The top 20 inspirational UK salons, as voted by readers

most inspiring salons 2014
professionalbeauty.co.uk
71
1
The Potting Shed Spa,
West Yorkshire
Famed for its gardening-themed décor
and playful treatment menu, which offers
It’s been a busy year for The intimate waxing treatments such as
Potting Shed and its continuous
“Privet parts” and “Lady garden –
growth and innovation have
borders only”, the salon is a hit
put it back at the top spot
with loyal locals and new
“The Potting
for the second year
clients
looking
for
Shed’s visuals
running. The launch of
something a bit different.
and language are
Shed Head, its sister hair
The big news at Potting
unique to the salon
salon, in October saw
Shed for the coming year
and make it stand
the group branch out
is the planned roll-out of
out in a crowd”
into cuts and blow dries,
more branded salons. “We
while recruitment for the
plan to expand our offering
original site has led to a larger
by finding suitable sites across
team and subsequent investment in the UK to franchise the business,” says
further training for all therapists.
director Sam Pearce.
most
T
“Sam
continues to lead
the way with her
innovative approach
to the industry and
the development of
her brand”
The top 20 inspirational UK salons, as voted by readers
he Most Inspiring Salons hot list is nominated by Professional Beauty readers.
We then ask the 20 with the most nominations to vote for one another,
choosing their top three from the list of 20 and telling us what makes them
inspiring. Those votes form the final order you’ll see here.
2
2014
Glow, Wrexham, Chester
and Mold
a little back to the industry that gives so
much to us”.
The three-strong salon group is
The group recently began opening its
consistently towards the top of our list, salons out of hours to offer exclusive
with other salons inspired by the fantastic Glow Party Time packages and plans to
customer care and attention to detail. build on that this year.
This year has seen a total
Also on the cards is intensive
refurbishment
of
Glow’s
advanced training in facial
Chester salon. The group
skincare with the intention of
“Glow is a
has also invested in Ellipse
marketing the experienced
consistently highIPL hair removal, which
therapists
as
facial
achieving salon
has
boosted
profits
skincare specialists.
with longevity in
across all three salons.
customer care”
Glow also won Decléor’s
Retail Team of the Year
award for its high
skincare sales figures.
“I love the
Investment
in
training
design; it’s much
remains a priority, as does
more interesting
owner Sara Shoemark’s
than other beauty
commitment to working
salons, and the ‘40
with students, colleges and
winks room’ is
the community, “trying to give
amazing”
Professional Beauty July 2014
most inspiring salons 2014
professionalbeauty.co.uk
72
3
“Everything
is amazing;
from the couple who
run it to the branding,
professionalism and
treatment standards.
Zen, you are an
inspiration”
Zen lifestyle, Edinburgh
Zen got 2014 off to a great start,
scooping a Professional Beauty Award
for its Teviot Place salon, as well as the
Employer of the Year – 21 Employees or
More award. In the last 12 months, the
three-salon group has also achieved
Investors in People accreditation and
created a four-level training and
development programme for all
therapists. Directors Fiona and Kieran
Fowley also invested in an outdoor
advertising campaign and have just
appointed a marketing manager to raise
the business’s profile further.
7
“The
salon just
oozes class and
style and Hellen
Ward is a fantastic
business role
Richard
model”
Ward Hair and
Metrospa, London
The
Sloane
Square
salon
has
restructured its beauty department this
year, putting greater focus on its core
manicure, pedicure and facial services,
but selling them in price tiers,
based
on
therapist
“Brilliant
experience. “This model
business
has been very successful
model with a great
within the hairdressing
range of treatments
side but is only now
including specialist
being applied to our
make-up and
Cowshed Carnaby, London
metrospa services,” says
treatments for
A spin-off of the original spa at
relocation in August, to a
salon manager Gavin
teenagers”
Babington House, Somerset, the
larger converted barn with
Hoare. The next few months
Cowshed Carnaby salon was a
two acres of land.
are set to be busy, with new
frontrunner in the express treatments
salon software arriving in July and a
trend. It’s 30-minute therapies give busy
Beauty Time, Bristol
refresh and paint of the whole salon by
city folk a taster of what’s on offer at the
Never out of the top 10 since we
the end of August.
