Business Profile: Halo Hairdressing

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24th February 2020

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24th February 2020

Published by info@oracle.uk.net on 24th February 2020

Growth is important to the survival of any business, particularly small local businesses such as Halo Hairdressing based at the heart of Crownhill Village. We last caught up with Julie Wotton and Sarah Jury, owners of Halo Hairdressing, in March 2019 and since then they have been busy developing the salon to provide the best service possible in a brand new, refurbished premises. With their 11th anniversary coming up we caught up with them to discuss their recent move as well as finding out how they are going from strength to strength.

Julie Wotton and Sarah Jury, owners of the much loved and well-known Crownhill based salon, Halo Hairdressing, are coming up to 11 years of being in a partnership. The salon has maintained a high level of customer service and professionalism throughout their many years with a friendly and focused team of seven stylists on hand to help every client look their very best.

After the Plymouth & South West Co-op owned salon ‘Snips’ announced their decision to close in 2009, Julie who was the manager and Sarah a recently qualified stylist decided to take matters into their own hands by teaming up to buy the business as a partnership, rebranding to ‘Halo Hairdressing’.

Julie tells us – “At the time I had just had my first child so didn’t have the time to be full-time, so Sarah said to me “You’ve got the experience and I’ve got the time”, it was a perfect match”

11 years on and with a strong team of five employed stylists, Halo is thriving with a loyal client base from across the city of Plymouth and a brand new, larger and improved premises to show off.
The decision to move premises wasn’t a move taken lightly by Julie and Sarah. With the lease on their premises up for renewal last year they were considering buying premises rather than leasing, a move which would add security to the business.

“We were conscious of the rent we were paying and that the building was getting older. We realised that as a tenant you are vulnerable, at any point your landlord can ask for their property back and you’ll lose your business, we didn’t want to be in that position.”

Recognising that leasing was a growing risk to the business, Julie and Sarah were on the hunt for premises close by to their base in Crownhill, hoping to stay local keeping their loyal clientele. When their new premises, previously Natwest bank, came up for sale it was a no brainer to snap it up right away with buildings in Crownhill Village rarely going up for sale.

No business move goes without hard work, determination and investment which Julie and Sarah were committed to.

They brought in professionals Bryn and Andy from South West Shopfitters after completing work at their previous salon in 2016. The intense job of the refurbishment of the new salon started in September 2019.

Julie and Sarah wish to give a special thanks to Dale Mullen, the Business Relationship Director at Santander who believed in them every step of the way and made their drastic move and renovation possible.

After 4 long months of refurbishment, the Halo team have finally moved into their luxurious new premises at 38 Morshead Road in Crownhill Village and they couldn’t be happier.

Feedback from clients has been extremely positive for the salon with most being shocked at the incredible transformation from a dark and dingy bank to a bright and vibrant salon where no expense has been spared.

Every client can be sure to receive the best possible service each time they visit Halo; with a clean salon to relax and enjoy their treatment in. The team make sure the floors are swept after every appointment, the towels are fully laundered and only the most professional products are used to make you feel your best.

Since rebranding as Halo in 2009, the team has remained the same with Jo, Liz and Cheryl following Julie and Sarah on from original salon ‘Snips’ and Emily and Kirsty joining later to complete the Halo family.

The unique bond between the stylists is undeniable, always supporting one another and creating a fun, uplifting and relaxing environment for their clients all whilst providing a quality service every step of the way.

Changes to the salon have seen Halo’s client base expand with the new look, size and features of the salon bringing customers in. The most noticeable change is that the new salon offers more privacy for clients having their hair done.

Julie and Sarah put their heads together to consider how they could improve the salon and add new attributes to guarantee their clients feel their very best. One change that hasn’t gone unnoticed is a new disabled toilet easily accessible for clients, as well as a baby changing facility.

“We’ve also ensured there are two extra styling areas, one of which is separate from the main salon giving those clients that need extra privacy the chance to feel more at ease. We’re investing in a privacy screen specifically for those who have cancer and have come into have their heads shaved ahead of treatment, as well as for children who have learning difficulties and struggle with a busy and noisy environment.”

These unique changes will certainly put Halo ahead of other local salons to Plymouth, showing they go the extra mile with client care and satisfaction ensuring it’s at the top of their priorities.

Over the years, Julie and Sarah have found ways to develop the salon to become the best it can be, always thinking about how to entice customers in and keep them loyal. They’ve noticed that one of the most important aspects of hairdressing and styling is keeping up to date and on top of current trends, from colours to cuts and new products; allowing them to offer a wide range of services throughout the salon.

Ensuring each member of staff is highly trained is something Julie and Sarah pride themselves on, this is why they often invest in training and support every member of staff with courses and new equipment where necessary.

The team at Halo use the best products on offer with partnerships with global leaders in cosmetics such as L’Oreal and Goldwell who provide in-salon training for the team throughout the year using their knowledge to teach new techniques and keeping the staff up to date with the latest trends and products on offer.

Communication is important to Julie and Sarah, making certain that each member of the team communicates with one another as well as with their clients. Understanding the customers’ needs during the consultation process allows the stylists to get it exactly right during the styling process.

“It’s all about communication. I bang on about this word because you’ve got to communicate to get it right.”

The experienced team of seven have 140 years of hairdressing experience between them, each having their strengths ranging from long hair and perms to balayage, hair ups and intense colour elumenation. The team ensure that the right stylist is matched with a client to make every cut and style unforgettable. Every stylist is committed to keeping a strong work ethic and client focus with their passion for friendly and professional customer service shining through.

The team are excited to be celebrating 11 years of Halo on the 14th of April this year and are pleased to have their new salon to show off for the celebrations.

Julie and Sarah never envisioned to be where they are now when going into partnership in 2009. “We were so happy where we were and we gained the confidence and experience to expand and make things better for the business.

This small, family-focused salon is always looking out for a way to give back to the community, raising funds for charity being a huge part of what they do. The girls often dress up and host bake sales for their clients to get involved with the raising money for diabetes charities, something that is very close to Julie’s heart.

Along with running the salon and providing excellent customer service, Julie takes time out of her week as part of the PTA for Elburton Primary School where two of her children are pupils. Julie often helps organise events, from summer balls to circuses and pig racing – all in aid of raising funds for the PTA, investing money back into the school.

It is clear to see that the team at Halo treat each other like family, welcoming every customer with open arms. It’s no wonder they have such a loyal client base, always focusing on the customer and how to keep them loyal throughout the entire process. We’re excited to see what the future brings for Julie, Sarah and the rest of the team.

Anyone is welcome at Halo Hairdressing, with each member of the team being an expert in treating clients of every age, the salon welcomes ladies, gents and children.