TGtB Meets...David Maxwell Hairdressing

Following the prestigious Bath Chronicle Business Awards 2014, held at Bath Racecourse on the 11th of September, we caught up with David Maxwell owner of David Maxwell Hairdressing and winner of the Customer Service Award...

Congratulations on your win! Tell us a little bit about your business?

We are a very progressive hair salon in Widcombe that was established in 2011, since then we have been going from strength to strength. David Maxwell Hairdressing offers an exceptional team of stylists dedicated to giving you the best pampering experience in Bath. We are Paul Mitchell Colour and Racoon Hair Extension specialists as well as being Bridal Hair experts. We are hugely passionate about bringing together fabulous looking hair with unbeatable service, which will leave you not only looking, but feeling gorgeous too.

What does winning this award mean for you and your company?

Personally, winning this award is recognition that we are doing the right thing for our guests. I celebrate this award with my fantastic team. They are what DMH is about and every one of them is part of our success.

Why do you think you won?

We continually assess what is working and what we could do even better. I am constantly looking for ways to improve our guests’ experience, not only with fantastic hairdressing skills but also the entire journey from the moment they make contact with us - to the time they leave the salon looking and feeling beautiful. We also offer a unique element to our excellent customer service; a homecare maintenance programme to help guests manage their styling needs between salon visits. As a result, our re-booking and retention rates speak for themselves.

How are you planning to celebrate your victory?

We will be taking the team out for a celebration, somewhere in Bath. There are so many places to choose from – wherever it is, it will be a fun and loud night out! The whole team is buzzing and feel proud to have won this prestigious Bath Business Award.

Business is clearly booming, why do you think so many people visit Bath?

Bath is a World Heritage Site and has some very obvious attractions. In addition to this, it is a forward thinking city, with so much going on throughout the year. There is vast investment currently taking place in Bath from major investors based outside the city as well as from inside this vibrant business community. All this said, it is the people of Bath that makes this city so amazing.

What's your favourite thing about Bath and why?

I have lived in Bath for 10 years now and love every day of it. It is the longest I have stayed anywhere in my adult life. From walking around and taking time to notice the fine architectural details, which are on every street corner, to eating and drinking in the many bars, restaurants and coffee shops in the city - which are two of my favourite things about Bath. I don’t think I will ever get bored of being here – there is always plenty to do in our beautiful city.

Tell us a little bit about the role that you play within the business?

I have been in this industry for over 30 years, working in all aspects from education in colleges, photoshoots, magazine work and being part of growing large companies to owning my first salon at 22 yrs old. This journey has led me to meet inspirational hair artists and business managers along the way. I feel my role now is to use this experience to coach and inspire future stars of this beautiful industry.

What advice would you give to someone looking to succeed in your industry?

It is very difficult to succeed on your own. If you want to run your own successful salon you must have faith and belief in the team around you. Coaching and education is imperative to growing success. As a stylist you must always embrace change as fashion is ever evolving and you must be ahead of the game. In order to gain respect from your guests, you should always be able and want to give advice and information in all aspects of our industry.