Sisters take expansion plunge into central city

From left, Nicky Brell, Anna Black, Grace Brell and Jess Brell of Elixir Hair and Beauty.PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Rotorua hairdresser Jess Brell knew from a young age that she wanted to be a hairdresser, but she never imagined she would own her own business at 21 and go on to have her sisters working by her side.

What started as a small salon in Ngapuna, has grown into a successful business that recently expanded, taking over a busy spot in the central city.

Jess, now 31, says although she was young and not overly business-minded, support from her family put her on the path to success.

"It was 2005, and I had a job that wasn't working for me. I was a senior stylist at another salon but I was over it and I was considering starting a new career.

"That's when my mum saw a building in Ngapuna for lease and she said she thought I should give it a go, and she helped get me in the door.

"She saw the passion I had, and she believed in me. So I took a chance and at 21, anything could have happened," she says.

"I was working by myself for two years, then I rented a chair and it became quite a buzzing little shop. Then, in 2009, my sister Nicky came on board. She was training to be a beauty therapist. And now our other sister Grace has come on board as our other beauty therapist."

After almost 10 years at Funk It Up Hair and Beauty in Ngapuna, the Brell sisters decided to take the next step, moving into much larger premises.

"A client came in with a voucher she had purchased for treatments at Exquisite, and when she went in to redeem it, it was closed. It got me wondering what they were doing with the building, because it's in a great location.

"And then I saw it advertised on Trade Me.

"Nicky came and had a look through it and loved it. So we thought, we've just got to do it. We need to make a change and expand. So we took the plunge," Jess says.

"It's been hard work. We have spent the last three months working fulltime at the other salon while fixing this one up. We were here working on the place until midnight the night before we opened, but it's been worth it."

Elixir Hair and Beauty opened on Eruera St three weeks ago and Jess says the support from their clients has been overwhelming.

"We had clients bring us flowers, and some dropped in to have a look around and congratulate us. We have the best clients, they're so beautiful, we are really lucky. They're so supportive, they're like our family. And that's what we are all about here."

For more information on the services Elixir offer, call into 1139 Eruera St or phone (07) 345 6200.