Staff at a Swindon salon are celebrating after moving the beauty business into a new space.
Le Petit launched on Wood Street in 2010, then spent eight years based above Miller and Holland on High Street, and now has its own ground-floor premises that can be seen from the roadside.
Last month, boss Rachel Barber and her three colleagues Shenade Belgrave, Amy Brewer, and Charley Dack, welcomed new and returning customers into the cosy new salon area after spending several weeks renovating an empty unit.
The former owner of the site wanted to step back and focus on other things, so she suggested that Rachel rent and use it for her own start-up.
Rachel said: “It was nice sharing with other businesses but we were a bit hidden away and people who came in kept asking if we were new, so we wanted to find our own premises.
“The old space was very large, which made it difficult to heat without becoming unaffordable for us, so after going through the winter, I thought I should accept my friend’s offer or I would regret not taking it.
“It felt like it was meant to be, it came at the perfect time.”
Charley Dack, Shenade Belgrave, and Rachel Barber (Image: Dave Cox)
During lockdown, staff decided to start developing their own beauty products which are organic, locally sourced, and available to buy in the salon.
People can pop in to have their nails done on the ground floor or head upstairs for massages and facials.
The small but strong team has been working together for 20 years, first meeting while working for DeVere before going their own way together.
Rachel added: “It’s taken a while to adjust to the new space but we’re into the rhythm of it now, and it fits our name, like going back to our roots.
“The move has done us a lot of good. We gained 20 new clients in two weeks and more are coming in all the time, which is brilliant.
Le Petit on the High Street in Old Town. (Image: Dave Cox)
“Being opposite Los Gatos is a great advertisement, people notice us while sat in there and pop in for a look after their meal.
“Having our own face and body products works well because we are not paying lots for branded ones and our clients really enjoy them.
“We’re a good team, we work together, and we’re so excited about our new home.”
Visit the Le Petit Facebook page www.facebook.com/lepetit.uk or call 01793 423959.
