Five minutes with SANTI’s London

In an exclusive interview with Salon Owner, Santiago Figueroa, we celebrate SANTI’s London’s first birthday and find out what they learnt in their first years of business and their goals for the future.

What has happened in your first year of business that you didn’t expect?

I didn’t expect our salon to achieve beyond its financial forecast in our first year of business, this was a huge achievement.

What have you learnt this year and how will you adapt this to elevate in the future?

Before I opened SANTI’s London, I was managing numerous hair salons for ten years and gaining as much experience and expertise as I could. When I decided that it was the right time to open my own business, I realised one thing. You are never quite prepared for all the work that a business requires and all the responsibilities you have to take on.

You have to be responsible for a group of people, making sure things run smoothly and that clients are happy, these are just some of the key responsibilities. This year I have learnt how to run a business on my own, I’m still learning new things day-by-day and I’ve found that every day is a new opportunity to learn more.

In order for my business to keep growing and to be prepared for this growth, I have taken business courses from likeminded business owners in the industry who offer coaching. These coaches have gone through the journey I am taking, their tips help to prepare me for the growth in my business.

What were key milestones for the salon in your first year?

Our key milestone has been winning our first award. This recognition gave our business and team great pride and motivation. I attended the British Hairdressing Business Awards in 2022, just before opening my business. I told myself that my name would be on that screen, then this year we were finalised for Sustainable Salon of the Year. Just finalising for one category at the BHBA’s is a dream come true.

What are SANTI’s London goals for the future?

My plans for the salon is to keep growing and providing a five star service to all of our guests, I also plan to open another two salons in the next five years.

What would be your biggest piece of advice for a new salon owner?

Believe in yourself, believe in your talent and take risks. On several occasions during and before opening my business I doubted myself and questioned my decisions. A good team is the secret to a successful business.

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