New era for family-run hair and beauty business

Feb 26 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A FAMILY-RUN hair and beauty firm is marking 40 years in business by moving to a new salon and taking on four new staff.

Margaret Emmonds has handed over the reins to her daughters Claire Hildreth, 31, and Joanne Emmonds, 28, who have opened the aptly-named At Sisters in Newcastle’s Pink Lane.

Margaret, 62, bought J & J Laws, where she had been a Saturday girl, in 1968 and then moved to The Hair Cabin in the city’s Bigg Market. Her daughters qualified in the hair and beauty sectors then joined their mother’s business. The sisters are now the driving force behind the new salon, which has undergone a £60,000 refurbishment to create 12 hair stations, three treatment rooms and a shower room. There is also a luxury quiet area where clients can relax with a glass of wine while receiving their beauty treatments.

Joanne said: “Although we built a very successful hair and beauty business in the city, Claire and I decided we wanted to commit heavily in the family business and decided to take it to the next level, and we are over the moon with our brand new salon.

“We really wanted to create the warm and relaxing feel we had in our previous salon, as well as adding a contemporary class new look. We believe we have achieved this as in our first couple of weeks customers have not only followed us, but we have attracted many new clients.” Claire said: “We have always prided ourselves on great word of mouth but what we also wanted was a ground level high street presence. Moving from the Bigg Market to Pink Lane was a great move as we have a prime location in an up and coming part of town between the train station, music academy and Centre for Life.”

Claire looks after the hair side of the business and Joanne is head of the beauty team. There are a total of 12 staff working at the new venue, including the four additional personnel employed when the business relocated to Pink Lane.

Margaret said: “To see Claire and Joanne take on the business and continue our tradition is great to see. I know that their drive and enthusiasm will make it a huge success.”