Ruth was ahead of her time with salon choice

IT was a tough decision. Ruth Roddam had always harboured dreams of becoming a hair stylist, and now this was her opportunity.

A firm believer in the values of hard work and dedication, she made a calculated move from which she has never looked back.

Twenty years ago, as a busy mother-of-two, she invested her family allowance in an endowment policy and, on its maturity, bought her first Saks hairdressing franchise in Redworth Hall, near Heighington, County Durham.

Four award-winning franchises later, Ruth’s successes continue aplenty.

Now heading up Saks, in Houndgate, Darlington, she is happier than ever, crafting and sculpting hairstyles for scores of customers.

And behind that stylish exterior lies a strong interior and a commitment to continuously improving the brand and its services.

She said: “It was an emotional time in my life which made me re-assess where I was going and what I needed to do.

“I looked at it from a totally different angle and decided to go with Saks, it offered me the franchise opportunity and the national brand awareness.

“I enjoy the challenge of taking on a business that is in a little bit of trouble and seeing what we can do with it.”

Success soon followed again at a franchise in Hexham, Northumberland, though that was not such a surprise for a woman whose commitment and passion have driven her forward in a career she had always envisaged entering.

She said: “I always wanted to be a hairdresser right from being a child.

“When I was growing up there was a businesswoman called Betty Bilton, on High Row, Darlington, who had her own salon and always had her Mercedes parked outside. I used to walk past and think to myself that one of these days I’m going to have that. I could see what could be achieved through hard work.

“You have to work hard, it becomes more of a way of life than a job, but you need that attitude to succeed.

“I took the decision to go into the business and had the opportunity to back a salon that needed re-direction, that was my first Saks salon.”

And now, with a strong team behind her, Ruth is confident of continuing the good times.

She said: “It is very hard growing and developing a business that is 45-years-old, especially in what is already a saturated marketplace in Darlington.

“There are a lot of people who try to copy our business model, they think they can do it better, but rarely can.

“We are a pro-active team, have won awards and our business increased last year when others did not.

“The key is good business practice, getting the important things right, and not living beyond your means or using it to support a very extravagant lifestyle.

“You have got to set plans and stick to them. We have been built on strong foundations, we are a significant brand and we would like to see continuous future development.”