J & R Hair Designers salon in Mackay shuts doors leaving staff, clients scrambling

A longstanding Mackay hairdresser freshly under new ownership has abruptly closed, leaving staff renting chairs elsewhere and claims clients were not notified. Now the managers have revealed why.

The empty shell where long-standing Mackay hairdresser J & R Hair Designers used to be. Photo: Toby Crockford.

A longstanding Mackay hairdresser freshly under new ownership has abruptly closed, leaving staff renting chairs elsewhere and claims clients were not notified.

J & R Hair Designers in the old Australian Hotel building on Victoria Street has been stripped of all signage and only chairs and basins remain in the shop.

However, there is no notice informing clients or passers-by when it closed or who they can contact.

According to ABN records, the business had been registered under the Schwarzrock Family Trust since August 2009, before the Reynolds Family Trust took over in June this year.

The Daily Mercury has obtained a letter sent on August 15 advising all staff that the salon would close on September 1 and they would lose their jobs. Management said there were many contributing factors to the closure.

“I will notify all clients in due course,” the letter said.

“It came down to an unaffordable rent increase, extension of the lease contract (which the landlord was unwilling to negotiate on), soaring electricity prices and all the other costs required to keep the doors open - product water, consumables, insurances etc.

“This has not been an easy decision for us. In fact, it’s been one of the most challenging times of my life. My health and family come first, I hope you can understand the difficult position that puts me in.

Where Mackay hairdresser J & R Hair Designers used to be. Photo: Toby Crockford.

“I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.”

Management said all outstanding wages and superannuation payments would be finalised, and they offered to act as resume references.

Infinity Hair Collective salon owner Hannah Young posted in the Mackay Noticeboard Facebook group on Wednesday about the closure.

Several of the staff who worked at J & R Hair are now working from Infinity Hair. Other former staff are now based at Halo Hair, Blessed Hair Lounge, or Gina T Hair & Beauty.

“If you’re not aware of the recent purchase and now closure of the long standing Mackay business J & R Hair Designers 40+ years,” Ms Young wrote.

‘Appointments were still in the booking system’. Photo: Toby Crockford.

“Sadly clients have not been informed from the business adequately and appointments are still in the booking system.

“Clients who have had their appointments booked until Christmas are turning up to find an empty salon.”

Ms Young said J & R staff had salvaged colour notes and client details from the salon so existing customers can continue coming to them.

Customer Ruby Coventry said she was notified at the last minute before her appointment.

“I was so annoyed about this, I have gone there for seven years,” she commented.

“Lucky one of the ladies sent me a message to say she was moving over to another salon, but not heard from the new owner, or cancelled my appointment for tomorrow.”

The salon’s website is no longer available, their contact number goes to a prerecorded message indicating the salon is still open and directs callers to their online booking system or to leave a message, and their last Facebook post was July 21.

J & R Hair Designers has been contacted for comment.