The busy Barnton salon welcoming customers for a haircut and a chat

There’s always a warm welcome in the salon on Runcorn Road and Oliver prides himself on the business' ‘living room’ feel where customers can make themselves at home.

Here, in our latest Meet The Salon Owner feature, Oliver, who is 38, tells us what it was like during the Covid-19 lockdowns and how he’ll never take his loyal customers for granted.

If you would like to appear in our Meet The Salon Owner feature, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Salon owner Oliver Gibney

What’s the name of the salon/business?

Oliver Gibney Hairdressing and Hair Extensions

What’s the address?

71 Runcorn Road

Barnton

Northwich

CW8 4ES

Are you the owner/manager?

Owner

How many employees do you have?

I have two employees.

When did you open the salon?

I was 19 set up the business so nearly twenty years ago.

The salon has been open for nearly 20 years

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I grew up in Northwich.

Tell me a bit about your salon/business

I run a fun salon where my clients feel at home. I call it my living room as I’m at work more than I’m at home! Clients build friendships and confidence when they’re with us and we laugh and smile every day. We specialise in colour and hair extensions. I trained with Balmain in 2005 and have several refresher courses for new methods. We are a five-star rated salon and we have won numerous awards including English Hair Awards silver rated salon in the north west and the British Hair Award for hair extensions last year. We have been nominated again this year as a hair extension specialist in two different competitions and have reached the finals.

A new colour transformation for the new year

READ MORE:

Retirement complex salon is a cut above the rest

What do you do? What services do you provide?

Hair extensions are the main focus and the transformations are unreal. We pride ourselves on safe, no glue methods. Our colour transformations also attract clients from as far as Anglesey, London, Sheffield and Leeds .

Why did you decide to open your own salon?

I’ve always been entrepreneurial and struggled working for someone else. I never wanted to do it half-heartedly so started off at Toni and Guy in Altrincham at 16, where I could learn about all areas of hairdressing. I enrolled myself on different courses and learnt all about the hairdressing industry so I could offer my clients everything they might need.

What’s your hair and beauty background?

At the age of 16, I started my apprenticeship straight after leaving school and loved every minute of it. I loved the salon banter and the whole hairdressing industry. It suited my bubbly personality and has always kept me on my toes with the ever-changing trends. I then went to work for my aunt at her salon in Hale and learnt so much. I used to go out onto the streets asking people to come into the salon for a restyle. I made a name for myself with my extension work and had some of my work feature on the TV series The Bachelor.

The salon has a homely feel and a warm welome

Why this type of business?

The fast moving but long days suit my personality - it’s a lifestyle choice not a job. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

READ MORE:

Two decades of hairdressing experience and thousands of happy clients

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your business?

Worry and anxiety were the worst things with Covid - the doors of the salon suddenly closed and there was no way of knowing when we would be able to reopen. We couldn’t tell our clients anything. Opening back up was overwhelming as so many clients - old and new – were booking in. We have a policy at the salon where we never turn anyone down - we will start two hours early or stay two hours later to fit everyone in! The business really went well when we reopened.

What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

At the salon, we have such a nice community vibe that everyone fits in and leaves with a smile on their face. We give our clients great hair and provide great hugs! The door is always open for a coffee and a chat and it’s became a social hub in Barnton.

Glossy blonde waves

Why do loyal clients return to your business?

Our customers can’t keep away! Some clients ask if they can come back sooner than six weeks as they can’t bare not seeing us all! Our five-star reviews speak for themselves and our social media pages showcase our high quality work.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your salon?

I’d like to build up my training academy for hair extensions. I want to share my knowledge with others, especially the young and talented people who want to get started in the industry.