History

The company opened for business in 1969 and was originally located above the ‘Sunflower Chinese restaurant’.

During the late seventies the Barber Shop/Men’s salon relocated a few doors down to what was previously an old grocery store (the premises are today part of the Northfield Community Partnership Buildings).

In 1981 the company took ownership of an existing ladies hairdressing salon known as ‘Arthur and Conrad’.

This newly acquired Salon was re-branded as Phase 2 Hairdressing (hence the second salon) and in 1986 the Barbers shop moved once again to the first floor above Phase 2, with both ladies and men’s salons now trading as Phase 2 Premier Salon Limited.

In 1979 shortly before opening Phase 2, proprietor Andy Clarke was invited to train at the renowned Vidal Sassoon salon in London. It was here that Andy experienced an entirely new concept in hairdressing, centred around precision and geometric haircutting, and a renewed vision towards the client-based trade.

Inspired by this pioneering approach, Andy returned to Birmingham and, alongside his then business partner Phil Horton, developed Phase 2 into one of the first salons locally to embrace and adopt this philosophy. From the very beginning, the salon established a commitment to precision, quality and exceptional client care — principles that have remained at the core of Phase 2 ever since.

Today, Phase 2 continues to stand at the forefront of the industry, maintaining the high standards and outstanding reputation for quality hairdressing and customer service that have been carefully nurtured and passed down through the team over the years.

In September 2022, Phil retired from the business, bringing to a close an important chapter in the Phase 2 story.

Andy subsequently spent three years mentoring two of the salon’s longest-serving team members, Ruth and Kim, preparing them to take the business forward and continue the legacy they had helped build over many years.

In July 2026, Andy retired from the day-to-day running of Phase 2. However, his connection with the salon continues. He remains involved in a consultancy role, offering his experience, guidance and support to Ruth, Kim and the team as they look towards the future.

The name may continue through new generations, but the values that have defined Phase 2 for more than five decades remain unchanged: precision, quality, exceptional service and, above all, putting the client first.

The legacy continues……