Waurn Ponds hairdresser sells business after 16 years

A POPULAR hair salon in Waurn Ponds has handed over operations to new ownership after 16 years.

Anita Farrell has said goodbye to Just Cuts Waurn Ponds after opening the business in 2007.

Ms Farrell said it was a tough decision to sell her business located inside the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre, and that she would miss the buzz her salon created each day the most.

“When we’re busy, everything flows; I love the momentum of a busy salon,” Ms Farrell said.

“It’s the satisfaction I get of doing a great job and clients leaving us looking better than when they came in.

“I knew that once I sold my last salon, my time with Just Cuts would be over. I love the Just Cuts franchising family, so I didn’t want to sell it to just anyone.

“I put the feelers out through our owners’ network, and it sold within a week.”

Ms Farrell and her son went into the store on the final night after everyone had left and enjoyed some takeaway.

She said she needed a quiet moment to process the memories and say goodbye.

Ms Farrell has noticed change over 16 years as a Just Cuts franchise owner, mainly through technology and trends.

“The younger generation of clients want to look like the Geelong AFL players – from school age to young adults,” she said.

“If a game’s on in town, I’d always adjust the roster because I knew we’d be seeing men in the morning and mums and kids throughout the day, so I’d need more stylists on.

“I have a mobile app to check how the salon is performing instantly and look at cut rates and client numbers, however, to my last day I still did all our productivity sheets by paper.”

Ms Farrell believes anyone considering a hairdressing career should just go for it.

“Hairdressing will never be replaced by technology and there’s always be a market,” she said.

“It’s a career you can do your whole life, and there’s opportunities all over the world from apprentice to salon owner.

“I’m so proud of the salon, the team and the small business I built here in Geelong.”

Ms Farrell, a mother of five, plans to remain in Geelong until her eldest son gets married later this year before moving to Queensland.