Boss in the Bay State: Katherine Lowe

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Introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

I am Katherine Lowe, owner of Shimmer, a clean beauty boutique in New Bedford, Massachusetts. I graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2012 with a degree in business and am a dedicated board member of Downtown New Bedford, Inc., an organization committed to helping small businesses thrive in our local community by providing educational resources, planning events and creating marketing initiatives. With the help of my talented team, we create a welcoming space for beauty enthusiasts to explore and enjoy. We are your small business alternative to Sephora and Ulta, selling a hand-picked selection of skincare, makeup, bath and body products, haircare and all things beauty. I also work closely with several area non-profits to ensure all of Downtown New Bedford is on the same page and to keep communication flowing smoothly. I believe in the power of small businesses and strive to provide exceptional, personalized experiences for our customers.

What made you want to start your own business?

My journey into the clean beauty world began during my mother’s battle with brain cancer. This personal experience opened my eyes to the importance of paying close attention to the ingredients in our beauty products, a lesson often learned during health emergencies. Recognizing the difficulty many people face in distinguishing truly clean products from those merely marketed as such, I was inspired to create a boutique where customers could trust that everything under one roof was genuinely clean. My family is deeply rooted in the City of New Bedford as my father has both taught and coached multiple sports in this school system for 40 years and my mother ran the admissions department at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for many years before her illness. I have always known I wanted to have a business in New Bedford and saw an opportunity to help grow the retail community here with the addition of Shimmer.

What do you love the most about owning a business in Massachusetts?

I am very grateful to be living and working in a state that shares my values. New Bedford, more specifically, is continuously evolving and the diversity in this area always provides a learning opportunity. The downtown historic district where Shimmer is located, practically comes with a built-in customer base, as this community is very focused on helping its small businesses succeed. I’ve worked downtown in different capacities for 15 years and although the area is constantly evolving and I’m always meeting new people, I’ve also witnessed many of the same families come out year and year, to event after event, to help keep their community strong.

What are your favorite small businesses to support in Massachusetts?

My neighbors! Downtown New Bedford is full of small businesses, many of which have been here for almost 2 decades. No Problemo, a Mexican restaurant just around the corner from Shimmer, did just celebrate their 20th anniversary here! Calico, a women’s boutique two buildings over from me, just celebrated their 18th anniversary. I wish more people understood how much power they have in how they decide to spend their money. When you buy from small businesses, your money is going right back into your community.

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned throughout your career?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout my career is that no matter how prepared you think you are, there will always be unforeseen challenges. I thought I understood this after the Covid shutdown, which struck only 10 months after I opened my business. But then I experienced it again in a very different way earlier this year. My business was lucky enough to be featured on Chronicle, a beloved regional TV program. Although this was a wonderful surprise, it came with many learning curves. This experience, in contrast to the devastating Covid shutdown, taught me that even positive developments require constant adjustments. You must be willing to constantly adjust your sails in business.

If you weren’t in your current position, what would your next dream job be?

This is such a hard one, because I’ve honestly never seen myself doing anything else! I do wish I had more time to travel, as growing a business with a brick-and-mortar location definitely keeps me here the vast majority of the time. I could also see myself being a rep for one specific brand where I’d be responsible to visiting all my accounts and getting to see how small businesses throughout the country are managing. My reps have amazing insights based on all the information they get to collect from their accounts!

When you’re not working, what activities do you enjoy?

I try to get outside and enjoy our beautiful waterfront as much as I can. You’ll often find me walking the trails or playing tennis. I take a great yoga class that’s right on the beach, too. When it gets too cold to be outside, I turn to my love of books. I am an avid reader!

Thank you for sharing more about yourself! Tell us how we can get in touch with you or find you online.

You can learn more about me via my website, Facebook, and Instagram.