The husband and wife team cutting hair and hosting live music events

Our feature – Meet The Salon Owner – gives business owners and managers the chance to shine a spotlight on their salon and showcase some of their best work.

Here, husband and wife team Tom and Rae Mann, owners of House of Quirk, tell us how important music is to their ethos, how they came into the hairdressing industry and how the salon is more than just a business.

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

House of Quirk is on High Street in Northwich

What’s the name of the salon/business?

House of Quirk

What’s the address?

49 High Street, Northwich, CW9 5DD

Are you the owner/manager?

We co-own the salon together.

A new colour to brighten things up

How many employees do you have?

We have just recently grown to a mighty team of nine.

When did you open the salon?

We opened the big doors six years ago. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time!

The salon opened its door six years ago

Has it always been in the same location?

This is currently our first, and only location as House of Quirk.

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

We have both lived in Wincham for eight years. Tom is originally from the Lake District and Rae grew up in Liverpool. Together we are bringing together the wisdom of the north.

Tell me a bit about your salon/business

We are both super passionate about the hairdressing industry, its creativity and how we can boost people’s sense of being while training the future stylists. From this, House of Quirk was born. We have a very strong apprenticeship scheme in place that we call our fledgling programme. Historically hair salons have had a tendency to promote exclusivity whereas we like to promote inclusivity, making people feel comfortable from their first step into the salon to that final hair swing on their way out of the door.

We have a tag line #HairMusicMischief. The music part is a big part of House of Quirk, as Tom has a background in music himself, along with our manager Andy. We host bi-monthly live music events here at the salon under the name ‘The HQ Collective’. These events allow us to become part of something special - we are a platform for local, unsigned musicians to showcase their talents without the need for them to promote the gig or have pressures of selling tickets, and the other being that one hundred per cent of the ticket costs go to charity. The charity changes each time and is chosen by the headline artist. So far, we have managed to raise more than £10,000. The mischief part of our tag line reminds us and others to not take life too seriously.

Bi-monthly music nights are popular events at HQ

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What do you do? What services do you provide?

We are both full time stylists working with the team and we also train our fledgling stylists one full day each week too. Tom heads up the cutting side and Rae heads up the colour and technical side. Services wise, we do every hair service imaginable bar perming. If you can imagine the hair, we will find a way to provide what you want. We do love a challenge! We specialise in creative colouring and cutting, everything from a natural balayage with soft layers to a vividly wild colour creation with a mullet.

There's a warm and welcoming vibe at HQ

Why did you decide to open your own salon?

We love being part of the local community. House of Quirk is a salon that we can proudly call our own and we have the power to make a difference.

What’s your hair and beauty background?

We have always been a part of the hairdressing world. Rae had an after school job at a local salon from the age of 14, as well as working Saturdays. She knew what she wanted to do. She secured an apprenticeship and trained at Herbert of Liverpool’s Hair School. She loves to learn and this career offers new things constantly. Tom was unsure what he wanted to do but knew he wanted it to be creative. He was looking at graphic design and photography but one day at a career’s convention he saw a stand for a swanky hair salon in town and liked the idea. Being creative while in a social environment didn’t sound like work and he loved it.

Why this type of business?

We wanted something a little different from the usual. We feel that our business offers a sense of togetherness, a safe space for all - for clients as well as the team. We offer creativity and advice, when you don't know what it is you’re looking for.

Tom, Rae and their hard-working team at House of Quirk

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Were you open before/during/after the Covid-19 pandemic? How did this affect your business?

We opened in 2017 so we had a regular client base before closing during the pandemic. It was a rollercoaster of opening and closing the salon during all the lockdowns. It was brutal but we are still standing! We have an amazing support network.

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

We have a real passion for training the next generation in all aspects of hair. We have always had a love for hair with a bit of edge - a jagged micro fringe, a pop of blue etc. This together with our love for inclusivity and our bi-monthly salon shows, make a great environment for creative expression.

Long and wavy locks

Why do loyal clients return to your business?

We honestly have no idea! We are lucky enough to have an amazing team, led by our friend and salon manager, Andy. They are all truly great. They carry our passion for a relaxed, friendly and safe place to work, visit and be a part of. We do our best - that's all we can do!

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

After the past few years of uncertainty, we finally feel that we are in a place to be able to get excited, plan ahead, and grow HQ! Growing our own team through our fledgling programme takes time and we currently have two of our fledglings that are about to qualify and become graduate stylists, which is huge for us. We are focused on their future and planning for the whole team. Watch this space!