Meet the salon owner: Leanne Holt at Brhaive in Stockton Heath

Brhaive is no exception.

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

Here Leanne Holt, who owns Brhaive, tells us about her business.

If you would like to appear in one of our Meet The Salon Owner, Meet The Stylist, Meet The Makeup Artist or Meet The Beauty Therapist features email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Owner Leanne Holt and some of her team

What’s your name?

Leanne Danielle Holt

What’s the name of the business?

BRHAIVE

What’s the business address?

11 London Road,

Stockton Heath

Are you the manager or owner?

I am the owner

When did you open the business?

I opened in 2020, at the start of Covid-19

Brhaive offers a new era of salon experience, where comfort meets self-care

Has it always been in the same location?

Yes, I started my apprenticeship here back when it was another salon. I have worked in a few other salons and came back to make it my own 10 years later.

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

I am originally from Oldham but moved to Grappenhall when I was 16 with my parents.

Tell me a bit about your business. What do you do? What services do you provide?

Brhaive is a hair and well-being salon focused on the mental wellbeing of its staff and customers. We are predominantly hair, but have beauty room upstairs and have recently started offering the Japanese headspa which fits really well with our salon vibe and ethos around taking time out for yourself. We hold wellness workshops monthly for customers and our local community which include a variety of workshops such as reiki, wreath making, painting, medium evenings and more. We also offer freelance bridal hair and makeup services and carry awards for our bridal services and team.

Why did you decide to open your own business?

I’ve always been passionate about helping others and feel as though I’ve always had a business mindset after watching my dad grow a successful company from a young age. I knew I wanted to run a business one day and when I stepped into the hairdressing world, I was inspired by all of the high end salons. I wanted to be as successful as them one day. I started working for myself at 19 and built up from there.

What’s your business background?

I’ve had a lot of ups and downs since becoming a business owner, but a lot of my knowledge now has come from experience and learning from past mistakes.

Why this type of business?

I got the keys to Brhaive during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone thought I was crazy but when I saw that the salon where I once worked and loved was up for lease, I knew it was meant to be. Instead of thinking of all the negatives of why it wouldn’t work and why it wasn’t a good time to open a business at that time, I shifted my mindset and focused on the positives of how it could work and why it was a great time. When was I ever going to get so much time to work on my business plan, decorate my salon and recruit? It felt like the perfect time for me and it genuinely helped me mentally through a really rough time for all of us as it kept me busy.

The bridal services team has won industry awards

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

We did have to close a couple of times due to lockdowns, but I was well prepared for this happening pre signing my lease. So luckily, it didn’t affect us as much as it could have done. But then, being open and trading was difficult because of all of the restrictions in place. It was pretty tough!

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

We offer a new era of salon experience, where comfort meets self-care. We are dedicated to raising awareness about mental health while providing a space for relaxation and rejuvenation. I have navigated my own challenges with anxiety and making self-care a priority has been a crucial aspect of my holistic journey towards improved mental health. My aim is to provide a salon experience that fuses hair care with self-care, inspiring others to nurture themselves. Our thoughtfully designed space features smaller mirrors to enhance self-esteem and a lilac and purple interior that embodies tranquility. Customers can engage with others or unwind in our open atmosphere. They can take the time to unwind and reflect, nurturing both mind and hair and they can join us on a journey of renewal, strength, and inner peace.

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

Our clients return because of our reputation for incredible customer service, which means a lot to us. We want to help everyone to feel special and looked after when they visit us, leaving rejuvenated and empowered to take their self care journeys further outside of the salon.

The salon offers a ranger of different treatments for mind and body

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

Running my own business has enabled me to enjoy starting my own family and being on maternity for the last nine months. So, over the next few months, I will focus on getting back into my stride. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had the most amazing team and managers who have kept things running smoothly while I’ve been away.