Aston & Fincher, supplying the hair and beauty trade since 1959

Company founder Bob Fincher buys Aston Toilet Supplies, founded in 1934, from Mr Aston. Aston and Fincher opens in Soho Road, Handsworth, in July 1959. The first employee is his son, Richard Fincher.

Growth was rapid and the company moves from the 1000 sq ft premises to 6000 sq ft on Soho Hill. Customers around the Birmingham and Black Country area were served by four representatives and four vans.

Soho Hill was over four floors, and increasingly impractical. Aston and Fincher moves to Holyhead Road, Handsworth with counter service and six vans and representatives as part of the 70-strong staff. 

Change was in the air. The first cash and carry in the industry is opened at the rear of Holyhead Road. Within two years it had taken over the whole of the ground floor. Furniture sales increase dramatically to service salons' needs.

The expansion continues, this time to other cities and towns. Coventry and Bristol are the first branches opened. Our reps came off the road and became our first store managers. The management team who were to lead the expansion for the next 30 years was formed: left to right, Tim LaBrum, Len Barber, Bob Fincher and Richard Fincher.

Expansion continued, often taking over other wholesalers who did not convert to the cash and carry model. Aston and Fincher are now in South Wales, the South West, North West and the East of England.

The trend started back towards reps, telesales and deliveries. All of our 27 stores offer this service. Oliver Fincher, Richard's son, becomes Managing Director.

The big move for the Head Office to Pavilion Drive. The 40,000 sq ft premises offers the finest hair and beauty cash & carry, training facilities, furniture showroom and distribution centre in the country.

Exclusive brands continue to evolve, with Moroccanoil, evo, Framesi, Valera and our Italian designer furniture at the forefront.

Central telesales and website are brought together as Aston and Fincher Online. Daily nationwide deliveries are part of the service. The Fincher family still own and run Aston and Fincher. Richard remains as Chairman and Bob's grandson, Oliver is the Managing Director. Bob still takes a keen interest in the business he set up over 50 years ago.

Another revolutionary brand and product is provided to the industry by Aston and Fincher, OLAPLEX™ “One ingredient changes everything”. Colourists and clients can be more daring than ever before and dramatic radical changes can be achieved quickly and safely. Hair is braver, bolder and incredibly creative.

Aston and Fincher acquires Your Salon Store, an innovative beauty company servicing the beauty market with their specialist beauty catalogue.

Stafford Hair Supplies and AKS become a part of the Aston and Fincher family, adding stores in Stafford, Derby, Tamworth and Burton upon Trent. The team at these stores are retained and thrive on the new culture and structure.

Looking to build the territory in Northern England, where a Territory Manager is already established Aston and Fincher purchases Trade Hair Cosmetics in Sunderland, allowing customers in the North East easy access to exclusive brands and new opportunities.

Aston and Fincher acquires Coldhams of East Anglia in Norwich. Founded in 1923 by a postman spotting an opportunity to bring hairdressing goods back from London to supply the local area, this purchase gives Aston and Fincher its second store in the East of England, alongside Cambridge.

A celebratory year for Aston and Fincher, 60 years of trading, growing from strength to strength and continuing to expand and drive the business forward, whilst still maintaining the company's family values and corporate ethics.