SA businesswoman facing bankruptcy following collapse of SA’s ‘largest private chain salon’
A former landlord of The Edit salon is attempting to bankrupt the woman behind SA’s “largest private chain salon”, claiming she owes them thousands in unpaid debts.
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A businesswoman who once operated South Australia’s “largest private chain salon” is facing potential bankruptcy over a court-imposed debt owed to a former landlord.
Following the closure of five salons in The Edit network in May, the company’s founder Leah Brunoli has been served with a creditor’s petition by the owner of a Munno Para shopping complex where a salon in the chain previously operated.
In the petition, filed in the Federal Circuit Court, Goodnick Enterprises claims it served a bankruptcy notice against Ms Brunoli in June after she failed to settle a $9230 debt resulting from a Magistrates Court judgement.
It claims she failed to comply with the notice and is now seeking a sequestration order against Ms Brunoli’s estate.
A sequestration order results in a person being declared bankrupt, which normally lasts for three years and prevents the individual from being a director or being involved in the management of a company.
A trustee seizes control of the bankrupt’s personal assets, including property, and can sell them in order to repay creditors.
Ms Brunoli told The Advertiser she was unaware of the creditor’s petition, which followed several disputes over payments between her company and its former landlord.
“We have arranged a lot of payments to creditors — especially super guarantees — and they will continue regardless of whether I claim bankruptcy,” she said.
Liquidators were called in to wind up Fresh Hair & Body Pty Ltd — comprising five salons in The Edit hairdressing and beauty chain — in May.
At the time Ms Brunoli blamed heightened competition for the company’s demise, which left former employees chasing close to $290,000 in unpaid entitlements, including close to $200,000 in unpaid superannuation.
Ms Brunoli has previously made a commitment to personally repay former employees their unpaid super, but would not confirm to The Advertiser yesterday whether any payments had been made or whether a payment plan had been arranged.
A report prepared by liquidator Tarquin Koch Accounting and Insolvency Services, reveals Goodnick Enterprises is owed more than $108,000 following the collapse of Fresh Hair & Body.
Following their appointment, a sixth The Edit salon at Gawler was closed, while two remaining outlets — at Mawson Lakes and Hyde Park — continue to operate under the brand.
ASIC records confirm that Ms Brunoli’s father, Anthony Bobridge, last month replaced her as sole director and shareholder of the company managing the two remaining salons.
James Robertson, from Tarquin Koch, said liquidators had recently recovered $83,750 in unfair preference payments made to a creditor in the lead up to Fresh Hair & Body’s collapse.
A second unfair preference payments claim of $95,000 had been “vigorously denied” by another creditor as the liquidator’s investigations continue.
Perth property developer Brian McCubbing, who heads up Goodnick Enterprises, did not return calls from The Advertiser.
The creditor’s petition will be heard in the Federal Circuit Court on October 29.
