National award in Newark salon's first year

A Newark hair salon has won a national award in its first year.

Zoe Chamberlain opened her Saks hair salon on Castlegate in July 2020 and in a whirlwind first year has hosted a successful fundraising event and won a national award.

Despite the challenges of covid-19 restrictions, Zoe aimed to make the salon welcoming and safe for customers and her team.

The salon held a Make Time For Tea event ­— with drinks, food and a raffle ­— to mark gynaecological cancer awareness month and raise money for Saks’ national charity partner, The Eve Appeal.

Zoe said: “We’re 100% Saks4Eve in memory of my dear friend Elaine Atkinson who tragically lost her life to a gynaecological cancer. Elaine had said two things to me ­— you keep smiling and please raise lots of funds for Eve. We have big plans in the pipeline for 2022 ­— watch this space.”

The salon contributed £450 to the national pot of £185,000 for the charity.

She also won special recognition for customer experience in the Saks Awards 2021.

Zoe said: “We’d like to say huge thanks for coming in during this crazy time ­— we are blown away by the ongoing support we’ve received.

There are also big plans for the business in 2022.

Zoe said: “More of everything. Nurturing the team so we can keep happy and inspired to provide beautiful hair. Having worked closely with the Saks Artists over the years I love arranging for them to come to the salon to put on a creative, bang-in-the-moment training session ­— it’s what we’re all about.”