Creative HEAD July/August 2019

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Roz Colthart
THE US HAS witnessed the growth of the
salon suite movement – a ready-made, white
label small salon to rent alongside others,
where stylists pay a set fee to run their own
business. With the increase in UK selfemployment,
could this format take hold?
Yes, argues Roz Colthart, who this month
unveils Salon Studios in Edinburgh – six
salon spaces under one roof. This caters
to people looking to be independent salon
owners but who are put off by high upfront
and ongoing costs. Under Roz’s model, there
are two options: if you commit to a year, you
pay £250 a week, which covers the studio
and all of the utilities. Stylists bring their
clients, their products, their insurance and
their payment provider. If you’d rather test
it out first, it’s £275 a week to have the space
for three months.
Where’s all the buzz and vibrancy that
clients and staff feed from? It’s a subject
Roz covered researching in the US, and
argues that this model offers a more
personalised service. “Those who had
reservations about missing out on the
social side discovered they built stronger
connections with other salon owners
through sharing stories and support,” she
says, adding that she may offer larger units
to rent in the future.
68 CREATIVE HEAD