{{Short description|English nail polish company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use British English|date=December 2011}} {{Infobox company | name = Nails.INC | logo = Nails Inc London logo.svg | logo_size = 250px | image = | image size = | type = Nail polish brand | genre = | foundation = <!-- this parameter modifies "Founded" --> 1999 | founder = Thea Green, MT Carney | location_city = | location_country = | location = <!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" --> London, England | origins = | key_people = Thea Green | area_served = United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Japan | industry = Retail | products = | revenue = £14M | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = 98 | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | owner = | slogan = | homepage = [http://www.nailsinc.com www.nailsinc.com] | dissolved = | footnotes = }} '''Nails Inc.''' is a London, England-based nail polish company founded by Thea Green MBE.<ref name="fashion.telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG9696420/Thea-Green-on-her-Nails-Inc-empire.html|title=Thea Green on her Nails Inc empire - Telegraph|website=The Daily Telegraph}} The brand has previously collaborated with fashion and beauty insiders including Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung and Poppy Delevigne. Its nail polish collections can be found in stores worldwide, including Superdrug, Boots, Sephora and Target.</ref>
==Thea Green== Thea Green was born and brought up in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, near Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/8628220.Hoylake_born_Thea_Green_wins_prestigious_entrepreneur_award/ |title=Hoylake-born Thea Green wins prestigious entrepreneur award |publisher=Wirral Globe |website=www.wirralglobe.co.uk |date=10 November 2010|accessdate=2010-11-18}}</ref> Her father was a company director of Littlewoods, and her mother a housewife. She completed a degree in public relations and journalism at the London College of Fashion.<ref name="fashion.telegraph.co.uk"/> While studying, she assisted on the fashion desk at the Daily Mail newspaper, and then Tatler magazine. Joining Tatler as fashion co-ordinator on graduation, she became fashion editor aged 24.<ref name=Times600538>{{cite web|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article600538.ece|title=New York trip inspired idea for nail bars|work=The Times|date=15 October 2006|access-date=2010-11-18}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Green was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the beauty industry.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=16 |supp=y }}</ref>
==History== Green noticed on travelling to New York City, the number of nail bars that were easily available. Working on a business plan with business partner MT Carney, they raised £200,000 through investors, and launched their first store in 1999 in South Molton Street in the West End of London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Five minutes with... Nails Inc founder Thea Green |url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/article/1451226?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.managementtoday.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
After opening the first three stores in London, as the business expanded Carney left the business with her family for the United States.<ref name=Coutts>{{cite web|url=http://www.coutts.com/woman/2009/aug/features/thea-green.asp|title=Thea Green - Nailing down success|publisher=Coutts|date=August 2009|accessdate=2010-11-19}}</ref>
In 2000, Nails Inc. opened department store concessions.<ref>{{Cite news |title='My energy when I'm winning competes against any 20-year-old' - Nails.Inc founder |url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/nails-inc-fashion-beauty-products-050012362.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260110073736/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/nails-inc-fashion-beauty-products-050012362.html |archive-date=2026-01-10 |access-date=2026-01-16 |work=Yahoo Finance |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2003, the company launched their training academy for beauty therapists in London. In 2005 they launched the luxury "champagne nail bar."<ref name="Coutts" />
==Present== Nails Inc. is a homegrown, British nail brand. The company has concessions within key retailers, including Selfridges, John Lewis, Waitrose, QVC, Amazon and Look Fantastic, as well as Sephora, Target and Sallys in the USA.
