Bbc tv centre

A salon business venture at the BBC TV Centre has been fine-tuned to offer clients a fast, effective service. They say location is everything, and when it comes to business it can be crucial to success. But while some salons rely on prime, central locations and passing trade, one salon owner has built up a business set within a more remote professional premises that cites convenience as key to its clientele. George Phountzi is the owner of the Phountzi salon at the BBC TV Centre in west London. He has built up a business that offers the broadcaster's staff fast, effective service in a contained, convenient environment.“This business venture is very different to my last,” says George. “I opened a salon in Marylebone, central London, in 1981, which was a great location initially.” However, after the recession of 1990, running a West End salon proved difficult, with high overheads that saw escalating costs cascading down to the salon’s clientele. At this time, George decided to open a second business and approached the corporation after some of his regular clients, who were BBC employees, complained about a lack of facilities in west London at the time. “I realised that opening a salon within the BBC’s premises could be a viable business venture and would add an extra string to my bow,” says George, who opened the BBC salon in 1990, initially running his two businesses concurrently. Winning an audience The BBC had never had an on-site salon before, and George was its first outside contractor. Business built up slowly but surely, and developed a reputation for offering a selection of haircare services at competitive prices. “When the business began we traded straight away, but it took a little while to develop a reputation for being credible,” he says. “There was an initial consensus that all the best salons were based in central London. However, I have the benefit of that experience, and have always endeavoured to bring that to the business here.” Although set in what some might consider a remote location, the salon’s main benefit is a captive clientele, with around 7,000-8,000 employees working within the local area. As a result, attracting clients is not a problem. Flexibility and convenience are the salon’s biggest selling points. “We understand what our clients want,” says George. “They often have a limited time in which to get their hair done, so we make sure we meet their needs. Time is of the essence, and with this in mind we ensure that we offer them great service within their allotted time-scales,” he says. Its standard hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, but salon staff are available from 7am if clients require an earlier appointment. “We have found that a lot of female clients prefer to have colour at this time; it allows them to be at their desk for work in the morning without having to take time out of their day,” says George. And low overheads ensure it’s not just convenience that clients benefit from, with competitively-priced services also on the menu – something George was unable to offer in his previous salon. “We have an all-inclusive package of rent and overheads, which works well for both myself and our clients,” he says. Once the salon was up and running successfully, George decided to close his central London business and turn his full attention to his BBC salon. “I found it far more interesting running a salon within a media environment, and closed down the other salon in 1995.” So, is there anything he misses? “I do miss the area, but I don’t miss the negative points that I hear about from colleagues. Initiatives such as the congestion charge have proved to be a problem for some, as well as the overheads being very high. I also found that my last salon was very dependent on me; if I wasn’t there it was visible as far as the figures were concerned,” says George. “For the past 12 years my business here has allowed me to take on other projects without the business being affected, as people will go to someone else in my absence.” Its location also has benefits for the BBC, making good commercial sense for the business to give employees access to services on site, saving them – and their employers – both time and money. “Having the salon is an additional service for potential BBC employees to benefit from,” he continues. Spin-offs As well as catering for BBC employees, the salon team provides a service for its newsdesk, tending to the tresses of presenters before they go on screen. “This cross-over service has proved very beneficial to the business, and means the salon staff can get involved in different areas,” says George. And it isn’t purely BBC staff who visit the salon: “Some of our clients don’t work at the BBC, they visit through recommendation,” he continues. The salon has a turnover of 100-130 clients a week on average. “Part of our success is, of course, down to the population around us – we have a very captive audience. There is a high turnover of staff at the BBC, and of course many people freelance here so there is always the opportunity for new clients, which keeps the business running well,” he continues. Changing channels And the smooth running of the business has enabled George to pursue other projects, travelling to St Moritz, Switzerland, every February as a guest stylist at a prestigious hotel for the high season. “This has been a great opportunity and I have developed an annual clientele there, so it works for me that the business can function on its own when I am not there,” he says. So is George pleased with the way his business has developed? “The results speak for themselves – I like novelty and to me it was a novel idea at the time. It has proved to be a good business decision and I wouldn’t change a thing.”