Managing director Carl McCafferty launched the east London hairdressing salon in 2000 and says the brand continues to move with the times
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While he might well be too modest to admit it, sitting across from Carl McCafferty, there’s little doubt he can pick a winner.
It’s fair to say the managing director of Toni&Guy’s Canary Wharf salon in Cabot Place took a risk in opening on the estate in the year 2000.
But it’s a move that has paid off, the start of a business that recently celebrated trading for a quarter of a century.
“I’m the son of a pig farmer from Northern Ireland and grew up in a small town called Enniskillen,” said Carl.
“I moved to Belfast when I was about 18, saw an advert for Toni&Guy and joined them in London in 1998. I was 19.
“The world of hairdressing really appealed to me – salons are a nice environment to be in.
“First I worked in Sloane Square and then Covent Garden.
“With the business, there are really two directions to go – you can either work to become an art director or you can have your own business and that’s what I wanted.
“At that time, Canary Wharf was set to become the new financial district, which was very attractive to me.
“I was advised to grab it as a franchise,so I did.
“As the Jubilee line extension opened, we launched in Canada Place in March 2000.
“Opening was a bit overwhelming, but the salon quickly became number one in the group.”
growing Toni&Guy in Canary Wharf
While the Wharf had yet to see many of the towers that dominate its skyline today appear, the area was nevertheless feeling the benefit of the new transport link’s arrival, which saw workers and organisations arrive in ever greater numbers.
“Waitrose hadn’t opened yet, the only shop at the time was Tesco – but there were 76,000 people working on the estate,” said Carl.
“It was mainly bankers and most would come in every three or four weeks for haircuts.
“The Jubilee line changed everything.
“When Waitrose did open it quickly became very popular and the whole Canary Wharf area has now become very residential with lots of apartments.
“When I first moved to London, I did east and west.
“First I lived in Leyton and then moved to Richmond before I found a flat near East India Dock in a beautiful old building.
“I’ve always preferred walking to public transport, so I wanted to be close to work.
“Now around me in that area alone there are thousands of apartments at London City Island and Goodluck Hope.
“In the salon, when we started, weekdays were key, while weekends were really dead. Now Monday to Friday is busy, but the weekends are even stronger. “
Having weathered the pandemic with solid support from the parent brand, Toni&Guy Canary Wharf set its sights on the future and has just reopened following a full refurbishment.
a new look for Toni&Guy
“It definitely feels like the start of a new chapter,” said Carl.
“Sometimes you don’t realise you needed a refit until you’ve done it.
“My first shop here was beautiful and lasted for nearly 13 years and moving to our current location in Cabot Place was a great opportunity for a new fit-out.
“Getting another new look has been a really exciting process.
“We’re the flagship of the brand, the benchmark and the design we’ve got now is going to be the blueprint for other locations.
“One brand we looked at for inspiration was Louis Vuitton – we were just blown away by their retail offering.
“The design we have is great with glass and perspex – everything in the main areas is bright and airy.
“We’ve also changed the colours for a more spacious feel.
“Before everything was white but now we have more organic tones, with browns and greys along with a change in lighting to make the main part of the salon feel brighter.
“We’ve also used low lighting, similar to a spa, to help people switch off from work along with hair therapy treatments and massages.”
a welcoming environment
Visitors to Toni&Guy today will find a welcome desk in shades of brown, with gold accents and a display of brightly lit products.
The salon floor itself features branded mirrors, columns of foliage and vibrant orchids, while the sinks for washing customers’ hair are located off to the side and come with hi-tech chairs and muted lighting.
Striking lightboxes, complete with House Of Toni&Guy branding complete the look, a reminder of the brand’s strong links to fashion and the staff’s extensive training.
“Those who want to work with us apply for an apprenticeship and we train them at the Toni&Guy Academy for two years,” said Carl.
“Then after 18 months on the floor, you get a very good job with status.
“The academy is really the pulse of the brand – where it all happens.
“Recruiting can be a challenge, we don’t take on just anyone, but this area has been good for attracting staff.
“I’m proud of the team and what we’ve achieved here.
“We’ve won more than 35 awards, which is a big thing for me because they are really competitive.
“Running a franchise has been great. Toni&Guy has always moved with the times – we’ve been the official partner of London Fashion Week for 20 years – so we have lots of fingers in pies.
“Canary Wharf is the same, it’s really continued to develop over the time I’ve been here.”
key details: Toni&Guy Canary Wharf
Toni&Guy in Canary Wharf is located directly under One Canada Square.
The salon is open on weekdays 8am-8pm, on Saturdays 8am-6pm and on Sundays 9am-6pm, offering a comprehensive range of cuts, colour treatments and styling for men and women.
Those interested in careers with Toni&Guy can find a wealth of information or apply to become an apprentice via the brand’s website.
Find out more about the Canary Wharf salon here
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