Mildenhall hairdresser makes ‘emotional’ decision to shut Absolutely Hair Ltd in Mill Street after 24 years

The owner of a hair salon in a town has made the ‘emotional’ and ‘upsetting’ decision to shut its doors after 24 years.

Nicola Middleditch, 60, has been running Absolutely Hair Ltd in Mildenhall for more than two decades, after starting out as an apprentice.

The business in Mill Street has been for sale for a year due to Nicola’s retirement plans but will cease trading from March 31 - on Nicola’s birthday.

The experienced hairdresser attributed the salon’s closure to stress from the pandemic, financial difficulties and changing dynamics of the industry, with rising energy costs and product prices making it unviable to continue.

She said: “I had been putting my own personal money into the business for quite a while and I just couldn’t continue with this or I would have been in debt.

“I had hoped the salon could have been sold but now it’s sadly the end of an era.

“It's been a really tough time. Telling the team we were going to cease trading was the worst day of my career.

“We were a family and that has been broken up by rising costs from the government and other overheads.

“It’s such a shame. It's been a really emotional and upsetting decision for me.”

Despite the closure, Nicola is relieved as the majority of her team have been headhunted and will be working in Mildenhall or their home towns.

She said: “I want to thank all of my team and my invaluable manager Sonia - our friendships will continue and we will be regularly meeting up after this.

“I have had a wonderful experience and I have had so many supportive clients over the years and I know I’m going to miss them all.”

Nicola said her hair salon was not the only one struggling in the industry with the costs of energy and stock rising greatly as well as the VAT rate on services becoming a challenge.

She also referenced research by the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), which stated the number of people taking up apprenticeships in hairdressing and barbering in the UK has fallen by 19 per cent since 2021.

“It's sad times ahead for many small businesses and people wanting to work in the hair industry,” Nicola said.

“I feel upset and angry that this is what has contributed to the closure of my business and it’s many others in the country too.”