Chichester salon manager on the '˜squeeze' on independent businesses

Creations Hair & Beauty has two women's salons and a men's barbers in Southgate

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The manager of one of the city centre's success stories says times are tough but businesses can still thrive if they know their market and get the support they need.

Emma Shepherd of Creations Hair and Beauty said: “When we opened there were 30 salons in and around Chichester and 20 years on there’s 30 salons but lots are different.

“Around half have gone and been replaced with new businesses.

“For me it’s the supermarket effect. You have the likes of Waitrose and M&S at the top end, then the Lidl and Aldi at the other end and everyone in between are struggling.

“We try to offer a luxury service and if people are spending a decent amount of money they rightly expect something unique.

“We invest about £10,000 each year in educating our team because for us, service is the most important thing.

“People love feeling special and they come to us for that personal touch.”

Emma said of the three salons located in Southgate, the men’s barbers was seeing the biggest growth but added that like everybody, turning a profit is increasingly tough.

She said: “Profit margins are being squeezed year on year on year. General costs are going up along with rents and rates, corporation tax, utility bills, the increase in the national minimum wage, and it looks like business pension contributions are also going to increase.

“We are lucky to have a really good landlord, but there are big London landlords coming in to take over properties who want the high rent the big restaurant chains will pay.

“That is pushing rents up so the whole city is being inflated.”