Bristol Post
Monday, January 6, 2014
By Michael Ribbeck
THANKS to a chance meeting, a young woman from Stoke Bishop has managed to achieve her ambition – working for herself. Susan Elmi has set up a hairdressing and beauty salon which is aimed directly at the Somali community and business is already booming.
And the enterprise, which is the first of its kind in Bristol, has got off the ground with the help and backing of Easton businessman and former politician turned community leader Abdul Malik.
The 20-year-old has lived in the UK all of her life and comes from a Somali background so she is tuned into the needs of the community.
She trained as a hairdresser and beautician at Filton College and was working as a mobile hairdresser but it was only after she got talking to Mr Malik that she started thinking about opening her own specialist salon.
She said: "I bumped into Abdul outside his shop in Roman Road and we just got chatting. I told him that I had this idea for a business that was aimed at Somali ladies.
"I was stunned when he said he could help me and that he had a vacant shop that I could use."
Susan said: "The main thing is that the ladies who come to me know that they will get their privacy and the shop is segregated.
"The most important thing for my customers is to feel comfortable and relaxed and in an atmosphere where they feel safe."
Susan added: "It helps that I come from a Somali background because I understand the culture and what my customers want and expect.
"A lot of the work we do is helping people get ready for the big family celebrations and gatherings such as weddings."
Susan added: "I have been interested in becoming a hairdresser for a while but until I met Abdul I never really considered going into business for myself.
"This is an incredibly exciting time for me and I am really enjoying every minute of it. The business is going rally, really well."
Mr Malik, who recently became involved with the management of Easton mosque, said: "A few months ago I was approached by Susan, I met her whilst she was shopping in my shop at Roman Road in Easton. She told me she was inspired by my success as a business man and my community work.
"Susan had just qualified as a beautician and claimed there was a huge deficit in the local Somali community for good beauty therapists. Her dream was to have her own salon.
"I had a empty shop next door to my branch at Roman Road and asked if Susan could invest a few quid with me to get her dream off the ground.
"From that moment Susanna has been dedicated to getting this business off the ground and now she has finally completed the dream project.
"The salon looks amazing and is called Saharla.
"I have contributed some time and money but she has been the driver behind this. It is great to see that with the right people, willingness and vision, even in these hard times, it is possible to do anything."