To our great delight, Ellen Birkinshaw, our 360 editor, has created a piece detailing the journey of Simply Wigs as part of her Master’s coursework. Ellen’s exploration highlights the story behind our wig company and the passion and dedication that drives our team each and every day.
With her permission, we’re proud to feature Ellen’s work below, so grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and read on – we’ve got a story to share!
A Family’s Mission to Transform Wig-Buying Forever
From a midnight kitchen table in Yorkshire to becoming the UK’s largest online wig retailer, Simply Wigs’ journey shows how personal experience can revolutionise an industry. But for founders Emma and Stuart, success isn’t measured in sales figures – it’s measured in moments of joy when customers open their beautifully wrapped packages.
In the blur of new parenthood in 2000, Emma and Stuart faced a reality they had never expected. Their youngest daughter was just two months old when both their children received their diagnosis. For many families, such moments become defining lines in their lives – the before and after. But for Emma and Stuart, it became the foundation of something extraordinary.
“It is all a bit of a blur for those first couple of years, as our family adjusted to our new reality,” Emma recalls, her voice carrying the weight of those early days. Yet within this challenge lay an almost impossible coincidence – one that would later seem like destiny. Stuart, Emma’s husband, had trained as a barber from age 16, and the hairdressers where he worked were also wig makers. By 18, he had become a trained wig maker himself.
When their eldest daughter asked for hair at age three, their response was a simple, calm “okay.” But the journey to fulfil that request would reveal gaps in the industry that only parents walking this path could truly understand. “We were beholden to somebody else providing the best service for our daughters,” Emma explains. With waiting times stretching to four or even six months for personalised wigs and results that sometimes fell short of expectations, they knew something had to change.
The Kitchen Table Revolution
In 2007, Simply Wigs was born from two powerful motivations. First, the desire to ensure their daughters’ needs would always be the highest priority. Second, and perhaps more profound, was their vision of creating a community.
“We wanted to create a community for our girls to grow up with, where wearing a wig would not be something that wasn’t talked about,” Emma shares. “A community where they knew that there were other children/people in the world, without hair too.”
Early Days and Midnight Moments
The beginning was a delicate balancing act – juggling full-time jobs, parenting toddlers, and building their fledgling business. Emma vividly remembers their first order: “It was a lady in Ireland. I think about her often and wonder if she ever knew what her order meant to us. We absolutely screamed the house down.”
Those early days paint a picture of dedication: midnight order printing, a makeshift packing room in the cellar, and two parents determined to make a difference. “To be honest, we do look back at the early days and think, how on earth did we do that?” Emma reflects.
The Chocolate That Changed Everything
Sometimes, the smallest gestures create the biggest impact. Early in the company’s journey, Stuart had an idea that would become a trademark of Simply Wigs’ approach to customer care – including a Ferrero Rocher chocolate with every order and wrapping the wigs in beautiful paper.
“He wanted the customer to have the feeling of receiving a present, rather than receiving just a wig.”
This simple touch has created countless moments of joy. “We’ve had grandmothers call us and tell us that they don’t open their parcel until their grandchildren are there, so they can have the chocolate.” It’s a perfect example of how Simply Wigs transforms what could be a difficult purchase into something special.
Growing Without Losing Heart
Today, Simply Wigs stands as the UK’s largest internet wig supplier, with 15 staff members. Yet maintaining the personal touch that defined those kitchen table days remains paramount. “We still want each customer to feel that they are the only one on our priority list,” Emma emphasises. “We want to give them the feeling that we strived for, for our daughters at the beginning.”
Building a Community of Understanding
The impact of Simply Wigs extends far beyond providing hairpieces. Recent feedback from a mother whose young daughter has alopecia particularly touched Emma: “It was to thank us for helping her young daughter, and for also helping her feel that she wasn’t alone.”
The company has innovated in subtle but meaningful ways, such as including poems written by customers from their hair loss community in packages. These shared experiences create connections between people who have never met but walk similar paths.
