There is a saying in business that there is ‘no such thing as a problem, merely a challenge to overcome’. If this is the case then Natalie Gorman and Jill Quinn, Co-Owners of Forever have overcome a huge challenge this year!
Now in their third year of business, the 1950s-style “Rock & Roll” Hair and Beauty Salon hit a major obstacle last year when the owner of their building decided to put it up for sale. This left the two resourceful entrepreneurs with the sizeable challenge of finding new premises. Finding a suitable replacement with just three weeks to spare, they then had to overcome the hurdle of turning a retail space into their iconic-look Salon.
Natalie spoke about this experience: “Both Jill and I took it in turns working in the salon we were leaving, and transforming our new premises. We were hairdressers one day and then Painter & Decorators the next. We painted, laid floor tiles, hung mirrors put in a mirrored ceiling and moved in furniture - to name but a few jobs! It was a manic few weeks but we did it, and we are so proud of ourselves for achieving so much with the odds against us. Wonder Woman eat your heart out!”
Forever have had the same team of four since they first began trading three years ago, and recently a fifth stylist joined their team part-time. They try to keep their staff rewarded by holding regular days out – last year’s was a trip to Thorpe Park in a stretch limousine!
Jill discussed what she thought separated the Forever team from their competitors: “We believe we stand out mainly because of our Wedding and Vintage services. We travel to the brides on the morning of their weddings so they don’t have to come to us and no other salon that we know of can offer this. We have a Vintage Caravan that we have converted into a Mobile Hair & Beauty Salon, which can be hired for Parties. We have also been hired to work on hair and makeup for several films and had the honour of being asked to do the hair at the London Palladium for the 100th Birthday of Dame Vera Lynn – including styling the hair of celebrities including Bonnie Langford, Sue Pollard and Anne Reid. Our new location is right next-door to the costume shop/The Forge House (40's war time museum), which compliments our vintage theme and provides a new dimension to the Sittingbourne community.”
Forever
28 East Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 4RT
01795 429 700
www.foreverhair.org