Two years ago, Kenneth Daniel-Smith moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town – but he travels back to Johannesburg twice a month to look after his loyal clients there.
This might sound exhausting but Kenneth loves the Cape Town lifestyle. Here’s an interview on why he made the move and his advice for other inland hairstylists considering moving to a coastal city.
Q: How do you divide your time between Johannesburg and Cape Town?
A: I go back to Johannesburg for a long weekend on the middle and the end of every month. My Jo’burg clients are mostly on a four or six week schedule so this suits them perfectly and they are happy. However as I build my clientele here, I am planning to change this and fly back to Johannesburg just once a month, for a full week.
Q: Why did you make the big move to Cape Town?
A: I made a lifestyle change in moving here. I found in Johannesburg I was on a treadmill, just working, going to gym and going home. Here in Cape Town there is so much more to do, and although I knew I would earn less while building up my new clientele, the bonus is that so much in Cape Town is free – the beach, the mountain. So it is a better quality of life for me.
Q: What is your advice to other hairstylists planning to make a similar move to a coastal area?
A: Plan where you stay as rents can be much more expensive than you would think. They are very high in Cape Town for example, so be prepared to live out of town and start off cheaply in a small place. Also understand it will take you a while to build up a clientele and it is not a quick process. Cape Town, like other coastal areas, is also much more seasonal than an inland area, and here the busiest time is from November to February.
Q: What about choosing the right salon?
A: This is very important and not easy as you are coming into an unknown area. You may find the first one you choose is not the right one for you, so do as much research as you can before deciding where you would like to work – I have found the perfect salon for me at Capelli in Blouberg.
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