EP135: How Hunter and Walsh Came Back from the Edge of Ruins – with Vivienne Johns

Vivienne Johns is the co-owner of a successful hair salon business in Cornwall, UK, Hunter and Walsh. But it’s not been a straightforward journey for the business since it first opened back in 2003. From the brink of financial ruins, Vivienne and her business partner Nadine Hunter, have had to dig deep by learning the valuable lessons from previous mistakes made in running a salon business. These mistakes have guided them to where their thriving salon business is now at in 2020. So for the everyday salon owner experiencing the anxieties of running a salon day to day, this is the podcast for you.

When Vivienne first reached out to me she said, “I want to share my story with the listeners because as an avid listener of your podcast I sometimes struggle to recognise myself in the stories that are told. The untold stories of the everyday hairdresser, the ones that are struggling.” Well today Vivienne has that opportunity, as she shares her story that will resonate with many of you who are currently facing the challenges of running a salon business, or for those of you looking to learn about the realities of what it really means to have your own salon of the future. Good and bad!

We dig deep into the start up of the Hunter and Walsh salon. Next, Vivienne takes you through the growth of the salon, and how it went to the edge of ruins. In the end, Vivienne explains how they learned from all of their past mistakes, which eventually led them to come bouncing back with a successful and well run business model. It’s an open, honest – and at times, emotional conversation that will give us all a masterclass to running a salon business through all of it’s highs and lows. We cover it all!

This podcast today has so many inspirational takeaways from Vivienne on running a salon business. No matter how tough things can get in business, you’ll be empowered to know that to get true success, you’ll learn best from your mistakes and that having a steely determination will one day reap you the rewards. Lets dive in!

 

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions.

 

Thanks for Listening

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Special thanks to Vivienne Walsh for joining me today.

Until next Monday, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye

Show notes

Heres some of what we cover in todays episode
  • 00 min 31 sec: Show intro.
  • 04 min 20 sec: Speaking to the everyday hairdresser.
  • 05 min 43 sec: Early background to Vivienne.
  • 16 min 09 sec: Wanting to, and finally opening up a salon business.
  • 25 min 08 sec: A busy salon business, but…?
  • 27 min 23 sec: Business going into financial deficits and a rogue business partner.
  • 31 min 58 sec: The day the baliffs turned up at the salon.</
  • 36 min 38 sec: Disolving the salon business.
  • 39 min 45 sec: Starting salon business a fresh.
  • 44 min 58 sec: Just surviving as a new salon business.
  • 48 min 58 sec: Strength of a business partnership.
  • 50 min 06 sec: How the salon business recovered to become a success.
  • 52 min 37 sec: Stepping away from the salon floor to focus on the business.
  • 55 min 24 sec: Creating family values for the salon business to help it get back on track.
  • 58 min 50 sec: Another move for the salon business.
  • 59 min 44 sec: Feeding that bottom run to future proof your salon business.
  • 01 hr 00 min 28 sec: Learning how to run and understand the salon business.
  • 01 hr 03 min 25 sec: The future is bright for the Hunter and Walsh business.
  • 01 hr 08 min 38 sec: Where to find Vivienne online.
  • 01 hr 10 min 27 sec: Last 5 Questions.
  • 01 hr 12 min 30 sec: Show outro.

Todays guest

Vivienne Johns is the Salon Director and co-owner with Nadine Hunter of Hunter & Walsh, in Penzance Cornwall.Starting her hairdressing career at Umberto Giannini’s and Toni&Guy in Dublin and Birmingham, Vivienne has now been hairdressing for over 20 years, where she has created a passion for education for both herself and her team. Vivienne loves to cut curly hair and offers her salon owner experience coaching other salon owners throughout the UK.