Member Spotlight: Melanie Martin, Braid Da Bambino

Where do you live?
Harehills and Chapeltown

What is your business?
Braid Da Bambino - Baby hair braiding salon.  Targeting 18 months to 11 years old. 

How long have you been going?
We launch in November!

Why did you decide to start up?
Zara and I met at hospital, there are 2 hours difference between our children being born.  I was a frustrated employee, who worked in sales and had big targets. I wanted to look at doing something myself.  I spoke to Zara about my idea as I felt that I needed a business partner.  Zara had been ready to go to University to study social work,her pregnancy made her change her direction, so we teamed up.

How did you come up with the idea?
I have always been interested in hair, and started thinking of a way that I could make money that just wasn’t being done.  I thought about how hard it is to control not just afro hair, but hair in general.  There are enough hairdressers out there, and we wanted to create something that kids would want to go to because they would have fun being there.  Braid Da Bambino will have speakers outside playing Disney music with bubble machines.  The salon chairs are aeroplanes and hummers and barbie carts, specially ordered in from America.  We will have plasma’s playing Disney films and cd’s going round the mirrors.  We will have a creche area, somewhere that parents can gain peace of mind, knowing that they can leave their kids in safe hands whilst their hair is being done.  To keep the kids busy there will also be computers with games.  We will also have baby changing and feeding facilities.  There will be a children’s wall of fame, with the parent’s permission, a photo will go up on the wall.  Votes will go towards the best hairstyle of the week.  There will be loyalty cards for discounts, we have so many things, and we are only just starting, we are coming up with ideas all the time.

What are your challenges?
Finance.  Everything else is fine, it’s very difficult to get money for start up businesses.  We have had to be creative, cut back and pool our resources to make sure that we have enough money to go round to start up with the equipment that we need.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Go with your own gut feeling.  Keep your vision. 

What is your pet hate?
Dishonesty.

Comments

[Andi M]

Hi - well done! - Im hoping to visit Leeds soon and do some shopping! - Might pop in and say hello! The Hotel in Leeds i stayed in the last time was great, dont think its too far from you!