Stories That Change Lives: From Pakistan to Yorkshire
Among the many stories shared on “Whispers from a Wig Wearer,” one particularly powerful narrative stands out. A young college student in Pakistan suddenly began losing her hair, watching helplessly as patches appeared across her scalp within a week. After being diagnosed with alopecia, she and her family faced a challenging journey that would test not just her resilience but society’s acceptance.
The impact extended beyond physical change – a broken engagement due to in-laws who “couldn’t accept a bald girl as their daughter-in-law” highlighted the deep social stigma she faced. Yet through this darkness, her father’s unwavering support helped her overcome depression and focus on her studies.
Love arrived unexpectedly at university, where she met her future husband. Wearing a scarf like many other women, she kept her alopecia hidden until her sister encouraged her to share the truth. His response would change her life – after taking two days to process the news, he returned to say her hair wasn’t an issue for him. They married in 2009 and moved to the UK, where they now have three beautiful children.
@simplywigs Simply Wigs is all about giving you confidence! Find your style and confidence with us? #simplywigs #simplywigsdaughter #confidence #wigwearing #wigconfidence #hairlossconfidence ? Confidence – sped up – full song – Ocean Alley
The Next Generation: A Daughter’s Mission
The Simply Wigs story continues to evolve through the next generation. Emma and Stuart’s daughter Connie, who grew up alongside the business, has taken their mission in new directions. As a yoga teacher specialising in trauma-informed movement, she brings a unique perspective to the conversation about body acceptance and self-confidence.
Her role in the company’s social media presence adds authenticity to their digital voice, sharing content that resonates particularly with younger people navigating their hair loss journey. Through TikTok videos and social posts, she advocates for confidence and self-acceptance, drawing from her own experiences growing up in a family dedicated to supporting the wig-wearing community.
Connie’s approach to trauma-informed movement teaching aligns perfectly with her family’s mission – understanding that physical confidence and emotional wellbeing are deeply interconnected. Her work represents a natural evolution of Simply Wigs’ founding principles, helping people feel comfortable in their own skin, with or without hair.
More Than Business: The Simply Wigs Bank
In a significant development for the Simply Wigs community, the Wig Bank has reopened at their Yorkshire shop. This innovative scheme allows women to obtain a brand new or nearly new wig for a minimal donation of £5, with all proceeds being donated to Kirkwood Hospice, a vital local charity that provides specialist care for adults with advanced, progressive illnesses.
The Wig Bank serves multiple purposes, making it easier for women to begin their wig-wearing journey. For those new to wearing wigs, it provides an affordable way to try wearing a wig in the comfort of their own home without a significant financial commitment. For experienced wig wearers, it offers an opportunity to experiment with different styles at a fraction of the usual cost.
The initiative maintains high standards, with a recent policy update to accept only brand-new wigs. With over 1,000 donated wigs in their collection, the Bank offers plenty of choices for women to find their perfect match. The response from the Simply Wigs hair loss community has exceeded expectations, with an outpouring of donations and generosity that has been both heart-warming and uplifting.
@simplywigs Thank you to our amazing customers for donating your wigs to our Wig Bank! ? With your help, we’ve just donated an incredible £1,777 to Kirkwood Hospice ? #kirkwoodhospice #wigbank #simplywigs #fundraisingsuccess #thankyouall ? Celebrate – Courtney Act
Partnerships
Through their partnership with Kirkwood Hospice, the Wig Bank creates a meaningful cycle of support. The hospice provides specialist care, free of charge, to adults with advanced, progressive illnesses at any time from diagnosis to the end of life, respecting their individual needs and wishes. The donations from the Wig Bank directly contribute to this vital work.
The Simply Wigs Wig Bank stands as a testament to their commitment to provide all women, regardless of status or location, with support in finding a wig. It’s an inspirational scheme that transforms the process of finding a wig into an accessible, supportive experience for all who need it.
