About Saks Hair Middlesbrough
As our Saks Hair Middlesbrough salon at 52 Albert Road celebrates a rich heritage of 40 years of being in town, our salon owner Steve Robinson looks back over 40+ years with Saks!
Back in 1974 Steve, of Darlington, was an apprentice mechanic but it wasn’t for him and he left, intending to enroll at college. A mutual friend introduced him to Stephen Kee (our Managing Director at Saks today) and he was offered a temporary job working in the very first Saks salon which had just opened in Darlington. Steve says: “Stephen said we would have a laugh! This salon was different to other hairdressers and had a great vibe about it; that I would fit in. I thought ‘why not’ and have never looked back.”
Within the year Steve was learning the ropes as a junior stylist and was handpicked to work in our second salon when it opened in Middlesbrough in September 1975.
LEARNING THE TRADE
Saks was the first to bring cuts and blow-dries to the north-east and colleges didn’t teach what we were doing so traditional hairdressing apprenticeships of that time didn’t apply. Steve says: “Our original owners Dennis Cheesebrough and Malcolm Hanson had a different ethos for Saks – we were all about pushing creativity and standing out. We got on with creating new feminine looks that where to define the era. We set our own high standards then as we continue to do today.”
ONE OF THE FIRST SAKS FRANCHISEES
As a key member of the original team Steve was instrumental in the success of several Saks salons – from Middlesbrough to Sunderland to Darlington, and then as a franchisee in the Huddersfield salon where he spent 9 years before returning as Middlesbrough franchisee in 1995.
HOW DOES HAIRDRESSING DIFFER IN THE 70S TO NOW?
Steve says: “Hairdressing has become more flamboyant – from the Pageboy back in the late 70s to the mania for straightening to glamorous hair-looks of today. We see phases come and go but Saks has always taught cutting classic shapes which are wearable and easy to do – they still rule. Whether it’s a wash and blow-dry or dressing it up, it’s essentially about having a great cut that’s personalised to suit you.”
All set for another busy day at our spacious Saks Middlesbrough salon
ICONIC HAIR LOOKS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
The latest national collection ICONIC celebrates special looks that transcend time. Steve says: “I loved Farrah Fawcett and Joanna Lumley’s Purdey cut in the 70s, then Jennifer Aniston in Friends in the ‘90s. These looks still get referenced. Modern-day? Cheryl Cole always wears her hair well and we’re seeing a massive trend for the longer lob at the moment.
Our celebrated ICONIC hair collection
CUSTOMER SUMS UP 4O YEARS OF SAKS MIDDLESBROUGH
Greta Jones has been a Saks Hair Middlesbrough customer since 1975 with only THREE stylists doing her hair in that time! Greta says: “Steve makes the difference between me feeling like an older lady and a stylish lady! Steve makes sure my hair suits me and I come out feeling special every time. I’ve been recommending Saks for 40 years and will continue to do so.”
Special-occasion hair looks every day at Saks Middlesbrough
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT SAKS TODAY?
Steve says: “Being part of a big player adds kudos to our salon – I love that people recognise our name. The Saks brand constantly evolves. The main thing for me is the fantastic training programme that we get as a given. My team benefits from a permanent cycle of training with the Saks Art Team in London – and it’s great for staff motivation.”
Saks Hair at 52 Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 1QD
To book an appointment with one of the 9-strong team of hair experts call 01642 246 864.