British hairdressing business awards: junior of the year interviews director of the year
Published
30th Jun 2011
by rachael
Jack Spencer from Hug8, Uxbridge, won HJ's 2010 Junior of the Year, sponsored by Fudge, at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, and has since joined the ClubStar Artistic Team and enjoyed numerous opportunities including making the finals of Jamie Stevens' search for an apprentice on ITV's This Morning. He took some time out to interview HJ's 2010 Business Director of the Year, Mark Woolley of Electric Hairdressing.
JS: What has been your proudest achievement?
MW: Seeing people from the salon who I've worked with for the best part of 10 years develop their careers. Watching someone who started as a stylist achieve a partnership is inspiring. It's all very well achieving success yourself, but if you can help someone else build their career too it's even better.
JS: Do you still see clients?
MW: Yes, being in the salon is extremely important to me and I generally do two days a week; one in London and one in Brighton. I couldn't do the rest of my job if I didn't work in the salon too. It is where I feel most at home. Whatever I do in my career, whether it's being a business director, creating products, or session styling, I couldn't do any of it without being based in the salon.
JS: Do you still get nervous when you are presenting, and if so how do you handle it?
MW: We're all a bit nervous when we go on stage - if you're not, something's wrong; it's just human nature. Whatever you do on stage should be powerful, but you should rehearse it to ensure it appears simple, effective and visual. Don't over-complicate or try to do too much - no-one wants to watch a full haircut: they just want to see a dramatic change in five minutes. When I've planned too much it becomes stressful and then I get nervous.
JS: Would you change anything about your career?
MW: I don't think so. I started hairdressing at 16 and have enjoyed every minute of it since. I started at Saks, and everyone I've met along the way has helped and inspired me. I try and learn something from everyone I meet, and luckily in this industry people are happy to give you their time and offer you opportunities. As long as you're a good hairdresser and an affable person, you can be successful - whether it's doing shows, education or running a salon. It comes down to two core elements: being a good stylist and being liked by your clients.
JS: What excites you about the industry?
MW: I like to see young guys, like you, working hard and breaking through. The energy and excitement that new talent creates is inspiring for everyone. I want to see young people like you making a name for yourselves and being good ambassadors for the hairdressing industry, inspiring kids to think 'I want to be like that'. I'm excited to see what you do next!
