Swamp Thing help open new salon

Opening of HoneyComb hair salon. Cathy Barker (left) and Sarah Pearson with the band SwampThing playing behind. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua's latest hair salon Honey Comb was launched with a bang last week with music by Swamp Thing and a crowd of 50-plus guests.

Co-owner Cathy Barker's husband, well known drummer and percussionist Mike Barker, and Tauranga singer/guitarist Grant Haua, formed the blues-based duo in 2010, which has developed a strong following throughout the country.

Rotorua born Mr Barker was a long-time member of Australia's John Butler Trio.

Getting the salon open in time has been a family affair, and Ms Barker emphasised that it was not necessary to spend a lot of money to have a great looking shop. Ms Barker did the interior design and has joined forces in the new business with Sarah Pearson, whose husband Stu completed the fit-out.

"Everything except the cutting stations, shelving and wallpaper, was recycled," she said.

"We did it on a shoestring budget."

Ms Barker, who only discovered the location, a former souvenir shop on the corner of Tutanekai St and Pukuatua St, on New Year's Eve.

"It's been a busy three months. We stripped the shop bare and started from scratch. We both wanted a clean functional space."

Between them, the business partners have 60 years hairdressing experience. Both formerly worked for another company, Ms Pearson based in Rotorua and Ms Barker divided her time between Papamoa and Taupo.

"Sarah has a strong client base in town. I was tired of travelling and wanted to work in one spot."

They had been talking about opening a salon for years and finding the "perfect location" triggered the decision, she said.

Ms Pearson said the pair felt Rotorua needed a salon that was a bit groovier and funkier. Both business partners are relative newcomers. Ms Barker met her Rotorua-born husband in Melbourne and they decided to return to his hometown six years ago, while the
Pearsons immigrated from the UK five years ago.

Both women said they had fallen in love with the city.

The two will be working six days a week and open from 10am to 6pm, and plan to expand by adding a colourist and another cutter later in the year. They are entering a crowded sector, and Ms Barker said the salon would compete by offering very reasonable prices, with something for everybody.