Sell · Invest · Save
Helping salon owners sell, grow or save their business with confidence.
The future of your salon starts here. Haylee Benton is a multi-site salon owner, entrepreneur and investor with a growing portfolio of businesses across the UK and New Zealand.
As founder of the Alchemy & i Group, she has built, acquired and developed businesses across hair, spa and aesthetics — with a particular focus on client experience, operational efficiency, technology and creating opportunities for great people.
Recognised by
British Hairdressing Business Awards
Professional Beauty Awards
Employer of the Year
At a glance
Sell. Invest. Save.
Three ways Haylee works with salon, spa and aesthetics owners.
01
Sell your business
Exit with confidence. We help you package, value, and position your salon for a lucrative, seamless transition.
02
Invest in your future
Accelerate your growth with strategic capital, structural support, and partnership opportunities crafted for scale.
03
Save your business
Turnaround advice and direct intervention when times are tough. Protect your legacy and recover profitability.
The business behind the industry
More than salon ownership.
At Haylee Benton, we redefine how lifestyle and beauty brands scale. True growth relies on structural engineering, not just artistic talent. We help ambitious salon groups streamline complex operations, build high-converting marketing engines, integrate intuitive booking platforms, and optimize every square inch of physical space to maximize yield.
Could this be easier?
Could this work better?
Could technology solve it?
Could we use the space differently?
Could the client experience be even better?
THE PORTFOLIO
Building exceptional businesses in hair, spa and aesthetics.
Alchemy & i Group is dedicated to redefining salon experiences. By combining state-of-the-art styling, peaceful aesthetic zones, and an uncompromising standard of hospitality, we curate spaces where artistry meets sheer relaxation.
2019
First salon opened
UK & NZ
Two countries
Hair · Spa
& Aesthetics
THE GROUP
Hair salons · UK & NZ
CECILY
Day spa · Three homes
Salon Recovery Group
Specialist turnaround support
Podcast with Hellen Ward
WHY WORK WITH HAYLEE
Commercial thinking, with the people kept in view.
Balancing robust commercial strategies with genuine care for individuals is the true hallmark of sustainable salon acquisition and growth. Drawing on over a decade of hands-on expertise in the luxury lifestyle sector, we preserve your unique brand heritage while implementing structured, elegant efficiencies that secure your legacy.
- Brand Equity Safeguarding
- Profitability & Structural Optimization
- People-First Leadership Retention
- Operational Playbooks & Scaling
- Premium Market Positioning Adherence
- Future-Proof Strategic Asset Structuring
- Bespoke Journey-Driven Experiences
- Intelligent Financial & Growth Forecasting
- Unwavering Executive Mentorship
The Blowout podcast
Honest conversations about running a salon business.
Step behind the curtain of the beauty industry. We map out the triumphs, the scaling pains, and the unfiltered truths of salon leadership with expert guests who have built empires.
Ready to start a conversation?
Whether you are looking to elevate your business, discuss strategic partnerships, or explore premium consultations, our team is here to guide your next steps.
About Haylee
Entrepreneur, investor and multi-site salon owner.
Founder of the Alchemy & i Group, a growing portfolio of hair, spa and aesthetics businesses across the UK and New Zealand.
“Her route in was different. She wasn't a hairdresser. She was the client — a very fussy one.”
THE LENS
A commercial view of a creative industry.
Haylee approaches the beauty and salon landscape with a rigorously analytical, business-first framework. Balancing premium aesthetic choices with bulletproof operational performance, she bridges the classic divide between creative vision and high-yield commercial execution.
Success isn’t just about flawless talent—it’s about knowing your metrics, hardening your operational workflows, and mastering the client journey to convert passing curiosity into lifetime brand devotion.
The questions she asks
- Is your brand identity actively scaling or quietly stalling growth?
- Are your margins truly protected against rising product and staff overheads?
- Does your guest journey feel exceptionally premium at every touchpoint?
- How effectively are you translating creative vision into predictable cash flow?
- Where exactly are the operational bottlenecks in your daily salon cycle?
- Are your commission structures motivating the exact behaviors you need?
- What is the verified lifetime value of your average repeat client?
- Is your business structurally set up to scale, or simply to survive?
From the client's point of view
Valued on the fiftieth visit as much as the first.
At Alchemy & i, we believe the magic lies in the continuous pursuit of excellence. Your styling journey is highly personal, and we guarantee that your fiftieth appointment is treated with the same meticulous attention, custom consultation, and premium sensory care as your very first welcome.
“Turn ordinary services into extraordinary experiences.”
Her journey
Opened. Rebuilt. Grown.
2019
The baseline foundation. Planting the roots of premium aesthetics with our very first flagship location.
Since
Rebuilding through evolution. Navigating economic shifts to emerge as a highly structured, scalable model.
