5 minute read
THE SALON, OAKHAM
Times, they are a-changing
There’s no doubt the Covid pandemic changed many lives and businesses for ever. Mary chats to one business that has changed for the better
NUMEROUS LOCKDOWNS LATER and the United Kingdom has emerged post restrictions as a di erent place eople s li es changed and there s no denying that many people ha e not gone back to the li es they li ed pre pandemic n some cases this has been a good thing in others far from it nd subse uently businesses ha e had to adapt and change as well hether lockdowns were a good or bad thing is academic and not for us to discuss here he fall out is what it is and not all of it is bad n fact for many it has been good ockdowns ga e many of us indi iduals and businesses time to slow down take stock and make decisions t allowed us time to plan ahead ne such pair who had time to do this are Simon Cawthorne and Jo ilmore who in early ay rebranded their business mo ed premises and started afresh bringing a whole new ibe to what was historically a well established renowned successful enterprise imes ha e changed and we ha e mo ed appointment his wasn t necessarily the case but perception was all t was also a large space where many people did not feel o erly comfortable understand this completely; it s no one s fault but large spaces full of noise and supposedly beautiful people can be intimidating e e perienced it myself in many a salon o er the years t s a perception and often not really the case at all but it sticks
Simon and o had started to realise this and subse uently were thinking of rebranding fter years on ill Street they ha e relocated the salon along with their fabulous loyal team to arket lace and rebranded at the same time becoming he Salon akham his smaller salon immediately feels friendly and welcoming as soon as you walk in ight and airy there s a really good ibe coming from the place wanted people to walk in and feel their shoulders drop knowing they could ust rela says o nd she s got it ust right t feels more intimate the smaller space feels much more bouti uey and far from intimidating nd you still get a really good hairstyling e perience as all the team came with them
Simon and o know their stu ha ing worked in the industry for many many years oth from eicester where they trained Simon then mo ed down to ondon before returning to the city and worked for a ri al salon o specialises in colour Simon in haircuts oth had wanted to set up their own salons with Simon e entually doing so o oined him from the ri al salon which
with them says Simon efore o id struck we had been starting to rethink our brand and image ockdown ga e us a chance to do this e had time whilst the salon was shut to really think about our future and what we wanted to do any of you will remember the Simon awthorne salon on ill Street t was ery successful but had a slightly intimidating ibe; e pensi e and e clusi e that was the perception anyway and not somewhere you would feel you could walk into without an
amalgamated with him becoming Cawthorne and Wright. This was over 20 years ago, opening a second salon on Mill Street in Oakham 16 years ago. Simon then went out on his own, staying at Oakham with Jo as his manager. They are a good team and are now business and personal partners. So the ‘dynamic duo’ as they are known have worked together for 25 years in total so what they don’t know about hairdressing… ‘but we are constantly evolving and learning,’ they both say. And this is obvious with their recent move to the new salon and the rebrand. They are on top of changing trends, can think on their feet and move with the times. ‘The day of the large salon has gone,’ says Jo. ‘And this is apparent throughout the industry. Times have changed.’
And times have changed again over the last few years. And these changes have marked a subsequent change in the service and hospitality industry. Newcomers to the industry have slowed down considerably. ‘We have always had apprentices coming through, learning on the job and becoming skilled hairdressers and stylists,’ both Simon and Jo say. ‘But today, this is no longer the case, or much less common anyway. We have always worked closely with colleges, training apprentices here and running courses but there are so few coming through now.’
‘To get into the industry we have always advised people, and this is historically the case too says Simon to find a good salon become a liated with them and allow them to train you in-house. This was always the best way to learn. Start at 16, work your way up and by the time you’re 19 you are ualified and within fi e years really know your stu ou learn by osmosis watching learning and gaining experience as well as doing the college courses. And this is not only the case with hairdressing, caterers and hospitality are finding the same thing It’s a great pity really as not everyone needs, or should, go to university.’
Simon and Jo are very keen to speak to anyone who wants to get into the industry so pop in and see them. The days of the Saturday girl learning a trade have not disappeared. They are also looking for freelancers - full and part time - to join their friendly, small team so again, pop in and have a chat.
Simon and Jo live in a village just outside Oakham ‘and Rutland Water is our back yard,’ says Simon. So if they’re not busy making us look beautiful they are out riding, running, walking and cycling, in Jo’s case, ‘anything that involves being outside,’ and in Simon s case fishing cycling and walking; and both of them say ‘eating’ too.
The new salon welcomes walk-ins and re ects the di erent ibe that the arket lace in akham o ers which fits in well There’s a bit of a buzz in this part of town, lots of coming and going and a renewed energy. The new concept for their business that Simon and Jo have developed is working. The Salon, Oakham, fresh and new, is a relaxed, happy place. Everyone is welcome and will feel comfortable here. I certainly did.
