In our latest independent business posting on Hidden Edinburgh we talk to Karen and Vincent Bell owners of Vincent Bell Hairdressing in Stockbridge. Read on to find out more about Karen and Vincent, their saloon and training academy.
Tell me a little about yourselves – when did you begin cutting hair, when did you meet, and how did Vincent Bell the salon come about?
Karen: We both began hairdressing over 30 years ago and we met about 24 years ago. Vince already had a salon in Stockbridge but felt it wasn’t going in the direction he had envisaged, so we decided to open one together. Our daughter Sophia grew up attending hairdressing events, photographic shoots and award ceremonies so it was a natural choice for her to become a hairdresser too. She joined us in the salon full time two years ago.
You are a family-run business, how do you find this influences your working environment?
Vincent: I think it benefits the business in that we are all working to the same goals and have the same values when it comes to the direction and quality of the services we provide.
Do you ever find it a challenge working together, and how do you strike the right balance?
Karen: We don’t find working together challenging as we both have our own specific jobs. Vince deals with the day to day running of the salon and I deal with the training side of things. This means that while we are both developing and driving the business, we don’t physically work side-by-side everyday.
As well as a salon, you also run a highly successful training academy, what inspired this addition to the business?
Vincent: The inspiration for the academy came around because we wanted to up the standards that the young people were being trained to. We felt that they should be trained to SVQ level 3 which is much more in line with the trends in salons today. It is important to us to help push the boundaries of hairdressing, making everyone that comes to our academy the best they can be.
Sophia, your daughter, is the next generation of Vincent Bell, do you envision a new direction for the brand?
Karen: No, not really. We have built a very classically stylish brand so don’t envisage the identity dramatically changing. Obviously, no brand can afford to sit still and needs to adapt to current trends but style never goes out of date.
You have been open for business since 1999, and are a firm part of the Stockbridge neighbourhood, what do you love about this part of town?
Vincent: We love Stockbridge because it is like a little village in the city and we have such lovely clients, some have been clients for 20-30 years. They become a big part of your life and visit us in between appointments for a chat.
What do you think it takes to be successful in Edinburgh’s salon scene?
Karen: Continuity! You have to provide quality all the way through the salon experience from using good quality products to providing high standards in the services you provide. And you need to love what you do.
Describe your ideal day in Edinburgh.
We live in the centre of Edinburgh and as we live such busy lives, we would probably go somewhere low key for lunch. After a lazy morning in the house, we might head to Rollo on Broughton Street for lunch, followed by a dog walk in Queen Street Garden. For supper, The Chophouse before heading home to the fire.
Address: 23 North West Circus Place EH3 6SX
Web: www.vincentbell.co.uk
