Debiliscious’ delicious extra
With hair salons becoming almost as common as cows in the country, Debbie Khan knew she had to offer something a little different if her enterprise, Debiliscious Hair Studio was to stand out in the crowded market.
Thus, after racking her brains, the 33-year-old came up with the novel concept of offering customers a relaxing neck, head and back massage as a free add-on to go with their haircut.
“After any haircut, you are offered a shower then you will be given a massage, which I believe is something unique,” says Khan, whose organisation, financed out of her own pocket, sharpened its scissors and officially began cutting hair on 13 March this year.
Based in Molapo Crossing opposite Jack’s Gym, as well as trendy hair styles for both women and men (they have a brilliant barber), Debiliscious Hair Studio cater for a range of beauty needs. Their list of services includes: nails, waxing, threading, wigs and facials and are even available for house calls, which come with an extra P100 fee.
The establishment has become a firm favourite amongst a variety of high-flying members of society, with the likes of Miss Botswana, Palesa Molefe and Selibe Phikwe West MP, Dithapelo Keorapetse both popping in to get their hair cut.
“Our target market is every Motswana at home, whether you are working or no. But for some reason local celebrities and high officials love our establishment,” grins Khan, who originally hails from Sefophe but now resides in Molepolole by marriage.
So, apart from complimentary massages, exactly what sets Debiliscious apart from the rest?
Pausing for barely a second, Khan responds, “They usually say we give a great personalised service and also our staff are friendly and professional. Our services cater for the masses and any individual who is looking for a clean environment to groom, a one stop beauty shop and value for their money.”
She now has a staff compliment of 17, having carefully hand-picked her crew – a process the bubbly business-owner admits was far from straightforward.
“Recruiting seasoned hairstylists and barbers has been a greatest challenge thus far. In addition, getting to the Debiliscious Hair Studio full staff compliment has been a journey because I only wanted to hire the best in the game and there are few disciplined ones with a solid clientele, which I managed to rope in.”
Having grown up in a military household – her father was a soldier – where ‘short, back and sides’ were the order of the day, a career in beauty seems an unlikely vocation for Khan.
She laughs this suggestion away, explaining, “I am someone who has always been passionate about beauty and fashion. I felt that I could be the one to drive it in other people through a beauty salon.”
Going forward, the brainy boss, who boasts an MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from the University of Sheffield amongst her many academic qualifications, has big ideas for her business.
“Our plans for expansion in scope as we are still at the building phase but we want to open more branches in the north as our main aim is for all Batswana to experience our unique services,” concludes the ambitious Khan, who counts the word of God and her mother, Matshediso Nakedi as her biggest inspirations.
