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As a salon, Ishoka encompass everything that one of the UK’s leading salons should. As a business the salon services one thousand clients each week –providing all clients with the highest standards of hairdressing and customer care. The business is profitable with the partners all ploughing the profits back into it via staff training & development, the upkeep and the maintenance of the salon and the building and marketing their business to ensure they maintain their position as market leader in Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland.
For the past nineteen years, Ishoka have been at the forefront of hairdressing, building up a reputation for providing their discerning clientele with the highest standards of hairdressing and customer care. When partners Philip Bell, Malcolm MacNeil and Kathryn Longmuir opened the first Ishoka salon in 1987, their philosophy was to look after the clients, providing them with the highest standards of hairdressing and service, which would allow it to grow and develop. This philosophy has served them well. In 1995 they opened their second salon, a 4,500sq ft Grade II B listed building in the heart of Aberdeen’s West End. Clients are welcomed into the serene reception area which houses a beautiful marble fireplace and comfortable sofa’s and chairs, where they can sit and watch a fashion or music DVD on the giant plasma screen and enjoy a cappuccino, café latte, herbal tea or glass of wine before being taken to the main salon for a one to one consultation with their stylist.
Each stylist at Ishoka has their own assistant; this means that clients have their own individual team working on their hair. The assistant is involved in the consultation, and with the hairdresser, advises the client which product is appropriate to use on their hair. Maureen Flett is responsible for the team of receptionists and housekeepers. Partner Kathryn Longmuir along with two of the senior assistant’s look after the assistants. Partner Philip Bell looks after the stylists and ensures that the high standards set on the salon floor are continually maintained and Business Liaison Manager Cameron Taylor, along with managing partner Malcolm MacNeil, are responsible for the well being of the team and the day to day running of the business.
The training and artistic teams based at Albyn Terrace are made up of highly skilled and focused individuals. They have had tremendous success as a team being awarded Investors in People in 1999 and having successfully been re-awarded the accolade in 2002 along with the distinction in 2001, 2003 and 2004 of winning the Customer Care Award at the British Hairdressing Awards and in 2002 and 2004 being awarded the Salon of the Year – a testimony to their dedication in providing the highest standards of client care, training and development. A fitting testimony to the luxurious design of the salon was when in 2003 Ishoka were awarded Salon Design of the Year. At The British Hairdressing Awards, partners Philip Bell and Kathryn Longmuir lead the artistic team both having been successful in the Scottish and Afro categories at the British Hairdressing Awards.
The team at Ishoka execute the company’s mission statement to the letter –“It is the company’s intention to become and remain the market leader, with respect to the quality of service provided by means of staff trained to provide the ultimate client experience and satisfaction.” Malcolm, Philip & Kathryn |
