Profile of a salon manager: ken picton

Salon owner Ken Picton opened his first salon, the Zoo, in 1990 before moving to the Cardiff Bay area in 2000 and opening the Ken Picton salon.

Ken has won HJ's Wales and South West Hairdresser of the Year on two separate occasions and also has been recognised for his management skills at HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards.

His salon scooped Website/Innovation of the Year in 2010 for the iKenPicton online booking system and was shortlisted for four other British Hairdressing Business Awards in 2011 and Salon of the Year 1 in 2010.

Here, Ken talks about what it takes to be a salon owner, including how he reached his current role.

How did you end up in your job?

When I left school I went to college to study hairdressing and instantly knew it was the job for me. By the time I was 21 I had opened my first salon called the Zoo in Cardiff, and have now been in business for 22 years -which has flown by!

What tips would you give for anyone who wants your job?

Be prepared for the unexpected and ready for anything. As a salon owner, I like to treat my business as I would my children; it's my job to help them grow, keep them happy and stay focused.

What are the best and worst parts of your job

The best part of my job is seeing the business grow and the people within it grow. Lots of my team have been with me for over 12 years and I count them as my friends.

The worst is the red tape that comes with running a business. It stifles growth and is constantly getting worse.

What do you like best about being involved in the hair industry? 

No two days are the same. It also has the most amazing passionate people within it, and also the happiest. I see it as a pleasure and a privilege and couldn't think of doing anything else. I always get asked if I have a get-out plan? "Why would I?" is my response!