By Matthew Legg

Last updated at 15:56, Friday, 05 February 2010

A Cumbrian business is proving itself a cut above the rest after announcing its third expansion in three years.

Jason and Elizabeth Brierley

Hair@Jibe, the salon chain with branches in Carlisle and Wigton, struck a deal this week to move into west Cumbria. The company has bought new premises on Washington Street, Workington, which it plans to renovate and open as its third hair salon later this year.

The multi-award winning firm is proving one of Cumbria’s biggest business success stories.

It has taken on some of the best-known names in the industry to win a clutch of award including Retail Salon of the Year at the prestigious British Hairdressing Business Awards.

The firm is owned by Carlisle-based husband and wife team Jason and Elizabeth Brierley.

Mr Brierley said: “It’s an exciting move for us and, we hope, for Workington.

“They’ve had a tough time there recently with the floods, but it’s still a growing economy, a vibrant place and somewhere we’ve had our eyes on for a while.

“We have a lot of customers there so it’s a natural step for us.

“It’s a substantial investment and will create five new jobs for the town.

“We want to put Cumbria on the map in the hairdressing world, which has never been done before.

“We feel we are unique in what we offer in terms of customer service and after care.”

Hair@Jibe began life in premises at Lonsdale Street, Carlisle, in 2002 before switching to an ultra-modern £400,000 salon on London Road in late 2006.

The firm opened a branch in Wigton in 2008, which expanded to a second floor last year.

Mr Brierley added: “The Wigton move has been a massive success.

“The recession hasn’t really held us back, we are still expanding and growing.

“We think of ourselves as a family. We invest in our staff. It’s not a job with us, it’s a career.”

Hair@Jibe’s impressive haul of awards has seen it become easily the most successful salon business in Cumbria and one of the most successful in the UK.

To date, Hair@Jibe has scooped awards including the Clynol Business Awards Retail Salon of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2007; the 2006 Clynol Business Awards Salon Design of the Year; and 2008 British Hairdressing Business Awards British Retail Salon of the Year.

Mrs Brierley was named runner-up in the Businesswoman of the Year category in the CN Group Business Awards 2009.

First published at 14:14, Friday, 05 February 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk