Price Attack Mount Gambier is now under new ownership with young local Chloe Stock the face of the new business.

Ms Stock trained to be a hairdresser at Price Attack Mount Gambier five years ago under former owners Michael Herde and Beverly Itzerott.

Ms Stock undertook more and more responsibilities at the successful salon and retail outlet until she was essentially running the business.

During that time, Ms Stock got married and most recently, while on maternity leave, she heard about Mr Herde and Ms Itzerott moving forward with their retirement plans and contemplating closing the store rather than putting off retirement.

“When I heard of their plans, I could not bear the thought of it closing and I did not want to work anywhere else,” Ms Stock said.

Ms Stock’s mother Donna Murphy felt the same way as her daughter about the potential closure.

“When we moved to Mount Gambier, and long before Chloe started her apprenticeship, I went to Price Attack because it was the only salon in town that offered the type of haircut I was after,” Ms Murphy said.

“I have always been thrilled with the service and the way the business operated and I knew this would be a good business for Chloe.

“I also knew she could not do it on her own while she raises a young family so it naturally evolved that we would also become business partners.

“Chloe knows the business so well and it is such a great store that we just made it happen.”

Price Attack has operated in Mount Gambier for 25 years and the national chain of 60 salons across Australia has not only trained Ms Stock but many other apprentices and provided jobs for locals.

“When I worked under Michael and Bev, I did a lot of ordering, staff organising and all sorts of other things, so buying the business means now I’m responsible to pay those staff and pay the bills,” Ms Stock said.

While her mother, a professional florist, manages the florist department at nearby Lima & Co store, she heads to the salon at 3.30pm every day taking on retail duties during the week and on Saturdays.

“Mum loves interacting with customers and helps out in the salon when needed which is great while we look for new salon staff,” Ms Stock said.

Ms Stock said there was a skills shortage in the hairdressing sector and they were keen to employ a qualified hairdresser as soon as possible.

“That would be our biggest headache since buying the business,” she said.

“We have been running for three months now and it’s great to be part of the franchise because they help you in every way possible.

“You get so much support from the Price Attack franchisor themselves they make it easy for you.

“And the feedback has been so positive, with our clients saying they feel the salon not only feels brighter, but how happy they are to see someone from the younger generation giving it a go.

“We could not be happier.”