VIDEO: Horsham hair salon celebrates 36th birthday

Chris Scott, 61, has owned Scissors hair salon in Purton Road since 1977.

And if he was told then that he would still be in business 36 years later, Chris would ‘never have believed’ it.

He said: “It is unbelievable how the time has gone by, and it is amazing to think some of these ladies, I have been doing their hair for over 40 years because I did it before we opened the shop.

“They have been very loyal and stuck with us through thick and thin.”

Chris revealed the secrets behind achieving success - and staying in business - for 36 years.

He said: “You have got to get on with your staff - that’s the secret, by getting on with them you get respect and loyalty.

“It has been proven because we have had several girls that have worked for me for over 15 years.

“You have to be professional and committed. I have always been hands on, right at the forefront of the business and have kept the team of girls together like a little family.”

Despite toying with the idea of moving the salon to Eastbourne, Chris opted to stay in Horsham so as not to disrupt his son’s education.

Being a presence in the town for so long, he has seen Horsham develop over the decades, saying it has been ‘one big building site’ since he first arrived in the late 1960s.

Chris also thanked his customers, many of whom have been customers for many years.

He added: “We have a large clientele of middle to elderly ladies but that us because we have been here all these years and they have been happy to stay all this time - they have bonded with the shop really.

“They have kept the shop buoyant when we have had hard times. There is not a lot of money flowing around so these people are very important to the business.”