Putting on an event for your salon team

Linda Stewart is co-owner of hugely successful salon group Rainbow Room International.

She is committed to ensuring her team are continually motivated and rewarded, which includes putting on an annual awards ceremony.

Linda is ideally placed to advice other salon owners on the dos and don'ts of holding a team event.

Know the reason for the event and what you want to achieve?

We started our congress event 20 years ago as an alternative Christmas celebration because December is so busy in the salons. We decided to have an event in January, away from the city, with an overnight stay for the team.

We measure our team's performance and believe it is good to reward fantastic results. Our first event had about 36 people and the prizes were crystal glasses. This year there were about 300 team members and guests, and prizes were beautiful trophies and cash bonuses totalling about £12,000.

Review the event three to six months later and evaluate what worked and what didn't. Think about what you would do differently to make the next event better.

Set a budget, calculate costs and hidden expenses

When we organise our annual congress we plan and budget for everything, including the venue, accommodation, syndicate rooms, food and drink (breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks), table decoration, travel/flights, coaches, speakers, entertainment, awards, music, IT, production and so on.

We work out the price per employee and this is the investment we are making in team members.

Spend time working out the details

Draw up a tight schedule/timetable that ensures the event runs smoothly and is stress-free. Communicate with all team leaders and keep a chain of command.

Alan, my business partner and husband, and I spend at least two weeks at the beginning of the year agonising over the results and making sure we have our measurement systems and judging criteria correct. It's important that a team member receives an award for the right reason. If you get it wrong, and the team is demotivated or feels that a person does not warrant an award, it could create the wrong effect. Adapt the formula for your salon size, team and budget.

Keep the team interested

By getting the team to participate, it takes ownership of the idea and this keeps staff motivated. Hairdressers are artistic people, and we try to use their creativity.

Ensure team members knows what is expected of them

In the lead up to the event, communicate how you want the team to behave, what is expected of them, and if they fail what the consequences are. You are responsible for them as it is classed as a place of work. Have a plan A, B, and C to manage any problems.

Reap the rewards

The main benefits for the team are motivation and teamwork. Everyone talks about it for months before the event and is inspired by it. The teams involve clients and it helps salons to work together as a unit. It also motivates staff to set themselves goals and targets spanning the whole year.

Teams are rewarded and recognised in front of their peers, and outstanding individuals are given cash bonuses for their work. For Alan and myself, the congress results in team retention and motivation