Salon Express

About

Our philosophy is to deliver an affordable, accessible high quality service that exceeds your expectations every time.

Story

The Salon Express Story

Entrepreneurial Hairdressing was at the very beginning of Salon Express. When Albert Di Lallo was only 7 years old, He started his career in a small barbering salon in his home town Vasto in Italy. In those days school was only a half day, so to keep Albert out of mischief his mother sent him off to learn the craft. It was at this early age Albert combined his love of people and hairdressing with his entrepreneurial business spirit.

Albert arrived in Perth in 1961 with his Mother and two younger sisters, only a year after his Father and brother arrived, rejoining the family together to make a better life in Australia. Albert now 17, was already experienced enough to work as a qualified hairdresser but was too young for the Australian system to be an “official” apprentice, however he set to work in a barber salon in Leederville, and eventually completed his apprenticeship. Albert would often say it was his course in “Australia and English” rather than hairdressing.

It was not long after that his first business opportunity arose, at 22 he opened his first salon called “Albert’s Hairport” in Midland, Perth. He couldn’t afford to rent a shop in a good location so took a space at the very back of the arcade where passing trade was very limited, some days hardly anyone passed by. The salon soon thrived and expanded to employ twelve qualified hairdressers and four apprentices, with an impressive clientele, including TV personalities and politicians.

Commercial success ensued, along with Albert’s impressive hairdressing career. His passion for education, training and attaining excellence in his craft saw Albert coach the National Hairdressing team to many international victories, becoming founding member and president of the Master Mens’ Hairdressing Association of Australia, and then founding member and Senior Vice President of the Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association. In 1982 he left Australian shores to travel around the world, in search of new ways to do business. Eventually, in 1993 he introduced his passion for real estate and formed a syndicate, purchasing an ex-army barracks workshop.

Albert, along with his family, wife Jan, sons Simon and Adrian and daughters Luisa and Lucia, developed the site into the Midland Military Markets. Whilst it was very difficult at the beginning, it grew into one of the biggest and most popular weekend markets in Western Australia. At that time, weekend retail trading hours, particularly on Sundays, were heavily regulated which made access to hairdressing services extremely limited. The market provided the platform by which the revolutionary philosophy to offer affordable, accessible and high quality hairdressing services to the public on the weekends was developed.

In 1996, the first Salon Express was opened and operated by Luisa Di Lallo at the Midland Military Markets. Luisa, an accomplished hairdresser in her own right, was trained under Albert’s guidance and together they set the foundation for the Salon Express vision.

Albert, saw the opportunity to develop the original concept into a successful franchise model, based on value for money to the clients and rewards for staff for their efforts. In close collaboration with his other daughter Lucia Di Lallo, over the next four years, Salon Express expanded into another 4 weekend markets, perfecting the system as they went along and giving the confidence to grow into Shopping Centre locations. Since then, Salon Express has grown into 30 very successful franchised salons in Western Australia with the expansion to the east coast on the horizon.

Albert’s desire and notion of working together as a family has played a significant part in the development of the ethos and culture of Salon Express since its inception and continues as a cornerstone of the business. Today Salon Express is led by Simon Di Lallo in his capacity as Chairman. Through his leadership, and in conjunction with Jan, Luisa and Lucia, they continue to steer Salon Express to greater success whilst ensuring Albert’s vision remains at the core of every decision.

www.salonexpress.com.au

Impressum

To deliver an affordable, accessible, high quality service that exceeds your expectations everytime.

www.salonexpress.com.au