• HIGH QUALITY PREMISES OVERLOOKING THE QUAY
• FOUR TREATMENT ROOMS AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES
• BELOW AVERAGE RENT AND RUNNING COSTS
• 450 ACTIVE CLIENTS AND SUBSTANTIAL CLIENT DATABASE
• SIGNIFICANT CROSS SELLING OPPORTUNITIES
• EARLY VIEWING VERY STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
LOCATION:
The business trades from most attractive premises in the heart of Bideford, overlooking the famous Quay and Long Bridge.
The town stands on the A39 trunk road, known as The Atlantic Highway, and with its neighbour Barnstaple (9 miles), represents one of the two principal commercial centres of North Devon. Busy throughout the year, the area has a seasonal influx of tourists and still tends to attract the wealthy retired from other parts of the country.
BUSINESS:
This long established electrolysis and beauty clinic trades from high quality premises in a prominent location overlooking Bideford Quay. Incorporating 4 treatment rooms with ancillary facilities the clinic currently offers a range of facial and depilatory treatments including electrolysis, non-surgical facelifts and waxing as well as reflexology and massage.
The vendor advises that there have been 450 clients active in the past 12 months and of these 250 take appointments on a monthly basis. Records (names, addresses and phone numbers) are held for c 1500 further clients who have used the clinic in recent years and we feel there are significant cross selling opportunities on the beauty side in particular and space/facilities for the re-introduction of a tanning service as well as to extend opening hours as the business currently only operates on a Tuesday to Friday basis.
Rent and running costs are low by comparison with many other beauty salons and the business has been priced realistically based upon the underlying profitability and the quality of the fixtures, fittings and equipment, which includes 2 x non-surgical facelift toning machines and 2 x Sterex Blend epilation machines and magnifying facial lamps.. An early viewing is strongly recommended.
YEARS ESTABLISHED:
The business was originally established in 1992 operating from premises in Cooper Street, Bideford until moving to the current site in 1999.
TRADE:
Sales of £32,637 were reported in the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 (£40,130 31/3/10) producing a gross profit of £31,311 (£38,935 31/3/10). Premises costs are very low in comparison with many other clinics/salons and adjusted net profit of £22,420 was achieved in the year ended 31 March 2011 (£27,569 31/3/10).
Please note that if a business is VAT registered, all figures exclude VAT.
REASON FOR SALE:
The vendor now wishes to concentrate her time assisting with the conversion of a rural property to residential and holiday accommodation but would be prepared to continue to work part time as a therapist within the clinic if desired by a new owner.
STAFF:
At one time there were 7 staff/practitioners including those renting rooms for complementary therapies. This has now reduced and currently the vendor has arrangements with a freelance therapist undertaking massage and beauty treatments and a semi-retired reflexologist, who undertakes treatments once/twice per month. As such there are no employees.
The vendor undertakes all electrology appointments herself. These range from 15 minutes to 60 minutes each enabling her to carry out between 12 and 25 treatments per day.
HOURS:
Tuesday: 9.00am to 6.30pm
Wednesday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am to 6.30pm
Friday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Only pre-booked appointments are taken after 5pm
BUSINESS PREMISES:
(all sizes are approximate & should be considered 'nominal'.)
The clinic occupies the first floor of a most attractive Grade 2 listed period building laid out over three floors forming part of a terrace of historic properties overlooking Bideford Quay, close to the famous Long Bridge.
We understand that the property was formerly a gas showroom with associated offices and ancillary facilities. It is now divided into three separate letting units including self-contained residential accommodation at second floor level (not included in the sale).
