Why we invested in Derby: Phenix Salon Suites

Phenix Salon Suites has invested £1 million to bring its innovative salon suite concept to Derby city centre. Created inside the basement unit of The Condor, Grainger Plc’s 259-apartment build-to-rent scheme, the 4,300 sq ft site, in Springwell Square, offers 23 suites for hair and beauty industry professionals to rent. Here, in his own words, John Gillespie, UK/Europe managing director of Phenix Salon Suites, reveals why the business chose Derby.

As Phenix Salon Suites continues to expand its presence in the UK, our approach to investment has been deliberate and measured.

We are not focused on rapid expansion for its own sake, but on selecting the right locations that align with our business model, our values and our long-term growth strategy. Derby is one of those locations.

Phenix Salon Suites was founded in the United States in 2012 and has since grown into a highly successful, nationwide business there, with hundreds of locations supporting thousands of independent beauty professionals.

That success is built on a simple, proven model: providing high-quality, self-contained salon suites that enable individuals to run their own businesses with autonomy, flexibility and professional support.

As we looked to bring that model to the UK, it was important to choose locations that reflected both market demand and long-term sustainability.

Derby stood out as a city that offered strong fundamentals without being over saturated, making it an ideal fit for one of our UK locations.

From a practical perspective, Derby’s central location, excellent transport links and established commercial infrastructure made it an attractive place to invest.

The Condor site provided the right scale and configuration for our concept, allowing us to deliver a high-quality environment for local beauty professionals while integrating into the wider area.

Equally important was the support we received locally. Throughout the investment process, we found Derby’s business community to be open, collaborative and solutions focused.

Marketing Derby played a key role in helping us navigate the local landscape and connect with the right partners, which gave us confidence in both the process and the city’s commitment to inward investment.

Derby also aligns closely with what Phenix stands for as a business.

Our model is rooted in entrepreneurship, independence and skills.

We support individuals who want to take control of their careers and build their own client base within a professional setting.

Derby’s strong independent spirit and skilled local workforce made it a natural fit for that approach.

Our investment in Derby represents a meaningful commitment to the city.

While it is one of several locations within our UK strategy, it plays an important role in supporting local jobs, increasing footfall and contributing to ongoing regeneration efforts.

Each Phenix location is designed to have a positive local impact, and Derby is no exception.

Looking ahead, we see Derby as a solid, well-chosen part of our UK network.

Backed by the strength and experience of our US business, we are confident that this investment will deliver long term value for both Phenix and the local economy.