Well-established business owner says goodbye to hairdressing premises of 22 years in Northampton
A well-established business owner has said goodbye to her hairdressing premises of 22 years in Northampton as she takes her career down a new path.
Debbie Wolstenholme was the founder and owner of hair and beauty salon Jungle Red on Wellingborough Road, which she chose to close down after more than two decades of success.
This is not a story of a business gone bust, but instead a personal decision by Debbie to step away from the responsibility that comes with running a busy high street salon and employing a team.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built and I’m choosing to change the pace and shape of my working life,” Debbie told the Chronicle & Echo. “Jungle Red has been a huge part of my life, not just a workplace.
“It has held countless memories – busy Saturdays, laughter, long chats in the chair, and those moments where clients become part of the story.
“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported the salon over the years, and to every member of staff I’ve employed. Many have been with me for a long time, and they’ve given so much. That part is genuinely the hardest to say goodbye to.”
Now that Debbie has finished paying off the building, she wants to prioritise a more relaxed life with her two small children and a calmer working structure.
She still loves hairdressing and is not stepping away from the craft, and will continue offering her services in a quieter and more manageable way from home.
Debbie continued: “I’ve loved being part of the town and serving local clients for so many years. This decision isn’t about disliking the area or the community, far from it.”
Hairdressing has been Debbie’s world since she was 14 years old, when she started at John Barrett Hair Works in Kingsthorpe. She went on to buy her own salon at the age of 23 and has spent the last two decades building something she is incredibly proud of.
It was in December 2004 when Debbie took the leap to set something up for herself, at a time when she was inundated with clients and filled with the optimism that she could make a success of it on her own.
Jungle Red went on to offer a full range of hair and beauty treatments, made possible with a team of long-term staff members – some who had been by Debbie’s side for more than a decade-and-a-half.
“We were different and a really strong brand,” said Debbie. “It was a really nice experience from when people walked in the door to when they left.”
The team were understanding of Debbie’s decision to close the salon and offer a boutique personal experience from her home moving forward.
She has maintained practically all of her clients and is fully booked with appointments for the next month, as well as continuing her teaching of hairdressers and barbers at Tresham College.
Debbie plans to rent her former building, which is in a great location with a room out the back, a courtyard and planning permission for a flat on the top of three floors.
Debbie can still be reached on the salon phone number and [email protected] to ensure continuity as she transitions into the next chapter of her career.