“We pride ourselves on making people feel welcome”
Experience Hair Salon owner Debbie Morrell with senior stylists Chelsea and Daniella(Image: Lyn Clark)
An East Hull salon which serves multiple generations of customers recently celebrated its 26th anniversary with a makeover. Debbie Morrell, 54, opened Experience Salon on February 1 at the start of the millennium.
The salon, in Marfleet Lane, Hull, has such a long history with some clients, through life’s ups and downs, that they “become an integral part of the family”, Debbie said.
“What we thrive on, our main thread of business and the reason it has lasted as long as it has, is because we pride ourselves on making people feel welcome,” she added.
“I’m very aware that stepping into a new space, whatever space that might be, can be quite intimidating. Because actually, it is quite a vulnerable experience sitting in front of a total stranger, in front of a mirror, not looking your best because your hair has got things on it.
“So we really pride ourselves on making people feel as welcome as possible, and just trying to be as ordinary as possible.”
Debbie added: “Until last year, I was just doing what I’ve been doing and then it suddenly dawned on me, ‘Wow, it’s been 26 years!’ She said customers “absolutely love” the updated salon and are “as excited as we are walking through the door”.
The interior design is not the only thing that has been updated, with Debbie introducing a modern online booking platform. She said: “I’m in my 50s and technology isn’t my first go-to thing, but I’m very conscious that is the way everything is now.”
“It’s my children who have supported me through ‘getting down with the kids’ and getting all the tech because they know what they are doing with that much more than I do.”
Debbie is assisted by her two senior stylists Daniella, 40, and Chelsea, 39, and said they are a “tight knit” team, having originally started out as her apprentices after leaving school.
“When they left school they were part of the team then and have remained so ever since,” Debbie said. “Over the life of the salon I have trained about 17 apprentices altogether who have gone off to do their own things and have got some really succesful salons in the city.”
Since starting to use booking app Fresha, Debbie has noticed they are getting new clients, including those who have moved to Hull for the first time. “It’s wonderful to be able to welcome them into the salon,” she said.
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