Interview 2
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A: Ok….I’ve been doing hairdressing, mobile, for quite a very very long time and one day I went out and got some products, me and my cousin. Was just driving along Ladypool Road I says to her “ There’s a shop there empty and I love to be able to run my salon, my business from there.” So we just went in, spoke to the guy and done all the paper work, then two weeks after CRB’s was opened…. Yeah I called the shop CRB’s cuz my names A:, I’ve got my son who’s name is Reece, he’s my life and our surname is Brown so that’s why the shop’s called CRB’s. Mmm it took say about a year to get a good cliental but I did have, you know, Asian, Black, White ladies coming in. Everybody was friendly. As the time went on I had an Asian girl doing nails, I had an Asian lady doing beauty. The community down there was very very friendly with me, I had no problem. I got on with all the shop owners. When I opened up everybody came and greeted me, treated me nice. If I had nay problems I could speak to anyone of the shop owners. Erm as time went on business was flourishing, erm everything was fine. Erm had quite a few juniors come and go, stylists come and go. You know people got married and they left had their babies, but you know, the shop went on, and then the recession hit and I had quite a lot of West Indian ladies, older ladies, some of them passed away and a few of them went into homes. Yeah so they weren’t really getting their hair done anymore, but I still had quite a young cliental and I carried on with that, and then things just went down, really really quiet and you know I couldn’t stay at Ladypool Road no more which in a way, was….you know…a shop that I loved, fixed it up, it was like home from home really. Anyway I decide to close then I opened another venture in Bordesley Green…yeah. So I carried on with that, done that had a lovely cliental as well, everything was fine. Done that for another 8 years, then again the recession came and you know I just had to close the business but I do do mobile. I have quite a lot of ladies still that come and have their hair done. My hairdressings my passion, you know, if anybody sees me they’ll tell you I’m a testament of what I do, cuz anywhere I walk, “excuse me, where do you get your hair done?” That’s all I keep getting. Erm I love hairdressing and I love Ladypool Road cuz you can get everything down there. All the West Indian food, you know Indian Restaurants, got on with all everybody. Erm when they had there Eid and Dawali, they always came bought food and you know visa versa, we done everything and even now sometimes I’ll drive down there, stop off and speak to some of them and they remember me, they don’t forget my face you know, so it’s a lovely place to be. The community was very very nice, I had no problem with no trouble. Everybody got on with each other down there and it’s a shame you know….and I’ve always says this if there’s an opportunity that I could get another business I would go for Ladypool Road, cuz it is nice and you know.... Balsall Heath…..erm Moseley and all the areas it’s quite a mixture of culture that I know will come and support me still so…..
Q: How long ago did you have the shop at Ladypool Road and how long were you there?
A: Ok I had the salon in 2005, yeah 2005, erm and I was there for 7 and a half years, yeah 7 and a half years I was there and it was a really really flourishing business, but like I says….you know…. things went down hill at the very end so I couldn’t continue, you know but I would recommend anybody that wants to do a business, to go Ladypool Road… yeah.
Q: Was this your first venture as a businesswoman?
A: Yes, yes it was. Yes and it was a passion that I always wanted from I was growing up, from a small girl, always there do everybody’s hair and when I went to college and then I worked in a…… erm white salon in Birmingham. Yeah I was there for 2 years but my passion was to have my own business, and that’s what I went for. Yeah and I had some help from, I don’t know if you’ve heard about ‘Just for Starters’? They’re like a business link and they help young people to get the business up and going. So I got a lot of help from them and Lloyds TSB bank. Yeah so……
Q: What attracted you to Ladypool Road….
A: Ok.
Q: To go and start your shop?
A: Why I picked there, when I was doing mobile the majority of my customers were in that area. Balsall Heath, Bordesley Green, Ladypool Road, so I thought I’ll stick to that area, so everybody will be ok to get to…yeah.
Q: Have you…..while you were there, did you see the road change and do you feel it has developed in any way?
A: Yes it has changed, it’s changed quite a lot cuz while I was there, there was quite a few mmm, like butchers, English butchers yeah… as time went by they all left and then everything just majority the Asians. There was three West Indian people, myself and another salon and this guy that used to sell all the West Indian food, that was all. The majority was the Asian was there, but there was no problem, it’s just a shame that you know, like with the butchers, all that went? Cuz that was nice, but I have noticed that a lot of things have changed and the houses, they’ve modernised them, done up really nice. I remember I was there, can’t remember what date it was, but it was about September time there was a mini tornado, don’t know if you heard about it? And everything on Ladypool Road just went, it was awful, it was really really awful. I remember I came out the salon and I thought, why is everything so dark? And I was driving up the road, going to the bank to put my money in. When I came back, there was a tree by my salon and it fell where my car was and all I thought was God was really on my side….yeah and majority of all the shops, the roof had caved in, it was mayhem. But when the community got together and you know, with like the government and stuff they fixed up the shops and everything was nice, really really nice. And I remember there was a shoe shop across the road from my salon, one Saturday I opened up at 8 O’clock and I came down and saw the fire engine and the shop had caught fire in the middle of the night, cuz they make the shoes in the warehouses and something ignite and it was oooh. The lady that owned it she was so devastated, yeah really really devastated but she never opened back there, she went somewhere else, but you know, it was a lovely place you could get any shoes, wedding, you know birthdays, anything you was doing you could get nice shoes and a handbag there, but you know that was really sad when that went, you know.
