Andrew barton - new salon team nearly in place

I've spent time ever day for the last few weeks working on getting ready for my new salon opening in November.

At the moment we're focusing on strategies - developing procedures and manuals that will ensure things are done the Barton way.

I'm very excited to have appointed my group technical director, Andrew Blackadder - know in the industry as AJ.

AJ spent about 10 years working with the Toni & Guy art team, but before that he worked with me as my junior in Australia. Andrew became known as AJ when he was working for me. We already had an Andrew working in the salon so he opted to be called AJ, as in Andrew's junior. It's great that we're going to be working together again.

I also have Tracey Gallagher joining me as group creative director.

It's great to be working with people that I know personally and professionally, that I can trust in these very senior positions.

I've also been busy interviewing the first phase of recruits. We've been inundated with candidates - and we only advertised in HJ and on HJi! So far we've seen 130 people and they have all been of an amazing calibre. It's going to be difficult pick the 15 we need for phase one of the recruitment process.

So far the whole process has been fairly stress-free. It's all been very well organised with the help of my fantastic management team. My experience is with larger salon groups, so I've been opening salons for years.

This week I've also spent two days shooting my collection for British - this year they are going to be really different. It's been very exciting as it has coincided with my departure from Saks so I've had full creative control.