Wherever they go, they go together.
The year was 1996 at the Stratford YMCA. Gymnastics class was pure chaos but Cassie Harrett sat quietly waiting for her next instruction. Chloe approached her with a red sweater pulled up over her head. She said, “Hi, my name is Chloe and I have red hair.” They didn’t know it then but that would be the start of a lifelong friendship that would have an extremely positive effect on both of their lives.
Later on in their childhood, Cassie and Chloe shared a passion for soccer. They played competitively on the same team for 4 years. It was there Cassie realized she would always have someone to make her laugh and it was there that Chloe realized she would always have someone to laugh at her jokes, no matter how ridiculous they were. Cassie pushed Chloe to improve her athletic skills. Chloe helped Cassie relax and forget the stresses of life.
After their stint on the soccer pitch, St. Michael’s Secondary School beckoned them. High school is an intense time for every 15 year old. School work, new sports teams, first loves, and first shenanigans. The difference between 4 awful years of school and 4 awesome ones is the friends you keep. Cassie and Chloe connected even further when they realized they both like the same boy. This situation could have easily gone really sour but they quickly understood that no highschool crush would compare to the love that they had. After that they barely spent a day apart. Even on days Chloe was away from home, you could find Cassie hanging out at the Merkel’s, no doubt digging through the fridge and watching T.V. Their friends and family quickly noticed that where you found one, you always found the other.
So after University when Cassie packed her things and moved to Toronto, Chloe was not far behind. They both enrolled in the Medical Esthetics Program at George Brown College and in no time were living together in a tiny one bedroom apartment. George Brown ignited a fiery passion in the girls. After their first day of waxing class, they were hooked on Esthetics. Everything came so naturally to them and to share that with your best friend is a feeling that can’t be matched. Finally they were waking up in the mornings excited to tackle their next lesson. Waxing, nails, skin care, they soaked up everything they possibly could.
After school and some crucial work experience, their lives brought them back home to Stratford. Cue the moment this incredible opportunity fell into their laps. When Rebecca decided it was time to let go of her baby, the Skin Care Boutique, she decided to call upon the two girls she knew would appreciate the business as much as she did. Cass and Chloe jumped at the opportunity to start an esthetics business together. This was it, the moment they had been working for their entire lives. Through their hard work, a whole lot of love and a whole lot of luck, Lily of the Valley was born. Now they have their own baby to raise, focusing on updated esthetic treatments, current information and education for their clients and a whole lot of love. Thank you so much for being a part of their journey!
Chloe Merkel
Hey y’all! I’m Chloe, medical esthetician and co-owner of Lily of the Valley. I was born and raised here in Stratford and couldn’t be more excited to now be opening a business in the heart of the city.
As a child I had wild dreams about who I would be as an adult. Those dreams were constantly changing and I learned pretty early on that it would be hard for me to choose just one career path, but once I did it would be something I had a huge passion for.
When Cassie and I started the Esthetics program at George Brown, within the first hour I knew that this was going to be my path. If you had told me ten years ago how amped I would be about skin cell renewal I might have told you you were mad. Now here I am, researching everything I can about the skin and how to keep it healthy.
As an adult I developed moderate adult acne and it set me on a mission to understand the physiology of my skin. I have since worked exceptionally hard to clear my skin and maintain my adult acne. I can’t wait to put in that work for my clients and help them feel as good as they can in their own skin.
Living in Toronto the past two years I worked for an amazing company that offered full body waxing services. It gave me unmatched experience that I am delighted to bring back to Stratford. I can guarantee the quickest and most painless wax you have ever experienced!
Now I am beyond excited to expand my scope of work. My focus is on educating my clients and keeping them involved in their skin care routine.
I am so lucky to be doing this with my best friend and I can’t wait for everyone to see our vision become a reality.
Cassie Harrett
Hi! I’m Cassie, co-owner of Lily of the Valley Esthetics!
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always naturally been pulled towards anything skin, beauty and hair related. But, I truthfully never saw myself going down the Esthetic Industry path. I simply thought I couldn’t make enough money doing it. So there I was, going to University for something entirely different, working for corporate companies and dreading every morning I had to drag myself into work and climb that corporate ladder. It wasn’t until I got fed up with the same boring routine, that I said to myself there has to be more to life than this? What hobbies or activities do I enjoy doing everyday for fun? And that’s when it hit me, Esthetics was always it!
I attended George Brown College in the Medical Esthetics program located in downtown Toronto! I went on to work at Wellness Spas, where I was given the opportunity to tweek and master my facial skills. Next, Chloe and I worked alongside one another at a waxing bar where we honed in on our superior waxing skills! The summer of 2017, I started a mini mobile nail business in Muskoka and had the pleasure of performing services along the water for my clients!
My favorite services are anything skincare related! In my adolescent years, I struggled with cystic acne and I take great pride in helping others achieve a clear and glowing complexion. When I was able to finally see tangible results in my skin, I felt incredibly more confident in myself. To be able to help my clients feel the same and share that with them, is the most rewarding part of my work!
Waxing is a service I’ve also grown to really love, specifically The Brazilian! Whaaaaaaat, weird I know right. It never gets old to see the smile on my clients face at the end of the service, surprised at how quick and painless their experience was. Most people are quick to relate a Brazilian with excruciating pain and anxiety, but I swear that is a thing of the past!
To be able to come back to my hometown and co-own a business and practice my passion with my best friend, is nothing short of a dream come true. Thank you to all of our family and friends for all the love, support and more!
