Gordon Brown cuts it for Jayne and Sam

Sep 29 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A HAIR and beauty salon took a tip from one of its customers when it was looking for legal advice on its expansion.

Newcastle-based Stars and Butterflies had outgrown its premises in Sandyford and needed help with the lease on its new city-centre salon, in Bath Lane, which allows it to double in size.

Owners Jayne Fitzakerly and Sam Tench, childhood friends who started the business together three-and-a-half years ago, turned to the law firm, whose senior partner, Gordon Brown, is married to a long-standing customer.

The new premises are on two floors and replace the previous four hairdressing stations and beauty room with three beauty rooms and a spray tanning booth on the ground floor and seven hairdressing stations.

Jayne said: “When Sam and I started out, there were just the two of us, but we grew to five people in Sandyford and the business was literally at capacity, so when the lease ran out, we needed somewhere we could expand into.

“We went to Gordon Brown Associates because Gordon’s wife, Paula, is a regular customer. There are now eight of us in the new premises, and the work that Gordon Brown Associates has done has been great.”

James McEwen, of Gordon Brown Associates, said: “Jayne and Sam have done a great job in building their business and the new premises will allow them to continue growing. Clients come to us from a whole range of places, mainly referrals, but this is the first time I’ve heard of one coming from the hairdressers’ chair ... I thought they just discussed holidays!”