Meet the town centre business owner championing community over competition

Since moving to Scott Street five years ago, Mia Bella has become much more than just a business, championing the town centre community. Owner Michelle has been trading in Barrow since 1997 and took the plunge to relocate during Covid, growing her team from 4 stylists to a team of 8. 

No stranger to the salon business, Michelle started working at a hairdressers at the age of 12, and decided to open her own salon in her 20s. Since then, she has used her position as a town centre business owner to bring the community together and offer a safe space for those who need a helping hand. 

Michelle has offered haircuts for the homeless, and regularly gives children under the age of 16 free haircuts in the summer holidays, helping parents who may struggle with money during the school holidays. They also check for head lice, offering preventative services for families who may otherwise find it difficult to access such help. 

At Christmas, Mia Bella offers people the chance to nominate someone going through a hard time to come in and get a voucher to get their hair done, giving them a much needed boost. Owner Michelle said “The community is my bread and butter, it’s only fair that as a service we can also give back. That community has provided me with my life, a roof over my head and I’m forever grateful for everybody coming in and using us.”

Michelle is currently supporting local charity SAFA after meeting the organisation’s manager through the salon. The charity is preparing to host a fundraising event in July to help secure vital funding and continue its life-saving work. Drawing on her strong connections within the local community, Michelle has been helping to secure sponsorship for the evening. 

It’s not just charity work that Michelle is passionate about - supporting fellow local salons is central to her belief in community over competition. Regular collaborations with neighbouring business NJ Beauty to share and develop skills are just one example of how the team at Mia Bella works with others to create a positive atmosphere in the town centre. If the salon is fully booked, the team will often recommend other local hairdressers, with Michelle keen to champion the wider Barrow hairdressing community rather than compete against it. 

As owner Michelle puts it “Mia Bella is not just mine, it’s a team” - and the way she runs the salon certainly reflects that.