Luxury offered

Universal Hair salons owners Sam and Rebecca Penny focus on providing a fantastic customer experience.

Contributed

GYMPIE'S latest affordable luxury offering, Universal Hair salons, have arrived after taking over Mode for Hair salons in Centro and Goldfields Plaza shopping centres.

The salon group is owned by Coast couple Sam and Rebecca Penny, who both have extensive experience in business management.

Universal Hair was established in June and in a short time has become the largest salon brand in the Gympie and Sunshine Coast regions with plans to expand to at least 10 salons by the end of the financial year.

With backgrounds in business marketing, development and entrepreneurship, Sam as shareholder in High Tech Health and Rebecca as marketing manager for Aeromil Pacific, they are forging new ground for the region's hair and beauty industry and looking to build an exemplary model for successful hair salons.

"Before establishing Universal, we had always struggled to find a salon that offers great stylists and great service," Rebecca Penny said.

"We saw an opportunity to create something different and give clients a fantastic customer experience. In many industries we have seen a slip in the whole essence of looking after the customer. We have brought this back to ensure that when you visit a Universal Hair Salon, you feel looked after and appreciated and are getting value for money."

Two Universal Hair senior stylists, Katrina Brieschke and Candice Presland, were formerly of the exclusive Redken Session styling team, which recognises them as among the best stylists in the country.

"The next auditions for the Redken styling team will be held in early February in Brisbane and we will definitely be encouraging all of our stylists to attend the auditions and have the opportunity to work at events like Mercedes Fashion Week in Melbourne."

Penny says the business benefited from her and Sam not being hairdressers which means they can focus on the Universal customer experience to give customers value for money.

"Our customers deserve top quality which means all Universal stylists are constantly training to upgrade their skills with some of the best stylists in the country."

Rebecca grew up in Brisbane and moved to the Sunshine Coast nine years ago for a position with Sunshine Express Airlines.

She is an avid runner/walker.

Sam grew up in Woombye and is a fanatical racing cyclist.

Check out the website at http://www.universalhair.com.au.