Goldsworthy’s marlborough transforms salon in just one week

It was back in 1961 that Goldsworthy’s Hairdressing first opened up in Wiltshire, and now the family-run salon group has expanded with a new premises in the historic market town of Marlborough. The new salon is owned by Steven Goldsworthy, whose parents opened the original salon, plus his wife Tracy and their business partner Julian Clarke. The Marlborough shop stands on the site of a former salon, which as Steven explains, has both its benefits and its downsides. [gallery ids="23876,23868,23875"] What condition was the property in when you first arrived? Although tired, the salon was fully fitted, functioning and complete with staff. There were pros and cons to this. The biggest unseen cost was the legal fees relating to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) laws, or TUPE, for taking on existing staff and redundancy consultations. We also had to pay for all the team to be retrained. How did you update the existing salon? The salon was originally two units built on a slope, so to enter the main salon you had to step down through a small doorway. We weren’t keen on this as it made the space feel separated, so we got rid of the wall for a more open-plan feel. We inherited all the fixtures and fittings from the previous salon, and despite being tired they were good quality, so we cleaned and repaired them. What did you do with the reception area? One of our clients is an amazing shopfitter, who created a platform and a fabulous glass balustrade, giving the impression of a floating reception area. With the addition of new chairs from REM, the reception went from looking like a doctors’ waiting room to a luxurious area where the clients can see into the salon, watch the plasma TV, and sip on complimentary refreshments. What did you choose for the colour palette? We created a calm, luxurious salon with a champagne feel on a lemonade budget, using a palette of truffle shades with black high-gloss doors from an online company. Why did you decide to introduce tanning rooms? We had some spare space behind the reception, so we researched the Marlborough area and found it was lacking in a sunbed or a spray-tanning provision. This was surprising since the town is home to Marlborough College, which hosts regular balls and dances.  We therefore sub-divided the area into three zones – one for spray tanning, one for a sunbed, and a third as a technical bay for developing colours. How long did the work take? We had just one week to complete the salon revamp and retrain all the team. [gallery columns="2" ids="23874,23869,23871"] TOP TIPS

• Make do and mend.
• Research – find what you like and search out the best deals.
• Stick to classic designs as these won’t date quickly.
• For each spend think: ‘do I need it?’ and ‘can I function without it?’
• Remember – you can always add more when the money comes rolling in.

FACT FILE Name: Goldsworthy’s, Marlborough Address: 12-13 Hughenden Yard, Marlborough, Wiltshire Owners: Steven and Tracy Goldsworthy and Julian Clarke How long have you been on the premises? 11 months Staff: Seven Styling stations: 14 Financing: Bank, manufacturer and self Design: Steven and Tracy Goldsworthy Furniture: Inherited with the salon and REM