The ‘Suite’ life

‘Suite’ THE

LIFE Salon Focus 36

ituated at 26 Bompas, Terenzo Suites is slap bang in the middle of Johannesburg’s affluent Northern Suburbs and the upmarket feel of the complex is immediately apparent, with full length glass windows, marble floors and chandeliers. S Just over a year old, the innovative Terenzo Suites concept in Dunkeld, Johannesburg, was created to offer a platform for stylists who want to run their own businesses. JOANNA STERKOWICZ speaks to founder/ owner, TERENCE JANSEN VAN VUUREN, to find out more.

of hairdressing’ in that it is a totally new way for stylists to do business. My inspiration came from the realisation that most stylists who are employed at salons are looking for something more and want to work for themselves.

“With Terenzo Suites, stylists can start their own business With Terenzo Suites, stylists can start their own business straight away in a seamless process, as every suite is already completely outfitted and equipped. Stylists literally need only a client base and a credit card machine.

What is essentially a precinct of independent hair salons, Terenzo Suites is the brainchild of Terence Jansen Van Vuuren, an international performing artist, L’Oréal Colour Trophy winner, and L’Oréal Colour Ambassador. Says Jansen Van Vuuren: “Terenzo Suites is a completely unique concept in South Africa and I describe it as ‘the Uber

straight away in a seamless process, as every suite is already completely outfitted and equipped. Stylists literally need only a client base and a credit card machine. Each suite has basins, plumbing, plug points, Wifi, a fridge, coffee machine, music system, pre-paid electricity meter, reception desk and retail space. Toilets, parking and security are all included, so the suite owner literally just pays their rent. They are welcome to hire their own staff as long as it’s not on a rent-a-chair basis – it must be either salary or commission based.”

There is a large area downstairs in the complex that houses several communal reclining beds and basins, should any suite owner find that they need an extra basin for clients at any particular time. Terenzo Suites also has its own generator – something that is vitally important in this dark era of frequent load shedding.

Branding Terenzo Suites comprises 13 individual suites, including Jansen Van Vuuren’s own suite. Each suite owner has their own branding, which is displayed within the Terenzo Suites logo on their door. Some of the upstairs suites even have their own wooden deck.

“I’m very proud that we have just signed our first-ever ethnic hair suite – Hair by Twinz – run by two stylist sisters who are very well known in the industry,” he notes. “That’s another important aspect about Terenzo Suites – the suite owners all have their own particular specialities, so they are able to cross-refer clients within the complex.

“We even cater for clients’ skincare and anti-ageing needs, as one of the suites is occupied by Dr Nadia Dannhauser’s For Beautiful Life aesthetic practice.”

Expansion The Terenzo Suites concept has proved so successful that a new suite was recently added to the complex, to accommodate an existing suite owner who wanted to grow his business and needed a bigger space in which to offer nails as well as hair.

In addition, Jansen Van Vuuren is renovating the back garden of the property to create a luxurious, partially covered outdoor relaxation area for clients, as well as a designated space for the staff of the various suites in which to take their tea and lunch breaks. This area will include a small pool and four outdoor hairdressing stations for stylists to perform Brazilian blowouts.

Advantages In outlining the many advantages of the Terenzo Suites concept for independent stylists, Jansen Van Vuuren points out that suite owners don’t have to invest a huge amount of money upfront before starting their businesses. He continues: “If you are opening up your own salon, you would need to spend hundreds of thousands of rands on outfitting and equipping the salon and your landlord would probably demand a double deposit, as well as the first month’s rent up front. At Terenzo Suites you just pay the rent.

“The beauty for suite owners is that they can work according to their own preferred hours and at their own pace. Stylists earn more money and are able to build up their unique brands. In turn, clients benefit from this focused attention in a RollsRoyce space, so they are getting more for their money.”

Stylists are able to purchase L’Orèal and Redken stock from Terenzo Suites at cost price. They are, however, free to use other reputable professional brands, should they so wish.

Criteria Jansen Van Vuuren’s only requirement to qualify as a Terenzo Suite owner is that the stylist be successful, as he only wants quality hairdressers working in the complex.

“I’m very well entrenched in the industry so it will come to my attention whether a stylist is suitable or not. We have different types of leases available, from one to five years.

“Terenzo Suites is a massive operation but still exudes a high end, exclusive boutique feel. This concept doesn’t exist anywhere in Africa. In America there are similar concepts, but they only have one chair per suite.

“If there are any stylists out there interested in starting their own businesses, they are welcome to call me on 083 660 5615, or my PA, Kim Khalil on 083 602 6782,” concludes Jansen Van Vuuren. PB