Q: How did the community react in things like that in crisis?
A: Everybody got together, everybody got together, you know and there was support cuz the morning when she came down it was just all, everything had gone, you know, even though you’ve got your insurance, it’s not going to bring back nothing you know what I mean, you know everybody was there for her, it was so so sad. You know…
Q: Could you tell me a little bit about you now, a little bit about your family, whether you’ve got brothers and sisters, where you grew up?
A: Oh ok, alright. I grew up in Birmingham, Aston. I had……. there was me and my sister but she passed away, she was 29 when she died, so she’s… it would have been about 22 years now. Very very close, we were like twins, erm you know we really really got on very well. Now there’s just me and my son and my Mum cuz my Dad passed away 6 years ago. I would say I’m still passionate about what I do, I still love my hairdressing but now, I’ve put that at the side and I work at Jaguar Landrover…yeah but my hairdressing is still my passion and I know one day I will open up another salon, I will do that you know, just want to get that….yes.
Q: How old is your son?
A: He’s 23, yes.
Q: Who is the main influence in your life? This may have changed.
A: Yeah, well the main influence is my Mum because she’s always given me a push to go for this or do that…, and she’s always there. If I’m feeling, you know, I don’t think I can do this, she’s there to pick me up and say, yes go for it, you know, so Yes.
Q: Where do you think your aspiration to become a hairdresser and own your own salon, where do you think that came from?
A: Ive just, cuz I’ve worked in a lot of salons, you know and I got on with a lot of people, but I just looked and I thought I want to be on the map. You know what I mean. Even if I don’t keep the shop forever, I want to say yes I had a business. Yeah and I love to see ladies and gentleman looking really nice, you know and what’s really nice for me is when someone comes in my salon and they get their hair done and they’re leaving and they’re smiling and I can see them walking down the road and I said yes that’s one of A:’s hair doo’s. Yeah
Q: What are you most proud of in your life?
A: In my life, erm well my son for one and owning my own business. Yeah.
Q: What do you feel is the most important thing to you? There might be a few things but..
A: Most important? Well, my family, yeah, my family, yeah.
Q: Do you feel that has changed over time was it different when you owned the shop. Do you still your family were the most important thing?
A: Yeah yeah, even though I had my business my family came first. Yeah.
Q: If you could sum up Ladypool Road in a sentence what would you say?
A: Ok in a sentence. They’re just lovely people, that’s all just lovely people.
Q: What do you think of the role of women in Ladypool Road and do you feel that this has changed?
A: Mmm while I was there the majority of the shops, you know there was ladies present but most of them the husbands owned the shops, but the ladies were there. Yeah, but I find that, you know the ladies had more power. You know working in their shops, so you know. And I don’t think it’s changed, cuz when I go down there they’re still doing the same thing. Yeah
Q: If you had a message you could give to the women of Ladypool Road, to empower them, what would it be?
A: Just keep going. Keep strong and don’t give up. That’s it.
Q: Ok, well thank you for your time and telling us your story.
A: You’re welcome. Yes you’re welcome!
Q: So this is just to say you are happy to make this recording available for public use?
A: Yeah.
Q: Thank you very much.
A: Alright you’re welcome love.
A: Ok I had the salon in 2005, yeah 2005, erm and I was there for 7 and a half years, yeah 7 and a half years I was there and it was a really really flourishing business, but like I says….you know…. things went down hill at the very end so I couldn’t continue, you know but I would recommend anybody that wants to do a business, to go Ladypool Road… yeah.
Q: Was this your first venture as a businesswoman?
A: Yes, yes it was. Yes and it was a passion that I always wanted from I was growing up, from a small girl, always there do everybody’s hair and when I went to college and then I worked in a…… erm white salon in Birmingham. Yeah I was there for 2 years but my passion was to have my own business, and that’s what I went for. Yeah and I had some help from, I don’t know if you’ve heard about ‘Just for Starters’? They’re like a business link and they help young people to get the business up and going. So I got a lot of help from them and Lloyds TSB bank. Yeah so……
Q: What attracted you to Ladypool Road….
A: Ok.
Q: To go and start your shop?
A: Why I picked there, when I was doing mobile the majority of my customers were in that area. Balsall Heath, Bordesley Green, Ladypool Road, so I thought I’ll stick to that area, so everybody will be ok to get to…yeah.
