A BELOVED health and beauty salon has suddenly closed its doors after a ‘wonderful' number of years - citing staffing issues.
House of Health and Beauty, on Trinity Street in Dorchester town centre, was a salon that offered body treatments, skincare facials and other services.
For more than 20 years, the business built up a strong following and supported Weldmar Hospicecare by raising funds and providing treatments to staff, patients and their friends.
Despite its rave reviews and popularity in Dorchester and surrounding areas, owner Holly Aiken has recently made the ‘difficult decision’ to close the business due to ‘losing fantastic staff’.
A spokeswoman for the business shared how they were unable to ‘find suitable replacements’ for departed staff and it became ‘too stressful and impossible to continue’ running the salon.
A sign outside the salon from Holly Aiken and the staff reads: “It is with much sadness that after 26 years we have decided to close our doors.
“This last two years have been immensely difficult for us all and unfortunately despite having a wonderful clientele, with losing fantastic staff and not being able to find suitable replacements, it has become too stressful and impossible to continue.
“It has been a wonderful 26 years and I would like to thank you all for being such loyal and lovely clients.
“Many of you have become friends to use and we have loved getting to know you and looking after you over the years.
“I’m sure that you understand how difficult a decision it was to take after all this time of having a wonderful business and an amazing team and I’d like to thank you all again for your support.
“We all wish you the very best - Holly and team”
The business’ social media pages have all closed down while its website remains online.
Any customers with gift vouchers dated April 21 or later are advised to contact Purnells to arrange a refund.
Owner Holly Aiken previously said how she was inspired by her father to open the salon after he ‘established a successful and respected business from nothing’.
She told the Dorset Echo in 2017: “My inspiration has always been my lovely Dad, Peter, who sadly passed away.
“He set up his own business – PJ Aiken Insurance Services - from nothing, starting small and working very hard to achieve a very successful, respected business.
“I have always been very proud of him and learnt an awful lot about running a business from him.
“He believed in me and my business plan and was always incredibly supportive, I know he would be so proud that 20 years on House of Health and Beauty is still going strong.”
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