The company now has stores in the UK, US, Australia, and Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/digest-nails-inc-polishes-profits-5c97bhj7397|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043740/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/digest-nails-inc-polishes-profits-5c97bhj7397|archive-date=2018-05-15|title=Digest: Nails Inc polishes profits|first=The Sunday|last=Times|date=4 November 2012|work=The Times|url-status=live|access-date=2019-10-25}}</ref>
In November 2012, Nails.INC opened a nail bar in the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar - a concept store located in the Liverpool One shopping centre, in the centre of Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/beauty/archive/2012/11/08/olivia-palermo-opened-harvey-nichols-beauty-bazaar-in-liverpool-and-we-sent-blog.htm|title=Grazia|website=Grazia}}</ref>
In December 2014, Victoria Beckham collaborated with the brand to launch two limited edition nail polishes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Niven-Phillips |first=Lisa |date=2014-12-05 |title=Nails By Beckham |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/victoria-beckham-nails-inc-collaboration |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2015, Nails.Inc launched what they claimed to be the world's first spray on nail polish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cosmetics |first=Colour |title=Nails Inc creates world's first spray-on nail polish |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/nails-inc-creates-world-s-first-spray-on-nail-polish-113352 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=cosmeticsbusiness.com |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2020, Nails Inc. posted a message with its 240,000 followers on Instagram: Nails.INC will contribute proceeds for the whole month of June to Black Lives Matter. "We stand with the fight against systematic racism," the beauty brand shared on the 1 June post.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2020|title=Nails.Inc Donates All U.S. Profits To Black Lives Matter for the Month of June|url=https://www.thezoereport.com/p/nailsinc-donates-all-us-profits-to-black-lives-matter-for-the-month-of-june-22951731|access-date=30 June 2020|website=The Zoe Report}}</ref>
In May 2022, Nails Inc. collaborated with Magnum to launch chocolate-scented nail polishes inspired by the new ice cream Duet Bars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ice cream brand Magnum collaborates with Nails.INC |url=https://www.diarydirectory.com/newsarticle/ice-cream-brand-magnum-collaborates-with-nailsinc/44218 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.diarydirectory.com |language=en}}</ref> The line featured three sets of two polishes to match the three flavours, Almond, Chocolate and Cookie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indulge in 6 chocolate-scented nail polishes with the Magnum Ice Cream x Nails.INC collection - Scratch |url=https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/news/indulge-in-6-chocolate-scented-nail-polishes-with-the-magnum-ice-cream-x-nails-inc-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/ |language=en-GB}}</ref> In December 2022, they collaborated with Marks & Spencer to launch a Percy Pig collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shearsmith |first=Tom |date=2022-12-08 |title=M&S launches Percy Pig collaboration with Nails Inc |url=https://theindustry.beauty/ms-launches-percy-pig-collaboration-with-nails-inc/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=TheIndustry.beauty |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In March 2025, Nails Inc. launched It's Topless, the first ever 4-in-1 nail polish.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Nails Inc. launches "It's Topless", the market' first 4-in-1 nail polish for the ultimate one-step manicure |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nailsinc-launches-its-topless-the-markets-first-4-in-1-nail-polish-for-the-ultimate-one-step-manicure-302397493.html |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref> Combining base coat, colour, top coat and treatment all in one, the range launched with 22 shades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fallon |first=Brit |date=2025-02-27 |title=This new nail polish is unlike anything you've used before |url=https://www.newbeauty.com/nailsinc-topless-nail-polish-review-2025/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.newbeauty.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Conti |first=Samantha |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nails.Inc Launches 'It's Topless,' a Multitasking Polish for People on the Go |url=https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/products/nails-inc-launches-its-topless-multi-tasking-polish-1237029539/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2025, they collaborated with Jo Loves to launch a limited edition set containing a fragrance pen and a red nail polish.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nails.INC x Jo Loves: Paint The Town Red |url=https://nailsinc.com/blogs/articles/nails-inc-x-jo-loves |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Nails Inc London |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards== *2002 CEW Achiever Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cewuk.co.uk/event.cfm?action=recent_events&page=view&recent_event=88|title=CEW UK}}</ref> *2011 Awarded MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://talkbusinessmagazine.co.uk/2012/01/thea-green-entrepreneur/|title=Talk Business Magazine|date=26 May 2023 }}</ref> *2011 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/fast-growing-businesses-and-sme/nailing-it-how-nails-inc-founder-thea-green-built-a-recession-proof-business/3188.article|title=Nailing it! How Nails Inc. founder Thea Green built a recession-proof business - Features |website=londonlovesbusiness.com}}</ref> *2011 First Women Awards Retail & Consumer Winner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realbusiness.co.uk/news/first-women-awards-2011-the-winners|title=Real Business|date=30 June 2011 }}</ref> *2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award *2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award for It's Topless<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editors |first=Allure |date=2025-09-16 |title=All of the 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Winners |url=https://www.allure.com/story/best-of-beauty-2025-all-winners-index |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Allure |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Retail companies established in 1999 Category:Companies based in the City of Westminster Category:Nail care Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom Category:Cosmetics companies of the United Kingdom Category:British brands Category:1999 establishments in England