Style and mass appeal - clipso london

When Darren Fowler opened his Clipso London franchise the challenge he faced was creating a salon with mass-market appeal, but a distinct look and atmosphere that will set it apart from the competition. "Being in the hub of Fitzrovia, our clientele includes media people, nurses, doctors and even students – we have a real mixture of clients and we needed to appeal to them all," he explains.The site, just a few doors down from his old salon, was formerly an art gallery and proved the perfect blank canvas for him to set about realising his vision. He adds: "I wanted to create an urban space, with a different atmosphere for each section. "Clients first enter a light, welcoming reception and retail area; then they walk through to a boutique-style cutting area, which has a dressing-room feel; they then walk down five concrete steps into the gallery, which has a New York loft apartment effect."Pictures>>

Fact File Name: Clipso London Address: Windmill Street, London Franchisee: Darren Fowler Size:1,000sq ft Staff: 10 Styling stations:12 Budget:£80,000 Financing:Self Budget Box Styling units: £22,000 Retail display: £3,000 Dispensary: £5,000 Air-conditioning: £7,000 Plumbing: £4,000 Flooring: £4,000 Builders: £25,000 Miscellaneous: £3,000. How To Achieve The Look Design: Matthew Hilton at Circle 36 - 020 8342 9198 Sally Salon Services - 020 7713 5300. Top Tips Have a definite idea of what you want to achieve Be realistic about your budget Shop around for the best price Have a good relationship with your builder/designer Do it well – or not at all.

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