News & Events

Boss sees new staff as mark of his confidence in future of business

NEW staff have been taken on by an expanding Exeter hair and beauty salon, which is continuing to enjoy increasing trade, despite the recession.

Four experienced stylists and two juniors have started work at Energy Hair on Topsham Road, taking the total number of employees to 17.

Co-owner Nathan Plumridge, who started the business with his father Geoffrey in 1999, said the recruitment drive reflected his confidence in the salon's future.

"People talk about the credit crunch, but we have been up every single month over the past year," he said.

"A lot of companies have moved to this side of Exeter, which is helping us. We have been absolutely flying and it just seemed that now was the right time to do it, particularly as things seem to be picking up in the economy."

Although partly prompted by existing staff taking maternity leave, the hiring spree is mainly due to increasing custom at the salon.

"It got to the point where everybody was really busy and we were finding we were having to turn away business because we couldn't service it," said Nathan.

He also revealed he has plans to open a second salon in the city centre, hopefully next year.

It comes as the Echo's Exeter Bites Back campaign continues to highlight how local businesses are still thriving during the recession.

Nathan said the only change he had noticed in the past year was some clients waiting longer between appointments.

"Hairdressing does seem to be recession-free," he said. "We have had a slight elongation of appointments, with some people pushing it out from six weeks to eight weeks.

"But I think there's a lot to be said for making yourself feel good, and once you are used to getting your hair cut regularly it's quite hard to stop doing it.

"Also at the moment a lot of people are wanting to make themselves look good for job interviews."

He added: "The run up to Christmas is always a good time for us because there's a lot of parties and events going on."

Nathan said he expects his new recruits, who have come from other salons in Exeter, to bring 30 to 40 per cent of their existing clients with them, giving his business a further boost.

Another growth area is styling clients for wedding photoshoots, staged at the salon by local photography firm Harrera Images.

Unlike many salons, staff at Energy Hair are directly employed by the company rather than self-employed, which Nathan says gives him more control over training and quality — and them benefits such as paid holiday.

The salon has recently reviewed its environmental policy, coinciding with the introduction of a new ammonia-free hair colouring product.

"We have started some innovations of our own, including biodegradable towels, recyclable personal capes, low energy lighting and shower heads that control the level of water we use," said Nathan.

"We aim to further review our green credentials, including the products we endorse, on a regular basis."

From the Express & Echo 06/10/09