Orbe celebrates 30 years by returning to its roots

Ida Tirimacco has never been one to follow trends. “I don't have the time or energy to focus on what other salons are doing,” explains the Orbe co-founder.

“I'm more concerned about what I can do for my clients when they are in my chair. They're my purpose.”

That philosophy has helped her to navigate countless changing trends in the 30 years since she and Joe Cimmino launched the Orbe brand at 174 The Parade.

Despite being best friends, the pair had never worked together before running their own salon.

While Joe was a cutter known for his creative flair, Ida knew how to manage a team and look after the business side of things. “So working together, we came up with a beautiful blend.”

Ida placed a strong emphasis on staff training from the very beginning, and Orbe has seen hundreds of apprentices come through the doors over the past three decades.

“A lot of people don't get taught how to cut curly hair, or to perm, or to do short haircuts for women, so they're not confident,” she says.

“It's why a lot of salons have people who are either a cutter or a colourist. But in this salon, you will walk out trained in all facets of hairdressing.”

That strong foundation has seen many staff members go on to become educators or run their own businesses, and of the many awards she has received over the years, Ida is most proud of the Small Training Provider of the Year at the 2020 Australian Training Awards.

Ida has also worked hard to instil a strong culture in the salon team. It means that as stylists have come and gone, customers have remained knowing they will still enjoy the friendly service and attention to detail they have come to expect from Orbe.

And that will stay the same, even as the business undergoes its latest evolution.

Five years after launching the salon, Ida and Joe expanded into beauty treatments and took over the neighbouring site.

As that side of the salon expanded, they appointed several managers to look after beauty treatments, now current owner Stephanie Powell has taken the reins after 14 years as the sole manager, to create Urban Glow.

The evolving retail climate means that “many businesses are becoming smaller but more productive,” says Ida.

“But we haven't reduced our size – we've just become more productive in our original site.”

The change allows Ida and Joe to return to their original passion of hairdressing, and Orbe's latest evolution will include an extensive revamp of the salon in the second half of the year.

“This is our fourth renovation, and it will look very different when customers walk in,” Ida promises.

“It will be a comfortable environment, not too masculine, not too feminine. And it will be a true reflection of Joe and me.”

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174 The Parade, Norwood
W: https://orbe.com.au/