Special K saves salon’s name

A hair salon which was locked in a David versus Goliath copyright wrangle with a London-based beauty giant has been told it can keep its name – as long as it alters the spelling.

Sanctuary Hair and Beauty, in Walsall Wood Road, Aldridge, has been told that it can keep the name as long as it changes it slightly to Sanktuary Hair and Beauty. The letter K will be in the shape of a pair of scissors to emphasise the fact that the company is a hairdressing salon.

The row started when Covent Garden-based beauty company The Sanctuary threatened legal action.

It looked like Sanctuary Hair and Beauty may have had to completely change its name because it could not afford to get involved in a lengthy legal battle.

But the London beauty company has now backed down.

Sam Allen, boss of the Aldridge salon, is delighted with the compromise.

She said: “I got a letter last week off the company to say they were happy for us to keep the name as long as we changed it slightly, adding a K in the shape of a pair of scissors.

“In their opinion this would reinforce our company as a hair salon and there would be no confusion with them.

“I am absolutely delighted. We have been established for several years now and we have a very good name. I would have been devastated if we had to change the name completely.

“This is fantastic news for us.”

Miss Allen’s shop has been open since 2005 and she feared the dispute could have cost her thousands of pounds.

She has got to pick up the cost of solicitors fees and costs of changing the signs at the company and new business cards but says she is just happy the dispute has been sorted.

She was always adamant that her salon offered no threat and would not have any detrimental effect on the London company, which has a thriving mail order business and sells its products in high street chains such as Boots.