larger spas. Nail stations sit amongst the
started our Most Inspiring listings five
bustling retail zone on the ground floor,
years ago, Beauty Time is a homely salon
Blow Ltd, Covent Garden,
with more tranquil treatment rooms
with an eye on innovation. New
London
downstairs. Private hire for hen parties or
introductions
this
year
include
Opened in November 2013, Blow Ltd
baby showers is also popular,
supplements from iiaa’s Advanced
has impressed other salon owners with
with the small city space
Nutrition Programme range,
its approach to fast beauty for busy city
“Cowshed
serving canapés and
Visia skin scanning days
workers. With services focused on
Carnaby takes
champagne.
and 3D brow treatments.
quick-fix visual treatments such as blow
the high-end spa
The salon has linked
dries, make-up and nails, Blow is
experience and turns
with a BUPA hospital to
becoming a popular pre-night-out pit
it into something
offer
post-operative
stop. The brand also has a strong online
affordable, without
skincare to its patients
presence, driving retail sales through its
compromising on
and is also working with
editorially led website. Founders Fiona
quality”
large companies to host
McIntosh and Dharmash Mistry are now
“presenting
your
best”
recruiting more stylists and make-up
workshops.
artists for expansion across London.
Owner Maria Mason is on the beauty
industry trailblazer panel and has been
working on the new government
The Barn, Somerset
apprenticeship standards.
A win at this year’s Professional
Beauty Awards has boosted The Barn’s
profile among its peers and sees the
“I love this
salon rise three places this year to be
salon for so many
voted number five in our rankings.
reasons: Maria, her
Owner Kelly Hooper has taken on new
team, her dedication
product lines including Vita Liberata
and passion for our
tanning and Lycon wax this year, as well
industry. Beauty
as introducing online bookings. The
Time is a shining
biggest plan for the future is the salon’s
star”
4
6
5
Professional Beauty July 2014
8
most inspiring salons 2014
professionalbeauty.co.uk
73
9
“Smooth
You has a great
contemporary
environment with
a good range
of specialist
facials”
Smooth You, London
With an existing salon in Islington,
Smooth You opened its second, bigger
site in Dalston in the autumn of 2013.
The 5,000sq ft space offers hair, beauty,
tanning and advanced laser services and
was praised by other salon owners for
its high-end design and strong choice of
brands.
Managing director Katie Shemesh is
now looking to double her team by
employing another seven therapists,
two nail technicians and eight hair
stylists. “We are also looking for our
next premises and we hope that
planning will begin by the end of the
year,” says Shemesh.
“Aquavie’s
holistic
approach is
inspiring”
10
possibly extending the new skincare
line and spa rituals to other salons and
spas,” says Dadson.
11
The Signature Spa,
Hertfordshire
The
Signature
Spa
has
continued to grow this year, adding a
fourth treatment room and expanding
both the therapist and front-of-house
team. Investment in new machines has
seen the salon move down a more
aesthetic route with the introduction of
a Vega Nd:Yag laser for hair removal,
tattoo removal, stretchmark reduction,
and vein reduction.
It’s a busy year ahead for managing
director Rebecca Wilson, who has just
bought a local competitor salon and is
in the process of merging the two
businesses.
13
12
Chamomile Sanctuary,
Edinburgh
Shortlisted in the Professional
Beauty Awards earlier this year,
Chamomile continues to be a hit
with the industry, with other
salons
praising
the
“I like the
homely but luxury offer
whole ambiance
and quality service.
Chamomile has
The past year has
created: simple
seen owner Justine
country luxury
Mitchell invest more
MBeauty, Street,
Somerset
MBeauty sits on a busy high
street and offers holistic therapies on
top of the usual beauty fare. The salon
has introduced new products and
processes over the past 12 months such
as new eyelash extensions, foot peels
and nail art. Managing director Rosie
Bailey keeps a suggestion box in the
salon and gets regular input from the
team. As a result she is introducing
some new treatments this year,
including semi-permanent make-up,
and running evening client events.
14
Aquavie Boutique Spa,
Kent
With a focus on both holistic
and advanced treatments, Aquavie is a
hit with customer and the industry
alike. This year, owner Elizbeth Dadson
has refurbished some of the rooms and
has also devised her own easterninspired Elizabeth Caroline skincare
line, relaunching the entire treatment
menu to reflect the new brand. She has
also launched a healing jewellery line
called Mala. “We are looking at
heavily in training, creating a director of
training position to boost staff
development. The salon offers therapies
with a strong wellness focus including
the Immune Recovery and Sleep Deeply
treatments. The visiting aesthetic
medical practitioner has also proved a
hit with clients.
