Bedford’s new med spa aims to make people more comfortable in their skin
photo credit to Brittney Meagan Photography
Kelly McGee, owner of Aesthetics by Kell, says her mobile medical spa service has become popular in the Bedford area and now she’s ready to move the spa into a permanent home. “I wanted to be part of downtown Bedford,” she said. “It’s such a great, walkable area.”
After starting out as a mobile medical spa, Aesthetics by Kell is opening at 114 S Juliana St Bedford Pa 15522. Working with a physician, the spa will offer botox, filler and microneedling, along with chemical peels and IV hydration and vitamin cocktails. Along with aesthetics services, the spa will carry high-end skincare from independent brands and women-owned companies along with a custom skincare created by McGee.
“Aesthetics by Kell helps people feel more comfortable in their own skin. These last few years have been rough, and we have tools and skincare to help you keep your natural appearance, and be comfortable with who you are,” McGee says.
When she decided to open a storefront, McGee reached out to a free local resource for help: Startup Alleghenies is a network that offers entrepreneurial coaching and resources to Bedford and other Southern Alleghenies counties at no cost.
“It’s wild to think of how quickly my company has grown since I connected with Startup Alleghenies,” McGee said. “The Bedford coach is Jen Marsh, and I call her my business fairy godmother,” she said with a laugh. “I know I can call her with any question, and she’s on it. If she doesn’t know the answer, she knows the person who does have the answer.”
Jen Marsh is the vice president of the Bedford County Development Association as well as the Startup Business Coach through Startup Alleghenies. She says that helping Aesthetics by Kell launch their spa has been a community effort.
“Jeff Boldizar from the St. Francis Small Business Development Center worked with Kelly to create a business plan,” Marsh said. “Michele Clapper from Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI) worked with a local banker, Jim Gonsman from Hometown Bank, for financing. We were able to help her find a small grant to help get her skincare line off the ground. It’s been a group effort, and it’s exciting to see it come together so quickly.
“The business owners have been incredibly supportive as well,” McGee added. “They’ve helped to spread the word about our new business. My husband is from Pittsburgh, and he’s continually surprised by how welcoming and supportive our community is with each other. It’s very cool.”
The retail store is slated to open by midsummer, and the full medical spa will be operational later this year. McGee is more than ready to join Bedford’s downtown. “The success of Aesthetics by Kell may not make a big change in our community, but it’s better for tourism and makes our town a better place to live. I want to play my role in that.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
