Small Business: Belinda Robb - Biba

Belinda Robb, founder of Biba hair salon. Photo / Supplied

Q. How did you end up developing a hair salon, a yoga studio and an event space?

A. I've been hairdressing for 29 years, and I started my salon, Biba, in Auckland's Birkenhead Point, in 2007. It was a small boutique salon next door to my house and I loved it, but seven years on we outgrew the space.

I was lucky enough to get a space three times the size and still near where I live. It was beautiful and open, with lots of natural light and polished wooden floors. Whenever I was there I felt compelled to practise yoga.

I felt a bit selfish keeping it as a salon and I just had this lightbulb moment when I said: "I can do both." I had a community of people around me who were all into the same things I am and it made sense.

So I designed a salon that could be wheeled away and converted to a yoga studio by one person in 10 minutes. Once we converted the space it became clear it could be used for events as well, so it is now hired out - mainly for wellness-focused events.

Q. How has diversifying affected your business?

A.Traditionally our industry is closed on a Sunday and Monday so we're putting what would normally be down time to good use. The idea was it would attract more clients and keep our regular clients coming back to the salon for a more diverse offering.

Q. What have been the challenges of running a more diverse business?

A.There have been more positives than challenges. It has added excitement to the roles I can offer myself and my team. It's keeping me highly engaged and I'm learning new things, which is exciting.

Not everyone has fitted into the new culture, so there have been staff changes. But the flip side is it has opened up new opportunities for existing and new staff.

Q. Are you going to diversify in other ways?

A. I have a completely open mind about where the business can go. We have a definite spin on wellness and natural hair and beauty so there are obvious service line extensions we will look to add, in natural beauty, for example.

I also run and walk a lot through the Chelsea Forest so we'll be doing guided bush walks and runs there. We won't be charging for those, but it is another way of getting people involved in their community and enhancing their wellbeing.

Q. What advice do you have for other small business owners looking to diversify?

A. I think people need to be brave and disrupt traditional small business models. I have been brave enough to listen to the wants and needs of my consumers and to create solutions for them.

It wouldn't have been commercially viable for me to create a yoga studio on its own but as a supplementary stream of income and a way to build a stronger community around my business it has been invaluable.

Check out Belinda's site: biba.co.nz