Southern Enterprise Awards 2020

58 | Southern Enterprise Awards 2020 Aug20511 How we style our hair is a way of expressing ourselves to the world, but finding a team who we trust to shape this part of ourselves is not easy. Hair Jungle has grown quickly over the years to become one of the most successful and popular salons in Plymouth. We take a closer look at this incredible Team to see how they have been able to achieve such an astonishing level of success. When Emily Piotrowski opened Hair Jungle in January 2012, she couldn’t possibly have realised how rapidly it would grow into an enormous success story. With the simple aim of delighting customers by working with them to fully understand their haircare requirements and subsequently achieve their haircare goals, Emily and her salon Team have built a large and faithful following who trust their efforts to deliver not just great style, but also healthy hair and increased personal confidence. Consequently, this is just the latest in a string of awards for Hair Jungle who are already a ‘Three Best Rated Plymouth Hairdresser’ with ‘Best Business’ awards and ‘Certificates of Excellence’ for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. They also have a Plymouth City and Waterfront Awards Commendation and are recognised by Plymouth Herald readers as a ‘Top 10 Plymouth favourite hairdresser’. These awards have generally come through customer nominations and reviews. Emily commented, ‘We very much believe and appreciate that our customer speak for us not just through word of mouth but also with their fabulous reviews. We have around six hundred 5* reviews. In that respect, our customers are an essential and significant part of our Marketing Team’ Many people see hair simply as a way to express themselves, but the Team at Hair Jungle take a slightly more nuanced approach. They aim not only to deliver great style, but also to exceed expectations through an honest appraisal of the possibilities aimed at restoring, improving or maintaining the health of hair too. Both factors work in tandem to ensure that every client always get the best possible treatment. Being based in Plymouth has provided many opportunities for the Team. While a unisex salon with many happy gentlemen clients, the primary client base is young to middle aged ladies. As such, the salon’s location in the centre of the city, close to Drake Circus Shopping Centre and Plymouth University, is ideal. The city has seen Best Unisex Hair Salon 2020 - South West England substantial development over the last few years, bringing about extensive housing and business expansions like the new Sherford Town on the edge of the city and around the waterfront, plus the opening of a major new shopping and leisure complex. Hair Jungle has found itself at the centre of this incredible opportunity. Hair Jungle is run as a family concern, with three Directors helping to drive the business. Emily is the founder, acting as Creative Director and manager of all things salon and hair based. Bev, Emily’s step mum, keeps tabs on the books and IT systems, while Adrian, Emily’s father, oversees Hair Jungle’s marketing, legal and general business affairs. With a current Team of five talented self-employed Stylists and three exceptional Apprentices, Hair Jungle offers a fabulous opportunity for those looking for more from their haircare than just a regular cut or colour. Of course, 2020 has been difficult for many businesses, and Hair Jungle has been no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic saw the salon closed in March for three months and for a further 4 weeks in the November Lockdown , but between those enforced closures, the business has bounced back strongly. During this challenging time, social media was crucial, with the Hair Jungle Team delivering tips for ‘lockdown haircare’ and keeping clients fully informed of Government and trade body advice and new health and safety measures. The Team rose to the challenge ahead of reopening, introducing an innovative ‘rolling diary’. This allowed clients to book a preferred week and day/time without a specific date, ensuring that the salon reopened with a full Appointment Book. In fact, social distancing restrictions have presented the Team with an expansion opportunity with reception seating space being redeployed to increase capacity for client services. Opening hours have also been extended to help rebuild the business and for the added convenience of customers. Every cloud has a silver lining, and the Team at Hair Jungle have proven more than capable of finding the possibilities at a challenging time. It’s this approach that has ensured they continue to delight their customers, exceeding their expectations, not just in haircare, but also in terms of making them feel confident, comfortable and safe in their hands. Trust is something not easily earned, but as the Hair Jungle Team have found, it is worth time and effort to achieve and immensely valuable in the long run. Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.hairjungle.co.uk Telephone: 01752 222297