Meet the hji hairdressing business expert panel
As a salon owner or manager you may sometimes feel that you are on your own with noone to turn to for inspiration or to act as a sounding board for your ideas.
Of course you try to attend conferences and seminars to stay in touch with the industry and share ideas with other salon owners, but it can be costly and they don't always happen just when you need a helping hand.
That's why we have put together this esteemed panel of industry experts so that you can ask them for advice on key areas of the business whenever you need a bit of expert knowledge.
Each of the panel have their own area of expertise and a dedicated forum on the HJi Community where you can ask them questions or alternatively you can send an email with your question for us to post in the forum for you.
Experts will endeavour to reply with an answer as soon as possible. We reserve the right to publish all questions on HJi.co.uk and in the magazine.
Sean Hanna - Our Salon Management Expert
Sean Hanna is recognised as a leading light when it comes to the business of hair salons and crucially making the business model actually work. Sean's strong accountancy background have taught him to put in place simple measures to increase business turnover. Owner of eight salons and a Training Academy, Sean has won numerous accolades at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, including Marketing Award 2002, 2003 and 2005, Retail Salon of the Year 2007 and the coveted British Hairdressing Business Director of the Year Award in 2003. In addition to his Salons, Sean also runs Rage Internatational, a financial guide and support package for salon owners, stylists and retailers who want to find out what is actually happening with their business.
- As the salon management expert, you can ask Sean for advice on everything from commission structures to how to get the most out of your team. Put your question on the Sean Hanna Salon Management forum or email your question now.
Louise Wood - Our PR Expert
Well-respected with more than 25 years' experience in the hairdressing industry, Louise Wood, founder of LWPR, believe in offering a dynamic, resourceful and friendly service that is professional yet personal. LWPR represent manufacturers including the Henkel group (Clynol, Schwarzkopf and Indola) and SDL (Ego Professional tools, Sexy Hair), as well as eminent and award-winning salon groups such as Andrew Barton and Barrie Stephen. The LWPR ethos is clearly one of building working relationships on foundations of trust, and so it has always been, says Louise. "It's very simple to me: do what you say you will and do it to the absolute best of your ability every day... Oh and smile!"
- If you have a question relating to how to get good PR for your salon or firefight a bad situation. Send your question for Louise now or ask it on the Louise Wood PR forum.
Simon Shaw - Our Training Expert
Simon is the co-founder and past director of the international award-winning salon group, Haringtons. He has spent 30 years in the hair industry and over 23 years creating salon culture, focusing on developing people and providing top customer service. Simon has now launched Simon Shaw Education, and is teaching courses for L'Oreal both in the UK and abroad, as well as privately for individual salons. Simon's innovative courses include The Winning Game, a programme in which each participant experiences the value of being a coach and being coached. The course involves a tennis match, and is raved about by all who undertake it.
- You can seek Simon's advice on all aspects of hairdressing training on the Simon Shaw Training forum or send an email for Simon now.
Sarah Cross - Our Customer Loyalty Expert
Sarah is a customer loyalty expert with 12 years' experience in developing and designing successful loyalty programmes used to increase client retention, spend and frequency of visit. She has worked in-house as Head of Loyalty and Strategy for ghd, and now runs her own business, uber. Current clients include Diesel, Home House and The Children's Mutual as well as several sme businesses. Sarah has specific expertise in the hair industry and specifically in adapting effective customer relationship management solutions to salon business. Visit uber Marketing site.
- Want to make sure your clients keep coming back and spend more money each visit? Ask Sarah for her advice on the Sarah Cross Customer Loyalty forum or email your question for Sarah now.
David Wright - Our Legal Expert
David is a graduate of Newcastle University with 30 years' HR experience in both the public and private sector. He has run a consultancy for salons for many years and is employment advisor for HABIA. The author of the Employment Law Manual for Salons and The Employment Rights and Responsibilities passport used in many colleges, David also writes regular features for HJ and Health and Beauty magazine and has provided training for Wella, Redken and Schwarzkopf. David gives a practical slant to the complex issues of Employment and his emphasis is on how Employment law can be used as a tool for Salon Owners rather than a barrier or obstacle.
- Got a query regarding managing your salon and the law? You can put your question to David on the David Wright legal forum or email your question now.
Rikki Tronson - Our Technology Expert
Rikki Tronson has more than 15 years industry experience working firstly as a stylist, then owning his own salon, so he is used to the pressures of running a busy salon business. Rikki's natural interest in all things technical, and his passion for teaching, led him to join i-salon, where he heads up the professional services team. Mixing industry experience and technical know-how, Rikki encourages salon owners to embrace technology wherever they can to make their lives and businesses richer.
