BUSINESS LIVE

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S BUSINESS LIVE STAGE, SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL HAIR & BEAUTY FEDERATION (NHBF)

With 13 panels across three days, we take a glance at what went on over at the Business Live stage, sponsored by the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF)...

Our first group hit the ground running in ‘How to Maintain a Safe, Legal and Profitable Business’. Chaired by NHBF Chief Executive Caroline Larissey, board members and successful salon owners Debbie Digby, Beverley Bates and Fiona Johnson drew from their wealth of experience to discuss practical approaches to overcoming current obstacles, while fostering growth and innovation in the sector.

In ‘Social Media Management: Amplify Your Salon’s Online Presence’, Jaymz Marsters, Sarah Keane and Fede Damiani sat down to explore how hair professionals can utilise social media to support their businesses. Jaymz encouraged the audience to find their niche and embrace it, while for those anxious to begin their social media journey, Sarah acknowledged that getting started can often be the hardest part. However, she shared that opportunities won’t come knocking on your door unless you put yourself out there. Her advice? “It doesn’t have to be perfect, just start.”

On the second day of the event, Bobby Gordon, Kerry Mather, Jamie Brooks, Meg Piper and Kelly Furnival gathered for a session titled ‘Financial Management’. When asked for their top financial practice, Meg shared: “Although we work in a very trendled industry where things can move really fast, you need to make sure you think about everything from a business perspective, not just a hairdressing perspective.” Kelly agreed that maintaining a business-focused mindset is crucial, adding: “You need to know what your figures are, and be prepared to be flexible and adjust where needed.”

On the final day of the show, Jody Jones, Laura Leigh Kerr, Eve Avis and Talisha Cox sat down for ‘Let's Talk Apprenticeships: Shaping the Future of Hairdressing Together’, sponsored by VTCT. Jody Jones, Apprenticeship Business Development Manager at VTCT, shared that as of September, figures for apprenticeships are on the up, while Talisha shared that her business has also seen a huge turnaround in the number of apprenticeship applications over the past year. However, Talisha also recognises for the industry as a whole to continue to grow, low standard wages need to be addressed: “It’s not realistic to ask someone to change their lifestyle for an apprenticeship.” Meanwhile, Laura offered her take on attracting new talent, sharing: “It’s up to us to get young people into the salon and excite them. We have a responsibility to pass on our knowledge and keep this industry alive.”

In ‘It’s All About the Curl’, Antoinette Ale, Karen Douglas and Emma Simmons joined forces to discuss today’s diverse beauty landscape, where offering services for every hair type is not just a bonus – it’s a must. “With over 65% of the global population having textured hair, we’re missing out on a massive opportunity if we can’t provide these people with an adequate service,” explained Antoinette. Karen further delved into the importance of embracing one’s curls and stressed the need to educate younger clients on how to care for their curls, while Emma discussed the role of social media in the textured hair sphere.

As Business Live wrapped up, it was evident that the discussions would spark new ideas and a renewed passion for the future of the industry.