Award-winning hairdresser Andrew Price is celebrating his 20th year in business. It was in 1988 that Andrew opened his first salon in Tenby. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, with a further six opening across West Wales. Born and raised in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Andrew began his hairdressing career in 1983 with a Saturday job, becoming a full-time apprentice later that year. After three years of training, he became a senior stylist and then progressed to art director and eventually manager of a busy salon in Lichfield. While working in the Midlands, Andrew used to visit Tenby on holiday and while there, he noticed a distinct lack of up-to-date hairdressers. Upon seeing this gap in the market, he decided that the resort would be the ideal area to open his first salon. The Tenby salon was opened in the town's historical Mews in May 1988 with the aid of a low interest loan from the Princes Youth Business Trust. Due to its policy of offering the very best in hair care, accompanied by quality service, the business quickly flourished, and with the success and demand increasing saw the relocation of the salon to its current exclusive premises on the main High Street in Tenby. The Tenby salon is now run by Sarah Davies from Cresselly who joined the Andrew Price team in 1994. Sarah returned to the area after many years working as a stylist in London and started work initially in the Tenby salon as a senior stylist. After 12 months, was she promoted to manager of the Carmarthen salon, before moving back to become the franchisee of the Tenby salon in November 1998. Andrew's second salon, meanwhile, opened in Carmarthen's Bridge Street in 1989, which was followed by Haverfordwest in 1991, Llanelli in 1999, Swansea in 2000, the Andrew Price Training Academy in 2001, Carmarthen Auction Room in 2005, and more recently Lampeter just last month.

Commitment to customer service

The commitment to customer service has been advocated from day one, with Andrew's philosophy that "the client is the first and last, most important thing". It's a statement that has grown and is now embedded into the culture of the group. The standard was set and the training of all staff to high standards was quickly put into place. This allowed the company to pursue a dream of giving the customer a great experience. Clients began to understand that an appointment at Andrew Price is much more than a haircut; it's an experience - it's a way of life. Andrew has a passion for great hair and going that extra yard. His aim is to make every customer feel special and take them away from their life's problems whilst in the salon. Each customer is enticed to relax by a helpful friendly reception upon arriving where their coat is taken and they are introduced to an expert designer who will take the time to consult about their needs and desires. Every client, whilst undergoing or waiting for their treatment, is offered a refreshment menu featuring a wide selection of beverages to choose from the salon's juice bar, together with the latest choice of magazines.

Exciting new aspects to hairdressing

Over his successful two decades in business, Andrew has introduced a range of exciting new aspects to hairdressing. One is the new client package. After a first visit to the salon, each client will receive a special thank you pack which includes an appointment card with their stylist's name, a £5 thank you voucher and a loyalty card. The introduction of the loyalty card is an advert in itself to be placed in the client's purse/wallet. It is displayed with each and every purchase they make and for this subtle advertisement, they reward the clients with a free 10th visit. The group also offers a free consultation service to all clients, with absolutely no obligations. Students, meanwhile, are entitled to 10 per cent discounts on haircuts and 20 per cent discount on chemical services on production of their Student Discount Card, which can be obtained on application from the salon. The group also offers a full wedding day package. Information and prices can be again obtained within every salon.

Awards galore

In 1997, the Andrew Price Group was awarded Investors in People status. It was amongst the first in the hairdressing industry in South Wales to receive this prestigious accolade and has continued to retain IIP status since. Since 2000, the group has become very busy and is proud to boast achieving finalist status in many of the awards associated with the British Hairdressing Industry. In 2000, Andrew Price was a runner-up in the British Hairdresser of the Year competition, as well as being in the finals of the British Hairdressing Business Awards for Salon Design; Salon Team: Business Director of the Year; Customer Care and Training. Andrew has since been a finalist in these awards in: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, with entries currently being prepared for the 2008 year.

Key to success

Andrew believes that the key to the group's success is its professionalism and standards of service. "Our aim is to ensure that we deliver and improve on the impeccable standards of quality and service for which we are renowned," he says. "I believe that the training we give our staff is paramount to this and the culture we have created within our salons is that all are clients are special." He added: "It is three times harder to get a new client as it is to keep an existing one. Therefore, we give each and every client undivided attention and treat them as if it is their first visit. I believe this is the secret to success." The Andrew Price salons are open six days a week, Monday to Wednesday 9 am until 7 pm, with late night openings on Thursdays until 9 pm, Fridays until 7 pm and Saturdays until 4.30 pm. Concluded Andrew: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for their loyalty and support over the years and inform them we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary tomorrow (Saturday, May 24) - feel free to pop in for a glass of fizz! With this success means that more expansion is in the pipeline. The Andrew Price group continues to grow from strength to strength and Andrew's clear about his ambitious plans - he wants to explore new areas still and hopes to open a further five salons by 2010.