Back to business: andy phouli talks branding

Published 06th May 2016 by maryforester
Back to business: andy phouli talks branding andy phouli British Hairdressing Business Award winner Andy Phouli, chairman of Rush talks about the brand’s 22-year history and its growth into a power brand of British hairdressing. What was your experience of the hairdressing industry before launching Rush? To be honest, I didn’t know anything about it. We had a really small salon and it was all about paying the bills and making it work, I was completely blind to the outside world and just how much the industry had to offer. Things changed when we attended our first British Hairdressing Awards. The awards really opened my eyes and I could see for the first time the endless possibilities our industry had to offer, this was a turning point. Where was the first salon, what was it like, what did you want the brand to stand for back then? Myself and my business partner and friend Stell Andrew opened the first salon in Wimbledon in South London and it was built on a shoestring. For us it was all about providing quality hair and customer service, however, the salon interior was not reflective of this at all. We had to work with what we had, the original shop front and floor. We put every single penny we had in to that shop, which wasn’t a lot, but we were so determined so succeed. What was the original business plan? From day one, the plan was always to open 12 salons in five years. It actually took us 12 years to open 12 salons. I’m glad to say that we learnt a lot about opening salons in that period, providing us with great experiences which we have carried forward. It was a learning curve. Tell me about the challenges of those early years in business? There is no denying it, the early years were extremely tough. We struggled to get the right team in place. We had some great individuals with us but building a team, when you are not a recognisable brand is a very tough challenge, and takes a lot of work to get right. What challenges did opening the second salon bring? One year after we opened Wimbledon, we opened our second salon in Croydon. Throughout these years we continued to learn more about the business and the hairdressing industry. At this point in the business, I’d say education was our biggest challenge. Education is absolutely crucial when growing and developing a team and it was an area we had to work at. What growth strategy did you have for Rush. We are definitely a different machine now. We've worked hard throughout the past 22 years and put all our resources, energy and knowledge in to the business at every opportunity. We have separate departments that specialise in their own professional sectors and I’m proud to say that we are now stronger than ever - we have a great team. Where is the company now in terms of salon numbers and geographical spread? In 2015 we opened 14 salons in 12 months and we have now pushed out of London and the South East. In 2015 we opened our first salons in Birmingham, Cambridge, Bristol and Liverpool, to name a few. We also launched our second flagship salon in Westfield, bringing our current total to a 76 salons, with big plans to expand the brand nationwide. It is a very exciting time for us. When did you introduce the first franchise and how has this helped to grow the brand? Our first franchise was opened seven years ago and I’m proud the franchisee was an existing member of the team. We launched Rush for Life in 2015 to demonstrate that we invest in our team members and support them at all costs. We are currently on a big franchising and recruitment drive, but we want the industry to know that we are not just about numbers. When we invest in people we try our hardest to keep hold of them. Essentially, when you join Rush you become part of the family and that’s how it has always been. Any plans for 2016 and beyond you can reveal to us? The future is looking very good for Rush. We currently have 20 franchisees and salon locations confirmed for 2016 so far – watch this space! Fancy yourself or your salon as the next big thing in business? Enter the British Hairdressing Business Awards and make your mark in 2016.
maryforester

maryforester

Published 06th May 2016

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