2 mins
BUSINESS BUZZ
Business Live, sponsored by the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) featured 12 sessions, discussing key industry topics. Here's an insight into what went on…
JACK OLIVER, KERI BLUE AND SHERINE WALROND
The Business Live stage at Salon International was a hive of activity with a range of diverse speakers from established salon owners such as Mark Woolley and Hellen Ward speaking on the challenges of business ownership to independent stylists such as Louis Byrne, creator of wellbeing plan I Can, I Am, I Will and Stewart Roberts, the founder of Haircuts4Homeless talking more holistically about the industry’s place in the modern world. Although the talks centred on business advice, financial planning and the future of the industry, they also encompassed areas such as mental health, inclusivity and social media. Here’s just some of the highlights HJ heard.
ABIGAIL BUTLER DISCUSSED EVOLVING YOUR BUSINESS, A SESSSION SPONSORED BY AXA INSURANCE
Kicking off the sessions, Keith Mellen, managing director of Anne Veck Limited, Ian Harrold, founder of Attitude, and salon owner Brooke Evans gathered on the stage to discuss their experiences in creating a dynamic business strategy; Keith noted that his biggest challenges were funding and recruiting a talented team. Meanwhile, Brooke added that factors outside of her control had also been a hurdle for her – sadly her salon flooded not long after opening. Ian advised business owners: “You need to be resilient and believe in yourself.”
EDWARD HEMMINGS
The following day, Sherrie Emery, MD of Glow Bright Marketing, Phil Smith, award-winning salon owner, and Mark Woolley, founder of Electric Hair, took to the stage to discuss how important salon branding is. All three agreed that it was crucial that businesses update their branding, no matter how big or small. Sherrie explained that the important part of re-branding is making sure you take your clients on that journey with you.
SHERRIE EMERY, PHIL SMITH AND MARK WOOLLEY
Meanwhile, Mark highlighted the changes the world faced as a result of Covid-19. “Anyone who hasn’t evolved their branding after that… I think will be in trouble,” he warned.
KERRY MATHER, HELLEN WARD AND TOBY DICKER
With the three-day event drawing to a close, Hellen Ward, managing director at Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, Toby Dicker, co-founder at THE CHAPEL Hairdressing, and Kerry Mather, company director of KJM Salons, gave advice on profit and loss, expanding businesses to new locations, and getting financial investment. When discussing advice for budding salon owners, Hellen said: “Get your own hair done in a couple of places, and feel what it's like to be a customer. Use it to your advantage by taking note of what you thought was fantastic experience and then apply that to your own space.” Wise words indeed.
BROOKE EVANS