Q: Have you…..while you were there, did you see the road change and do you feel it has developed in any way?
A: Yes it has changed, it’s changed quite a lot cuz while I was there, there was quite a few mmm, like butchers, English butchers yeah… as time went by they all left and then everything just majority the Asians. There was three West Indian people, myself and another salon and this guy that used to sell all the West Indian food, that was all. The majority was the Asian was there, but there was no problem, it’s just a shame that you know, like with the butchers, all that went? Cuz that was nice, but I have noticed that a lot of things have changed and the houses, they’ve modernised them, done up really nice. I remember I was there, can’t remember what date it was, but it was about September time there was a mini tornado, don’t know if you heard about it? And everything on Ladypool Road just went, it was awful, it was really really awful. I remember I came out the salon and I thought, why is everything so dark? And I was driving up the road, going to the bank to put my money in. When I came back, there was a tree by my salon and it fell where my car was and all I thought was God was really on my side….yeah and majority of all the shops, the roof had caved in, it was mayhem. But when the community got together and you know, with like the government and stuff they fixed up the shops and everything was nice, really really nice. And I remember there was a shoe shop across the road from my salon, one Saturday I opened up at 8 O’clock and I came down and saw the fire engine and the shop had caught fire in the middle of the night, cuz they make the shoes in the warehouses and something ignite and it was oooh. The lady that owned it she was so devastated, yeah really really devastated but she never opened back there, she went somewhere else, but you know, it was a lovely place you could get any shoes, wedding, you know birthdays, anything you was doing you could get nice shoes and a handbag there, but you know that was really sad when that went, you know.
Q: How did the community react in things like that in crisis?
A: Everybody got together, everybody got together, you know and there was support cuz the morning when she came down it was just all, everything had gone, you know, even though you’ve got your insurance, it’s not going to bring back nothing you know what I mean, you know everybody was there for her, it was so so sad. You know…
Q: Could you tell me a little bit about you now, a little bit about your family, whether you’ve got brothers and sisters, where you grew up?
A: Oh ok, alright. I grew up in Birmingham, Aston. I had……. there was me and my sister but she passed away, she was 29 when she died, so she’s… it would have been about 22 years now. Very very close, we were like twins, erm you know we really really got on very well. Now there’s just me and my son and my Mum cuz my Dad passed away 6 years ago. I would say I’m still passionate about what I do, I still love my hairdressing but now, I’ve put that at the side and I work at Jaguar Landrover…yeah but my hairdressing is still my passion and I know one day I will open up another salon, I will do that you know, just want to get that….yes.
Q: How old is your son?
A: He’s 23, yes.
Q: Who is the main influence in your life? This may have changed.
A: Yeah, well the main influence is my Mum because she’s always given me a push to go for this or do that…, and she’s always there. If I’m feeling, you know, I don’t think I can do this, she’s there to pick me up and say, yes go for it, you know, so Yes.
Q: Where do you think your aspiration to become a hairdresser and own your own salon, where do you think that came from?
A: Ive just, cuz I’ve worked in a lot of salons, you know and I got on with a lot of people, but I just looked and I thought I want to be on the map. You know what I mean. Even if I don’t keep the shop forever, I want to say yes I had a business. Yeah and I love to see ladies and gentleman looking really nice, you know and what’s really nice for me is when someone comes in my salon and they get their hair done and they’re leaving and they’re smiling and I can see them walking down the road and I said yes that’s one of A:’s hair doo’s. Yeah
Q: What are you most proud of in your life?
A: In my life, erm well my son for one and owning my own business. Yeah.
Q: What do you feel is the most important thing to you? There might be a few things but..
A: Most important? Well, my family, yeah, my family, yeah.
Q: Do you feel that has changed over time was it different when you owned the shop. Do you still your family were the most important thing?
A: Yeah yeah, even though I had my business my family came first. Yeah.
Q: If you could sum up Ladypool Road in a sentence what would you say?
A: Ok in a sentence. They’re just lovely people, that’s all just lovely people.
Q: What do you think of the role of women in Ladypool Road and do you feel that this has changed?
A: Mmm while I was there the majority of the shops, you know there was ladies present but most of them the husbands owned the shops, but the ladies were there. Yeah, but I find that, you know the ladies had more power. You know working in their shops, so you know. And I don’t think it’s changed, cuz when I go down there they’re still doing the same thing. Yeah
Q: If you had a message you could give to the women of Ladypool Road, to empower them, what would it be?
A: Just keep going. Keep strong and don’t give up. That’s it.
Q: Ok, well thank you for your time and telling us your story.
A: You’re welcome. Yes you’re welcome!
Q: So this is just to say you are happy to make this recording available for public use?
A: Yeah.
Q: Thank you very much.
A: Alright you’re welcome love.
Sonia Sabri Company, 202 Moseley Street, Birmingham B12 0RT UK