Trimmers

Jean Wombwell
01388 602001

“Brenda Wilson was appointed to do a “Health Check” on my business when I was struggling with some staffing and succession plan issues during 2009. This was a great support for me both on a business and emotional and personal level. When the Business Awards were set up it was just the right time for us to be recognised as we were getting back on our feet due to a new recruit and increased support from the staff. It gave me a fantastic boost to be a finalist and I was motivated to use the outcome to publicise the salon further”

Trimmers is a hair salon that was set up in Bishop Auckland in 1978 by Jean Wombwell.

The company was thriving until in May 2007 with a staff of seven when three stylists left the salon to set up on their own, taking a quarter of the salon’s business with them. This blow combined with the economic recession meant that the salon experienced really difficult times but Jean was eager to keep the business going.

Jean worked with a number of mentors through Business Link and the Enterprise Agency and managed to turn the business around. She introduced initiatives to encourage staff satisfaction and loyalty such as a four day week which helped overcome the long and unsocial hours or hairdressing.

Working with the mentors also encouraged her to look at succession planning and the future of her business. She has recruited a new member of staff and now does regular training sessions. The salon has also benefited from a refit and business has been built up again despite the recession.

She has also sourced product suppliers who are willing to come into her salon and work alongside her, feeding back comments and advice and working with the staff to help sales conversions, customer service and general training.

Since the business started in the winter of discontent when the power was regularly cut and many people were just working a three day week, Jean now feels confident that the business can again survive a major economic recession.