The beauty of family

In the Beauty department of a Hamilton, Ontario Shoppers Drug Mart, Carrie and Calen Whitehead are redefining what it means to work as a team. As a mother-daughter duo, their connection goes far beyond the store floor - it’s built on years of shared experiences, creativity, and a true passion for the beauty industry.  

Calen was the first to join the Shoppers team, starting five years ago. With a background in makeup artistry and a passion sparked by beauty tutorials on YouTube, she quickly found her stride as a Beauty Specialist. “It felt like the perfect fit,” Calen says. “The supportive environment has allowed me to grow my skills beyond makeup into areas like content creation and social media.”  

It wasn’t long before her mom, Carrie, was inspired to join her. An established hairstylist with over two decades of experience, Carrie had been freelancing when she noticed a part-time opening at Calen’s store. “It’s not the first time we’d worked together,” she says. “We actually started out side by side years ago, when Calen used to help out at my salon. So, when the opportunity came up, we were both excited.”  

Their seamless work dynamic is a natural extension of their close relationship, each of them bringing a different skillset to compliment the other: Carrie’s background in the cosmetic and hair industry, coupled with her natural ability to connect with clients, and Calen’s modern edge, fueled by her keen eye for beauty trends and a passion for digital content. “Calen has been immersed in the beauty industry since she could sit up,” Carrie recalls. “She’d sit on the floor and watch me work on clients from a very young age. It came naturally to her being in that environment, so when she got older and started working at different salons, it wasn't a surprise that she wanted to make a living doing something she loved." 

Today, both Carrie and Calen are also Shoppers Beauty Pros, a team of internal beauty influencers, consisting of in-store beauty specialists and managers, who play a vital role in representing and enhancing the Shoppers Drug Mart beauty brand experience on a national level. “It’s such a cool role,” says Calen. “We get monthly assignments, create content, and share what we’re learning with our teams in-store. And getting to work with my mom on this has been amazing.”  

Their creative process is a true collaboration. “We wear a lot of hats in this role, so it’s great having someone to bounce ideas off and lean on,” Carrie says. “Calen’s the one who got me into filming videos and showing up online without worrying about everything being perfect. She’s always encouraging me and is an incredible support system.” 

It’s that deep bond that makes their partnership so strong, both professionally and personally. Whether they’re editing content, advising customers, or swapping ideas for their next Beauty Pro assignment, they bring out the best in each other. 

As they look ahead, Carrie and Calen remain focused on doing what they love - sharing their expertise, supporting their team, and continuing to evolve in an industry they’re both passionate about. Their work is rooted in mutual respect, creativity, and doing what they love – side by side.