New £1m flexible workplace for beauty and hair professionals opens in Manchester
Phenix Salon Suites has launched a flexible workplace for beauty and hair professionals in Manchester, offering them a space to run their own intimate salon instead of renting a chair in an existing business or dealing with the challenges of owning their own bricks and mortar site.
The 6,500sq ft space at Number One Deansgate will enable 29 entrepreneurs to build their own brand in the heart of the city centre, and the workplace, which has already had more than £1 million invested into it, is the first of its kind in the UK for the company.
Originally launched in Colorado Springs in the United States, Phenix Salon Suites founder Gina Rivera created the brand to offer salon professionals an alternative to either renting a chair in an existing salon or dealing with the challenges of owning their own salon.
Month-to-month leases allow tenants to work flexibly, with each unit able to be personalised by its tenant, giving them the opportunity to decorate or brand it however they wish to create their very own salon atmosphere.
The studios are kitted out with high-quality equipment, so that the tenant can concentrate on running the business, without worrying about the costs or set-up of utilities, and with minimal start-up costs.
Hairdressers and barbers will be provided with a backwash, styling chair and hair trolley, while nail artists and beauty therapists will be offered sink units and storage trolleys. Each tenant will also have access to a break room/kitchen space, as well as an on-site laundry room.
Tenants will have costs of utilities covered within their lease agreement and will also be offered uniquely designed development tools and complementary education, in addition to a free online appointment system via “Gina’s Platform”, created by Rivera.
John Gillespie, operations director of the UK & Europe Phenix Salon Suites, said: “In what has been a really tough year for both the industry and the self-employed, our team has made a £1m investment in Manchester to allow entrepreneurs in hair and beauty to create something of their own.
“We chose Manchester as our first location here in the UK as it’s already a leader in the hair and beauty industry. There are so many creatives and entrepreneurs, we knew immediately it was the right home for us. It’s already been a huge success and we can’t wait to expand across the UK as the business grows here in Europe.”