'It's not the end of an era' — salon duo embrace new chapter after 60 years
Two stylists who spent nearly their entire working lives at the same Ipswich salon say they are excited — not sad — as they embark on a new chapter after more than 60 years between them.
Why it matters: Louise Mower and Sarah Rowland were the faces of Michael Richards hair salon on Penshurst Road, Broke Hall, since their schooldays. When they closed their doors for the final time on Thursday, 26 March, it marked the end of a 54-year chapter — but not the end of their story.
The details: The pair moved just 25 yards along the same parade of shops to join Donato's, a salon styling hair for both women and men, on Tuesday, 7 April. Colleague Kayla Chappel joined them.
The move was a timely one for Donato's owner, Donato Circelli, who is celebrating 30 years in business this April.
"We have a fabulous team who really look after our clients, with unbeatable customer service, and I know that's what matters for Louise and Sarah too, so we're delighted that they're joining us," he said. "We're really excited about it, and it's great that we have enough room here to accommodate them. It makes so much sense."
The bigger picture: Michael Richards was founded in 1971 by Louise's father, Michael Trower, who remained involved until his retirement in 2016. Louise began working there on Saturdays at the age of 11, giving up her dream of becoming a ski instructor in the process. Sarah joined for work experience at 14 and admits she now feels like part of the furniture.
The salon had faced growing pressures in recent years. The pair say their water bill alone had tripled, high-quality products represented a significant expense, and recruiting skilled stylists had become increasingly difficult. A few years ago, they had a team of around seven or eight people, but they say they had little choice but to let some go.
A report last year from the CBI warned about the pressures facing salons across the UK — particularly through a lack of apprenticeships — and urged greater government support.
What they're saying: "It's been a really lovely business to run and we've always had great staff and great clients," said Sarah, adding that the bulk of their clients have said they will follow them to their new base, given its proximity and ample parking.
Louise is philosophical about the change. "It's not the end of an era, it's a new challenge, and we're happy to embrace change. We still feel as if we'll always be Michael Richards' stylists, even if it's on a freelance basis, so the name won't disappear completely."
Sarah added: "I love what I do and I love the buzz of being surrounded by people, and I didn't want to stop that, so it's great to be able to carry that on in a different space."
The bottom line: After more than half a century on Penshurst Road, Michael Richards has closed — but its stylists are staying put, taking their clients, their scissors, and their passion for the job just a short walk down the road.
This article cost us ~£27 to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them. Alternatively, you can directly fund more journalism like this by becoming a member for just £4.75 per month. You'll get our best content delivered straight to your inbox before anyone else, and the option to discuss our reporting with our journalists.
Below the line