Birthday Celebrations and Jubilations for Top Devon Salon

Topsham-based Energy Hair has planned a series of events to thank their loyal clients and celebrate the salon’s 18 years of success.

Nathan Plumridge, owner of Energy Hair located at Darts Farm in Topsham, is celebrating Energy Hair’s coming of age, and what better birthday present than learning his salon is now rated one of the top 5% of hair salons in the country.

Up against 40,000 other salons, Nathan cites the stratospheric rise to success is down to all the hard work that his team of award-winning hairstylists and colour specialists have put in to get them where they are today, as well as the support from incredibly loyal clients. Nathan says,

Operating in the hair industry is extremely competitive, with hundreds of salons in the Exeter region, and I think what has worked in our favour has been our continued investment in our staff as well as also ensuring our salon is ahead of the curve in terms of marketing. All of our stylists are encouraged to excel in whatever area they feel passionately about – be it colour or cuts – and team members are regularly away at specialist training courses honing their skills. They are then able to bring these new skills back to our clients, meaning we are always offering the very latest techniques.

As for marketing, earlier this year we invested in an app that allows clients to instantly view our availability and book via the app, and we have also created a new website that we feel better reflects our brand.

This year, for Energy Hair, Nathan says it is all about celebrating reaching 18 years in the industry, which is no mean feat considering the competitive nature of the business, with it reported that one in five salons close before making it to their first birthday. Nathan continues,

We have planned 18 events to help celebrate what is an epic year for us. We’re hosting everything from client feedback forums, to an acoustic night at the salon and inviting clients to nominate their favourite songs from 1998 when the salon first started, to an exclusive VIP client party at Darts Farm in July.

Over the years, we have steadily gained the reputation as colour specialists and this has been a conscious move for us as a salon. It is an area of hair care that we feel passionately about and we love witnessing how our recommendations can transform a person, not only in the way they look but also the way they feel.

First launched in 1998 as a family business with Nathan’s late Father, the salon has continued to grow from strength to strength. After years of nurturing and growing a loyal customer base, Nathan decided to relocate the salon from Topsham Road to Darts Farm in 2012, with resounding success. The salon is now ideally situated at the heart of this lifestyle shopping experience, which features a compilation of carefully handpicked specialist retailers, such as AGA, Fired Earth and Cotswold Outdoor as well as small independent boutiques such as The Orange Tree and The Treatment Loft spa all under one roof. Nathan says,

We didn’t hesitate to set up in a brand new site. Although a significant investment for us, it has been the best thing for the business and more importantly our clients fully supported this move too. We wanted to create a special experience for our clients, making them feel welcome, pampered and cared for, and we needed a larger, more sophisticated salon premises to meet these aspirations. Darts Farm has been the ideal location – our customers can visit us while on a shopping trip and many of our clients turn their visit into a morning or afternoon, with the added benefit of ample parking right outside.

We have continued to grow and develop. We now employ nearly 20 staff and I really feel it’s the best team we have ever had – everybody is behind the Energy Hair client experience and are fully invested in the success of the business every step of the way.

So what does Nathan think is the secret of Energy Hair’s success? He says,

We have had an amazing 18 years, and for that I have a lot to thank my late father. He was a great man and quite a character. As well as inspiring me to be creative and customer-focused, he also helped me to keep my feet on the ground at times, helping to offer invaluable guidance when I needed it most. I believe this has been one of the key reasons we have continued to grow.

With so many exciting things ahead of us during 2016 and beyond, the future is certainly bright. Dad was very proud of all that we achieved together, and I feel sure if he were still alive today he would still be spurring us on to greater heights.

Having joined his father in the business at the age of just 21, Nathan is at the heart of the business and his experience has grown with the salon. He has also been able to recruit a talented team and offers industry leading training programmes to ensure his team is abreast of the top hair trends and innovative colouring techniques.