Military precision at stylish salon
A couple are providing tattoos and haircuts at their new town centre business. LEAH CASSADY finds out more
HUSBAND-AND-WIFE team Mike and Leah Ellerby have swapped their lives in the military - to pursue their passion for tattooing and hairstyles.
And just last month the couple – who met in the Army in 2013 –unveiled Alchemy 13 Tattoo & Barbers, in Stone.
Now Mike and Leah are celebrating the opening by offering Sentinel readers a discount after taking part in our Shop Local promotion. The offer, valid until the end of the month, allows readers to get 10 per cent off all haircuts and tattoos on production of the voucher – which is valid for one customer.
Mike, who has been a professional tattoo artist for eight years, encouraged Leah to become a barber which had always been her ambition.
The 27-year-old said: “Leah had always mentioned being a barber, so I said she should do a training course.
“We decided to open our own shop and combine the two professions which go hand-in-hand. I love Stone and it’s convenient for us so we chose to set up here. The people are so friendly and it has not seen something like this before. It’s a small town but has everything you need and we’re glad to offer something different.”
Leah, a former care assistant, has now finished her training and is glad to be in the shop full-time now.
The 24-year-old said: “We chose the name Alchemy 13 as it means ‘a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation or combination’. Thirteen is also Mike’s lucky number.”
Mike added: “In just under two weeks we got the store ready and it’s going very well so far. We’ve been so busy with tattoos and have taken on a part-time barber, but we’ve had so many people come in that we’ve had to turn them away. Now Leah has finished her training we won’t have to do that.”
Alchemy 13 is based in the former Aeddonate charity shop, on Radford Street, which has moved onto High Street.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 6pm.