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Double boost for thriving shopping strip
DOUBLE BOOST ... owners Jo and Gez Davidson, above, are creating jobs, while salon boss Graham Howe, inset, is moving his business from Westoe.
A DOUBLE retail boost is helping a small but thriving shopping strip steer through the recession.
Trendy Newcastle-based Cafe Bar One has opened a new outlet – its second in the North East – in Sunderland Road, Harton, South Shields.
Now a successful hairdressing business is aiming to stay a cut above by moving in as a neighbour.
Salon boss Graham Howe, 43, is switching his Hair By Jack business from Westoe – and taking on two staff.
He believes the move to bigger premises will open him up to fresh opportunities and possible further expansion.
It comes just weeks after Cafe Bar One, which has its main branch in Jesmond, redeveloped the former Linda Leary estate agent site.
Married owners Gez, 38, and Jo Davidson, 37, say their bistro-style cafe has been warmly welcomed into the cosy business community.
They opened with seven staff, but have already taken on two more, amid what they say are booming business conditions.
Mr Howe said: “The new salon is bigger and gives my business greater scope.
“I’m already able to take on two beauty therapists and diversify from simply doing people’s hair.
“Harton is a busy area and attracting a lot of people. It is thriving and I’m sure we will do well there.”
Mr Howe opened Hair By Jack 13 years ago after quitting his hairdressing job of almost a decade at Fenwick, in Newcastle.
He rents his Dean Road premises, which will close, but has bought the new Harton site, which opens for business on February 7.
Mr Davidson recognised Harton as a perfect business location after moving his family to South Shields two years ago.
He is originally from the town, but had lived in Newcastle, where they opened their outlet in 2004.
“In many ways, Harton replicates Jesmond, in that it has independent and quite quirky shops,” he said.
“Business is going very well, way beyond what we expected, and we are already building up a core of regular customers.
“We have been welcomed in by the other businesses. The most satisfying thing is that the jobs we have created are new jobs.”
Twitter: @ShieldsGazette
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Weather for Jarrow
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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bohemianblogger
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 04:53 PMWell done Gez and Jo, all the best, you deserve success :)
hayley4315
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 03:53 PMwell done to you all.
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