Today
An expanding group of premium multisite salons, renowned for luxury experiences and business excellence.
Haylee Benton’s journey illustrates the power of creative brand building, operational wisdom, and persistent refinement. From a singular vision to a robust collective, each milestone shapes our promise of outstanding care.
Efficiency & Innovation
Why are we doing it like this?
By marrying cutting-edge digital systems with warm, high-touch hospitality, we redefine the modern salon experience. We believe that technology should never replace human connection—instead, it should liberate our stylists from administrative friction, leaving them completely free to focus entirely on you and your hair.
01
Seamless Digital Booking
Instantly secure your perfect appointment online, backed by an elegant and responsive virtual concierge system.
02
Personalised Profile Matching
Tailored consultation history and style preferences are saved in your personal client dashboard for flawless continuity.
03
Precision Chemistry Tracking
Automated logs record precise formulation weights and execution steps to replicate your signature look every single visit.
04
Frictionless Checkout
Bypass the front desk queue with our secure automated billing integration for an effortless and relaxing departure.
Awards & Recognition
Celebrating Salon Excellence
British Hairdressing Business Awards
Celebrating industry-leading business acumen, visionary salon management, and elite standard customer experience benchmarks.
Professional Beauty Awards
Recognising superior clinical training pathways, premium aesthetic treatments, and unparalleled therapist standards.
Employer of the Year
Honouring progressive workspace cultures, supportive continuous education, and holistic team well-being structures.
SALON RECOVERY GROUP
Practical help when a salon business is struggling.
Running a salon is incredibly rewarding, but mounting liabilities, lease disputes, or sudden cash flow pressures can become overwhelming. Our dedicated recovery specialists offer confidential, practical guidance to help you navigate financial distress, protect your brand, and secure your livelihood.
Support can include
- Confidential financial health & liability reviews
- Creditor payment terms & HMRC negotiation
- Landlord discussions & lease restructuring assistance
- Operational review to streamline overhead costs
- Exploring emergency funding & capital injection
- Staffing restructuring & payroll rationalisation
- Asset protection & formal restructuring procedures
- Discreet, orderly closure & wind-down management
How Haylee can help
Three ways Haylee helps salon owners.
Whether an owner wants to sell, grow or save their business, Haylee’s experience and wider team can help explore the options available.
01 — SELL
Sell your salon, spa or aesthetics business.
If you are looking to exit your beauty, wellness, or aesthetics brand, Haylee offers a seamless, highly structured acquisition framework. We preserve your legacy, protect your team, and nurture the brand equity you have built.
“We don’t just acquire brands; we elevate the hard work, the brilliant therapists, and the client trust you’ve spent your lifetime establishing.”
* All inquiries are handled with absolute discretion and strict NDAs.
Particularly interested in
- Multi-location salon groups based in the South East
- Premium day spas with robust recurring memberships
- Skin clinics with specialized, medical-grade aesthetic equipment
- Salons with experienced, self-sufficient management teams
- Leasehold properties in high-footfall high street spots
- Well-loved local salon institutions poised for modernization
02 — Invest
Invest in your salon.
Unlock your brand’s true capability with bespoke business consultation. We collaborate closely with salon founders to streamline operations, elevate visual frameworks, and secure a high-value marketplace positioning.
01
Bespoke Business Consultation
02
Operational Audit & Strategy
03
Brand Elevate & Visual Identity
04
Financial Roadmap & Valuation
03 — SAVE
Save your salon.
When challenges mount, quick and decisive action is critical. We step in to stabilise your operations, restructure debt, streamline overheads, and restore immediate profitability so you can focus on what you do best.
THAT COULD MEAN
Renegotiating commercial property leases & rent arrears
Restructuring business debt and managing creditor pressure
Refinancing high-interest salon equipment loans
Optimising staff column performance and payroll overheads
Streamlining utility, software, and stock supply agreements
Securing emergency working capital to restore cash flow
We handle the heavy lifting and difficult negotiations, protecting your brand reputation while giving you the breathing space to rebuild your clientele.
Your next chapter
What does your next chapter look like?
Scaling operations so your business thrives beautifully without your constant daily presence.
Stepping into true leadership, delegating with confidence, and reclaiming your personal time.
Elevating your brand positioning to consistently attract high-value, premium clientele.
Expanding your footprint with additional, highly profitable boutique locations.
Crafting an elegant exit strategy to secure your legacy and financial freedom.
Whatever the reason, it starts with a conversation.
Start a conversation
Get in touch with Haylee.
Whether you are looking to scale your salon business, collaborate on a premium brand partnership, or secure an elite speaking engagement, Haylee and her advisory team are ready to connect.
Press & speaking
For media inquiries, interview requests, or booking Haylee for keynote events, please select ‘Press & speaking’ on the form.