From Little Acorns......

For my first proper post I thought I would give a small overview where it all started and a hope to inspire others to follow their dreams........

I never thought I could be a business woman, I never thought I could run a salon, I never thought I could follow a dream...but sometimes fate throws something at you that makes you stop and think.

After a very difficult personal struggle in my life, my dream became reality, my dream of owning my own hair salon, not just any salon, but a salon where people feel comfortable...not intimidated, a salon where people meet new friends, a salon where people are listened to to achieve the hair 'do' they really want .... and all this in a salon people can afford to go to!

My dream started when I happened upon a lovely small salon for rent in Bassett, Southampton last April. I loved it the moment I walked in and knew that fate had thrown us together.  With the help of a financial investment from my Dad and the support (and patience!) of all my family and friends Cordelia's Hair Boutique was born!

Its not always been an easy venture! In order to keep money coming in I had to maintain a stressful day job and was rarely at home, working every imaginable hour in order to build up the salon.  Family and friends had to take a back seat whilst I threw myself and everything I could into my dream.

Fast forward to a year on - exactly what have I achieved?

For me...I have achieved a salon that I feel reflects what I wanted, I have achieved confidence and happiness, I have cut my daytime job hours and achieved a better work/life balance.
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For my family... It has already started to give me the flexibility to be around more for them and the home.  My daughter helps in the salon at the weekend and is fast becoming an integral part of the business, it has not only enabled me to benefit from her help but it has helped to build our relationship and given her the chance to learn valuable skills.

For my clients... I have achieved a relaxed and friendly environment where they can come and have a haircut, with a thorough consultation first to make sure we are all 'singing from the same hymn sheet', I have achieved a business which is small enough to mean I can offer realistic prices that clients can afford to pay. I have acheived a flexible booking system enabling them to book 24/7 by either telephone, text, email or via an online system, meaning that whatever their busy schedule making an appointment can be done at their convenience.  In fact I recently asked my clients to review my salon on freeindex and it would appear from those reviews that I certainly have achieved what I set out to do.

The Future and what does it hold?

My business is growing rapidly, my client base increases weekly.  I have now taken on a stylist to work on the days that I am not there to ensure the salon is open more and I have been asked to work for a beauty salon nearer where I live on an ad hoc basis, enabling them to provide hairdressing services to their clients.

This small acorn may not be  a mighty oak just yet....but it is certainly on its way to being one....!

Why not come and celebrate our first year with us at our fund raising 1st birthday party in aid of 'a mission for sam'. Saturday 13th April from 11am to 3pm, you can meet the staff and some of our clients, there will be tea/coffee and cakes, a raffle, lucky dip, mini indian head massages and lots of other fun!

Check out the event page on facebook!