Essential advice for entering hj's british hairdressing business awards

Thinking of entering this year's HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards? Sponsors of the awards offer this invaluable advice for putting together a winning entry.

Salon of the Year 1, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional

"These awards have made us all recognise and celebrate the entrepreneurial and commercial nature of owners, managers and teams in the industry. Not only does it mean we view each other differently, it also means that the hairdressing industry operates with the same business markers as other areas of commerce. The process of thinking through aspects of your business to enter awards such as these is a goal in itself. It's the benchmark that is to be aimed for, achieved and the returns on investment are many."

Lois Aspinall, marketing manager, Schwarzkopf Professional

Salon of the Year 2, sponsored by Clynol

"When putting together an entry, you need to put yourself in the shoes of the judges. They will be looking at many entries over several hours. Your entry needs to be clear and concise - stick to the criteria and offer evidence. It needs to stand-out visually and be legible so use illustrations, spreadsheets and text boxes, anything that reinforces your key points. It isn't necessary to spend a lot of money on design or writing, but you need to get someone to edit or proof read your entry to ensure all your key points are made as clearly and inventively as possible. It is important to summarise your key points and tell us what you do that makes you different with the results. That's what makes winners."

Lois Aspinall, marketing manager, Clynol

Retail Salon of the Year, sponsored by TIGI

"Successful salons know that being forward-thinking with their business plans and organisation is as important as being creative with their hairdressing. Being successful at retailing means you have to have a strong knowledge of merchandising, stock control, marketing, promotions and customer service. The products you use and retail affect every aspect of your salon and your work, from the appearance of your salon window to the way in which you communicate with clients. It is these areas that should be shown in the entry. The winner will be able to show retailing has increased their salon's success in every area and how retailing is a crucial area of profit growth."

Ian Harman, TIGI sales director

Training Award, sponsored by Wella Professionals

"We are in an industry where not only winning awards, but taking part is paramount to the success of individual salon businesses. These awards recognise individuals and salon businesses that really have gone the extra mile. Entrants need to be clear on what makes you stand out from your competitors. What is it about your training that inspires and motivates others? Try and articulate what achievements your company has seen due to your training and development. A winning trainer will show dedication, a sense of belief in what you are teaching and passion to want others to succeed."

Allison Kirkby, managing director, Wella Professionals 

Manager of the Year, sponsored by L'Oréal Professionnel

"In the current challenging economic environment, committed and driven individuals whose contribution and leadership has resulted in the exceptional performance of their team and their salon, more than ever, merit recognition. Team-building, motivation, customer care and leadership are all words that go hand-in-hand with being a successful manager in today's fast moving and tremendously competitive modern hairdressing industry."

Alan Richardson, general manager, L'Oréal Professionnel

Customer Care Award, sponsored by Kérastase

"Customer care starts as soon as your client enters the salon, so ensure that you have a robust 'Client Journey' programme in place that your salon team is committed to. You need to ensure that your clients are experiencing customer care that is not only excellent within the hairdressing arena, but also the retail luxury environment. The winner should not only have raised the bar in customer care but should also have translated that success into a profitable business model."

Anya Haarhoff, general manager, Kérastase UK

Junior of the Year, sponsored by Fudge

"The quality and time that entrants put into their entry is important. You should literally feel the passion coming through the pages as you see the hard work shining through. It's not about following a corporate identity at this stage - the real stand out entries are using montages, short snappy text, and focused answers. It's good to see unique entries that you know have been personally put together and not through a PR or salon employer. Enthusiasm in our industry is essential."

Terry Sierocki, CEO of Fudge

Salon Team of the Year, sponsored by Balmain Hair UK

"Employing the best people in the right jobs and delivering a first-class customer service is of paramount importance. Finding the most suitable people for the right roles in the team is perhaps every salon owner's greatest challenge. Having a great creative technical team is not enough to make a salon successful, a really exceptional team needs a wide range of people to make it work. Team communication, training, motivation, aspiration, understanding and much more need to be taken into consideration for the best team. An unhappy customer may spoil your day but the wrong team could ruin your business."

Dawn Reilly, managing director, Balmain Hair UK

Salon Design Award, sponsored by Aston & Fincher

"Design of the Year is about a salon, not a drawing. I will be looking for the most effective realisation of the most impressive design. This does not mean the most expensive, but simply the most commercially effective, creatively impressive and financially sensible designs will win through. The judges will be interested in designs that have shifted from the norm, so unique uses of space, combined with clever space planning will catch my eye."

Oliver Fincher, managing director, Aston & Fincher

Independent Salon - Business Newcomer, sponsored by Great Lengths

"It is important that the winning salon stands out for its creativity and can demonstrate unique skills and talent as well as incorporate new technologies. Essentially the salon must have a strong and creative head for business with a strategic vision for the future. It is important to provide evidence of their creative abilities, their measured success and continuously evolving sales as well as their marketing approach in line with an ever-changing economy and hairdressing trends."

Philip Sharp, managing director, Great Lengths 

Business Director of the Year, sponsored by HJ

"When entering any award it is essential there is evidence to back up any claims made. The dossiers should be well presented, easy to follow and simple to read. Entrants should talk about their achievements, initiatives that have raised the profile of the business and the team and detail that makes you and your business stand head and shoulders above the rest."

Jayne Lewis-Orr, publisher/editor-in-chief, HJ

• Download your British Hairdressing Business Awards 09 Entry Form
• Everything you need to know about the British Hairdressing Business Awards 09
• What can winning a British Hairdressing Business Award do for you?
• Highlights of the British Hairdressing Business Awards 2008
• Photos of the British Hairdressing Business Awards 2008