Jon Welch was a hair stylist of 12 years' experience who began renting a chair in Denise Osbourne's hair salon in July 1994, and proved popular with both customers and colleague Fiona Middleton. In December 1994, Denise offered Jon first refusal to buy the business from her, since she intended to move away from the area to escape Ken Barlow, the father of her unborn child. Jon declined the offer, explaining that his ex-wife still took a cut of his earnings, so he had no desire to run a business of his own, only to have to share the profits. Denise eventually opted to remain in Weatherfield and gave birth to a son Daniel, but remained estranged from Ken.