beauty coworking and that of a social space for events converged into a single project: The Pink Philippa. A project that has been possible thanks to a microcredit of 30,000 euros from MicroBank (CaixaBank), the "Impulsem el que fas" aid from the City Council, and Prats' personal savings, invested in the integral renovation of the premises.

A holistic vision of beauty

The Pink Philippa's space is as flexible as the professionals who inhabit it. With 140 square meters, the premises include a manicure area with capacity for six professionals, three multi-purpose cabins for facial and body treatments —or even medical consultations such as nutritionists—, a workshop room with a large window —suitable for both pedicures and group activities— and a spacious lounge intended for community proposals. The flexible configuration allows it to adapt to multiple needs: massages, image consulting, creative workshops, presentations or wellness sessions.

The variety of services that will be offered in this new space also reflects the strength of the beauty sector in Catalonia, which already concentrates more than 780 companies that jointly bill more than 12,000 million euros annually and employ more than 35,000 workers. Although the business volume is dominated by large brands —such as Puig, Eurofragance or Mesoestetic—, the business fabric is largely made up of self-employed professionals who can find in this new project "a space for professionalization, mutual support and projection", as Prats highlights.

Beyond beauty, The Pink Philippa also wants to become a meeting point for the community: from expats to neighborhood residents. Workshops, wellness activities, book clubs or creative sessions among friends will be part of a program designed to offer moments of disconnection. "We want people to feel that this is their moment to stop and enjoy," Prats emphasizes. A space to stop, take care of oneself and break with routine.

Prats is clear that, over time, these initiatives will be consolidated through a model of subscriptions and joint experiences that clients can purchase to access different treatments in the same premises —in addition to enjoying exclusive advantages—, generating synergies among the professionals who work in the space. "Here it's not just about selling a service," concludes Helena Prats. "It's about creating a place where professionals can grow, share and be part of a larger and more ambitious project." A project in which, ultimately, the traditional concept of coworking is transcended to become a space where community, well-being and professionalism advance hand in hand.

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