Pitch PERFECT

From business strategies to bold ambitions, HJ’s Business Boardroom mentees showcased their newfound skills as the programme reached its exciting finale

With a L’Oreal Professionnel contract at stake, HJ’s Business Boardroom, in association with L’Oréal Professionnel, saw the mentees present their business plans to a panel of judges, hoping to impress with their new-found business knowledge gained throughout the programme.

Leading industry entrepreneur and award-winning hairdresser Sean Hanna has mentored eight salon owners from across the UK in leadership, marketing, and profits. The mentoring programme has given them a deeper understanding of running a business, delving deeper into the importance of knowing your figures, putting together marketing campaigns that boost profits and attract and excite new and existing talent. The sessions also gave them the skills to become a great leader for not just within their team, but also the industry.

“These salon owners are the future of our industry, and HJ’s Business Boardroom was designed to push them out of their comfort zone, help them make better decisions and create businesses that flourish,” says Sean. “We have held sessions in putting together marketing campaigns, what works and more crucially what doesn’t; understanding P&Ls and creating wealth; and heard from a selection of the industry’s best business brains. It has been a whirlwind of information, and to see them grow in confidence has been an honour. I’m truly excited for what their futures hold.”

The final day saw them present business plans for their own businesses – expansion possibilities; a new salon enterprise; streamlining education offerings and taking a business in a new direction.

The mentees presented to industry heavyweights Salv Mule from Academy Salons, Hellen Ward from Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, Samantha Cusick from Samantha Cusick London and Colin Slight from L’Oréal Professionnel.

Liza Raby and Hannah Lowndes impressed the judges with their plans for a new chapter of their business – creating a new brand which incorporates Spencers Salon, LH Hair Design and Burghley Hair & Beauty Academy, streamlining their business with everything they have learnt on the course. “I think our faces said it all when they announced we’d won” recalls Liza. “We were genuinely shocked and quite emotional. It’s been an incredible journey, not always an easy one, but we’ve loved every minute and the amazing people we’ve met along the way. To hear the judges recognise and love what we do meant absolutely everything. We were overwhelmed, incredibly proud and very, very happy!”

The team got together for one last time when they joined Sean on the Business Stage at Salon International to talk about their experiences (head to page 31 for all the #Salon26 highlights!). The programme will return for 2027 so watch this space!