Mum and daughter team bringing a bit of glamour to Sheffield village

Experienced hairdresser Anna Wesley and her make-up artist daughter Robyn drew on inspiration from the hit TV show The Only Way is Essex to launch their Wickersley-based business, The Only Way is S66, after calling on help from Finance For Enterprise to help them unlock the potential in their TV-inspired unisex hair and beauty salon.

Since securing the keys to the premises, the duo have invested more than £60,000 in transforming a former laundrette into a haven for hair extensions, magnificent manicures and even beautiful beards. With ambitious plans to make the Tanyard Shopping centre a focal point for style-conscious shoppers, Anna and Robyn realised that additional financial support would be needed to complete their extensive renovation work, as well as providing a cash buffer during their first few months of trading.

Recognising that many high street banks are often reluctant to lend funds to a new businesses with no previous trading history, the duo began researching alternative ways of raising the finance needed and called upon Finance For Enterprise for help.

They worked alongside experienced investment manager Gillian Pickard to secure funding through the Start Up Loans programme, enabling them to access two loans totalling £16,000 which were used to complete the salon’s refurbishments, including the purchase of an Intense Pulse Light machine which is used in the treatment of acne, hair removal and thread veins, as well as providing the vital funds needed to manage cash flow.

Anna said: “Our mantra has always been to a create a one stop hair and beauty shop for all ages and genders and following the introduction of our new barber’s service, I think we’ve achieved just that. The funds we secured from Finance For Enterprise helped to provide us with a cash buffer. It proved to be a lifeline and without the help we received I doubt whether our business would have survived.”

FROM THE EDITOR

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