The wooden front door, which has 2 glazed panels, opens into:
Spacious Entrance Hall (6.4m max x 1.9m max):
• Vinyl floor covering
• Suspended ceiling with 2 fluorescent light strips and further track lighting to right hand side
• Wooden door to left housing meters
• Locked wooden door to left representing emergency exit from neighbouring retail premises at ground floor level
• Wall mounted leaflet display
• Space for further promotional material
• Wooden door at far end with electronic door entry system to side opening into:
Rear Lobby:
• Vinyl floor covering
• Wooden door to rear elevation opening into small enclosed yard available for storage of dust bins etc
• Storage cupboard under stairs
• A wide staircase, carpeted with attractive wooden hand rails to each side rises with a half turn to the first floor accommodation, there being an obscure glazed window to the rear elevation on the half landing
First Floor Landing:
• A spacious landing
• Twin obscure glazed panels set into left wall which open from the Principal Reception Room and which were probably once used as part of the reception system for visitors to the floor
• Radiator
• Wooden doors to:
Kitchen (2.7m x 1.1m):
• Galley style
• Stainless steel sink unit with single drainer to side, tiled splash back, electric water heater over, cupboard under a roll edged work surface and wall cupboard over
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Carpeted
• Fluorescent light strip
• Extractor fan
Principal Reception Room (6.4m max x 5.1m max):
• A stunning room enhanced by a period fireplace understood to date from the 15th century with ornamental plasterwork panel depicting Sir Bevil Grenville of Stowe, a famous local dignatory of the time, together with period wooden wall paneling to the lower part and matching doors to two corners now accommodating narrow storage cupboards but once representing access to staircases
• 2 x picture windows to the front elevation overlooking the Quay
• 2 x fluorescent light strips and further track lighting
• Carpeted
• Wooden, semi circular, reception counter to mid height with receptionist’s desk, return to side, storage under, door entry and CCTV systems
• 2 x 2 seater settees and two leather effect chairs for waiting clients
• Nail bar with seats for both technician and client
• Wooden double shelving unit with cupboard to side
• Freestanding shelving unit for the display of products
• 2 x side tables
• Wooden doors to:
Treatment Room 1 (3.5m x 4.0m):
• Currently used as the principal treatment room for all electrology
• Picture window to front elevation with fitted vertical blind
• 2 x fluorescent light strips
• Fully adjustable electric treatment couch
• Mobile equipment trolley
• 2 x mobile pedestal units
• Wooden desk to one wall with phone/fax machine and office chair
• Fitted floor cupboard with roll edged work surface, inset sink unit and 3 drawer unit to side
• Wooden shelving unit
• 2 x leather effect chairs
• Further wooden unit accommodating CCTV.
• Electric heater
• Carpeted
• Radiator
Treatment Room 2 (2.1m x 3.7m):
• Formerly used as a tanning room now used for reflexology, massage and beauty treatments
• High level glazed panel above doorway
• Vinyl floor covering
• Fluorescent light strip
• Wall mounted air conditioning unit
• Fully adjustable electric treatment couch
• Mobile equipment trolley
• Mobile pedestal unit
• Wooden shelf unit with cupboard below
• Electric heater
Returning to the First Floor Landing, to the right hand side and set at an angle an open doorway gives access to:
Subsidiary Reception Hall:
• Considered suitable for use as a subsidiary reception serving Treatment Rooms 3 and 4, which could therefore be let separately to a complementary therapist if preferred
• Irregular shape
• Carpeted
• Wall mounted link to ground floor door entry system
• Wooden wall shelf suitable as a receptionist’s counter
• Wooden doors, each with an obscure glazed panel, opening into:
Treatment Room 3 (3.8m x 3.3m max):
• Formerly used as a treatment room by a self employed osteopath
• Obscure glazed sash window to side elevation with skylight over
• 4 x high level obscure glazed panels above entrance door
• Carpeted
• 2 x radiators
• 2 x fluorescent light strips
• Wooden door to storage cupboard housing a wall mounted gas boiler providing hot water and central heating and fitted with wooden wall shelving also accommodating two header tanks for the water system
Treatment Room 4 (4.2m x 3.3m):
• Formerly used as a beauty room
• Obscure glazed sash window to side elevation
• Matching floor cupboards under roll edged work surfaces fitted to part of three walls with one double wall cupboard over the unit to the side elevation
• Carpeted
• Radiator
• 2 x fluorescent light strips
Returning to the First Floor Landing:
5 x carpeted stairs rise to a further half landing, lit by a most attractively designed obscure glazed window combination to the rear elevation. A locked wooden door, set at an angle, interconnects with the residential accommodation on the second floor, which is let separately by the landlord and represents a fire escape route for the tenants of both properties. A further wooden door opens into:
WC:
• For use by staff and clients
• Small obscure glazed window to rear elevation
• Low flush WC
• Wall mounted wash hand basin with tiled splash back, wall mirror and wall mounted soap dispenser over
Note:
Where items of equipment and appliances are mentioned, no warranty is given or implied as to their operational condition.
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION:
(all sizes are approximate & should be considered 'nominal'.)
None
OUTSIDE:
The lease incorporates a small and fully enclosed rear courtyard at ground floor level, which is suitable for the storage of waste bins.
There is no parking provision with the lease but we understand that annual parking permits are available from the local authority for parking on the Quay at c £380 pa.
LEASE TERMS:
The premises are held on a 12 year lease on internal repairing terms from 1999 which expired on 17/12/11. Rent of £4,750 per annum is currently payable. The landlord has always been very supportive and we understand that a lease extension will be agreed to cover the period of the sale and will grant a new lease to the purchaser on similar terms when required.