Heroes in the Hair Loss Journey
Simply Wigs’ unique “Your Heroes” initiative captures the deeply personal side of hair loss journeys through stories of support, love, and unwavering companionship. From life-saving organ donors to supportive partners, family members, and friends, these narratives highlight the crucial role that support networks play in the wig-wearing journey.
The stories span a remarkable range of experiences: a transgender woman supported by her daughter through her transition, a cancer patient whose partner stood by her through chemotherapy, and individuals facing alopecia who found strength in family support. One particularly moving story features a daughter, Esme, described as her mother’s “rock,” who helped build confidence by consistently reassuring her about her appearance.
The scope of these hero stories reflects the diverse challenges faced by the wig-wearing community. Some heroes are medical professionals, others are life partners who simply say “you’re beautiful with or without hair,” and some are community members who have become pillars of support for others facing similar journeys.
What makes these stories particularly powerful is their authenticity. One nominee simply states “He wasn’t just a Hero, he was my real lifesaver,” while another shares how their hero has “been an amazing support from the moment he knew about my hair loss.” These testimonials, shared through the Simply Wigs blog, create a tapestry of support stories that inspire others in the community.
This celebration of heroes adds another dimension to Simply Wigs’ community-focused approach, acknowledging that behind every wig-wearer’s journey stands a network of support that deserves recognition and appreciation.
The Most Important Lesson
When asked about the most important thing they’ve learned about supporting people through their hair loss journey, Emma’s answer is profound in its simplicity: “Treat each individual as an individual. You cannot generalise how individuals are coping or dealing with their hair loss. To do that would be disrespectful. You have to listen.”
A Legacy of Kindness
The question of legacy arose unexpectedly for Emma after her brother’s death two years ago. “Do you have to achieve something spectacular in your life? I’m not sure if you do. As long as you are authentic to yourself, and treat people kindly, then that should be enough,” she reflects.
Yet in staying true to these simple principles, Simply Wigs has achieved something spectacular. From that first screaming celebration over an order from Ireland to becoming the UK’s biggest online wig supplier, they’ve never lost sight of their original mission: to treat each person’s hair loss journey with the same care and attention they wanted for their own daughters.
“Everything we do, we try to envisage that we are doing it for, just that one person,” Emma explains. “Because hair loss, for that one person, will be absolutely massive, and you have to treat people with kindness and compassion.”
The Most Important Lesson
For anyone wanting to connect with the Simply Wigs community or learn more about their services, there are several ways to get involved:
Read More Stories
Visit the Simply Wigs blog “Your Heroes” section to read heart-warming stories of support and inspiration from their community. From family members to medical professionals, these stories showcase the incredible network of support behind every wig wearer’s journey.
Share Your Story
The Simply Wigs team invites customers to share their own experiences and nominate their heroes. These stories become part of their growing collection of testimonials that help inspire and support others facing similar challenges.
Support Services
Get in Touch
The Simply Wigs specialists are available to answer questions about their services, the Wig Bank scheme, or sharing personal stories. Visit their website at simplywigs.co.uk or reach out through their contact page.
Through these stories and services, Simply Wigs continues to build a supportive community for anyone experiencing hair loss, demonstrating that no one needs to face their journey alone.
So, there you have it! We hope you loved Ellen’s article as much as we did. If our story has inspired you, and you want to learn more about us or our wig collection, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We’re always thrilled to welcome new members to our wig community and look forward to supporting you throughout your journey.
CONTACT US
We would LOVE to hear from you. Our friendly Customer Services Team can be reached Monday to Thursday (9:30 am to 3:30 pm GMT, and Friday 9:30 am to 2:30 pm GMT).
Come and say hello!
THE AUTHORS
We just love when our customers share their reviews, detailing their hair loss journeys. Each story is unique and incredibly inspiring. These personal accounts offer valuable insights..
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