HDS Hair aims to transform the hair industry and become the most customer-centric and community-focused supplier by providing support and inspiration, training and education to salon owners, hairdressers and hair enthusiasts, as well as providing products that are great quality, great value and ethical.
Since the start of the pandemic, five thousand hair salons have closed and apprenticeships in the hair industry have fallen by 30%. With innovative ideas and a passion for the industry, Co-Founders of HDS Hair Kieran Cannon and Gemma Lennon plan for their business to play its part in reversing this decline.
With ambitions to open their very own retail store in Glasgow and launch a brand new company website to support their plans, Kieran and Gemma sought funding from Business Loans Scotland and successfully received a £30,000 loan, as part of a larger funding package.
Supporting small and medium sized businesses across Scotland with loans to start-up or grow, BLS offer loans from £25,000 to £250,000 to ensure that commercially viable proposals do not fail from a lack of access to finance.
Fully financed by the Scottish Government, BLS has issued loans to 139 businesses across Scotland to date totalling in excess of £10.4 million with loans being used for various purposes including to raise working capital, invest in office premises, increase marketing activity and to introduce new product lines to name a few.
Since receiving the funds, the HDS team have opened a large state-of-the-art retail store in Glasgow’s west end, complete with an education space, a runway and inspiration hub. The disused warehouse has undergone a remarkable £250,000 refurbishment to turn it into a supportive space for creators.
Providing support to hair professionals across all aspects of their business, the HDS team plan to use its retail space to host events, training and education workshops and support sessions for the hair community.
As well as offering over 2000 marketing-leading products, the brand is on a mission to build a community that’s centred on connection and collaboration, and to bring back the true essence of the hair industry which has been lost over time.
HDS co-founder Kieran Cannon said:
“We know that salon owners, stylists and professionals need more support and that’s where we come in. We’re partnering with some of the best freelance educators in the industry to help support hair professionals in areas such as business development, career development, marketing, technique training, wellbeing support and innovation.
“We’re delighted to have opened the doors to our fantastic HQ building which we are immensely proud of and we’re extremely grateful to have Business Loans Scotland on our journey with us.”
Fund Manager for Business Loans Scotland, Andrew Dickson added:
“This is an incredibly exciting time for HDS Hair. As a highly innovative hair and beauty supplier, they are leading the way with their plans to transform the industry and I am delighted that Business Loans Scotland has been able to be a small part of their journey in providing the funding required to launch their retail store in Glasgow and brand new company website. We wish Kieran, Gemma and the whole team at HDS Hair continued success for the future.”