Espiritu Salon and Spa,
Batlers Green,
Hertfordshire
Espiritu only opened at the end of 2013,
yet has already made a splash in the
industry. With its vintage décor and boho
vibe, the salon has a holistic speciality.
The team does a lot of community
charity work. One of our owners is an
author and has a huge social media
focus. The salon is still finding its feet
but spa and strategy director
Lisa Pearson says there
are already plans
“The
to recruit more
interiors
therapists.
are fab and I
love the emphasis
on holistic
treatments”
combined with
a city beauty
menu”
Professional Beauty July 2014
most inspiring salons 2014
professionalbeauty.co.uk
76
“Skin &
Tonic has
an impressive
business model
and a fab
team”
17
43 Face, West
Kensington, London
With a focus on anti-ageing and acne,
43 Face grew from a one-room set-up
to its current Notting Hill salon in
The Beauty Room,
February. The team, headed by owner
Nottingham
Gibran Registe-Charles, runs eight-week
“acne bootcamps” including products
It’s been a big year for the Beauty Room,
and treatments, and hosts talks in
which opened a second salon in
the salon. “We focus on
April, The Beauty Room
“The
educating clients on what
Express
in
nearby
Beauty Room
is best for their skin. I
Mansfield. The walk-in
has pushed the
don’t like to be tied to
salon specialises in HD
boundaries
for salons
any
one
skincare
Brows,
make-up,
in the East Midlands
brand,” says Registelashes, waxing, spray
and is always first
Charles. Future plans
tans and Gelish nails.
with the latest
include
hiring
a
The existing salon has
treatments”
nutritionist and running
also grown to open seven
“World
Cup
Widows”
days a week and within the
pamper parties over summer.
next 12 months owner Lauren
Halley is planning to expand into bigger
premises.
19
15
Skin & Tonic, St Albans
Establisehed for 18 years,
Skin & Tonic is still growing,
with owner Laura Bateman now
recruiting an extra therapist. “We’ve
been exceptionally busy this year,
running at over 85% occupancy, even
in January and February when we
would normally experience a drop,”
she says. “I think winning Professional
Beauty Awards has really helped. It’s
made us stand out from the other
salons in St Albans.”
New treatments are also on the cards;
the team is set to train in lash lifting this
summer with Kerie Hoy.
16
20
The Beauty Rooms,
Lewes
Known for its blend of results-driven
and relaxing treatments, The Beauty
Rooms is growing this year with two
new senior therapists and one junior
being recruited. “We want to give a
younger
beauty
therapist
the
opportunity to train up throughout their
Level 3, giving them the confidence to
start when they have completed their
course,” says owner Victoria Gaved.
The salon has also invested
in technology, introducing
IPL hair removal and
“Victoria
skin rejuvenation over
has created
the last year.
peaceful, spa-
a
like space and
her staff are
great”
Professional Beauty July 2014
18
Bespoke Beauty Clinic,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
The salon has driven business
hard this year to produce a 22.5%
increase on last year’s figures. “Our new
radiofrequency facials and updated IPL
treatments have been in such demand
that we have employed three extra staff
members,” says owner Karen Bowen.
The team is now working with colleges,
lecturing and providing apprenticeship
opportunities.
Future plans include a mobileoptimised website, an enlarged retail
area and a hunt for new sites to expand
the business.
Just the Retreat,
Maidstone, Kent
The salon has undergone an extensive
refurbishment linking all rooms to a
theme. Owner Heather Lenehan has
also invested in new equipment and
brands to offer more specialist
treatments.
“We have also launched social media
networking via Facebook and Twitter
and specialise in holding successful
in-house events for clients,” says
Lenehan.
Future plans include the launch of
Murad skincare treatments in the salon
and new partnerships with
local businesses to
boost sales. “We
“The
also plan to
Retreat has
open another
created an indulgent
Retreat Spa in
environment
Kent,” adds
where staff make
Lenehan. PB
each experience
a personal
journey”