The best in minds in hairdressing business

Past winners of HJ Business Director of the Year Award talk about what made them the best in business.

Paul Simbler, director, HOB Salons (winner in 2006, with fellow directors Clive Collins and Akin Konizi)

"As company directors, it is essential to have a clear vision for your business, understand where you want to go, what you aim to achieve, and how you plan to get there. As HOB Salons has three company directors, it is vital that communication is constant between us, and equally important that information is passed down through our head office and management teams and into all our salon branches with clarity. As a company that's continuously growing, it is crucial to look after your team, show understanding, empathy and patience, and, most importantly, help your staff to grow and develop."

Andrew Phouli, chairman of Rush London (winner in 2008)

"Winning the title in 2008 was a great honour for me as I felt it was testament to the continued success of Rush London. To run a successful business, it is important to be driven, goal-focused and have the right team. It is vital to believe in the decisions you make for your business, and to be tenacious in the execution of strategies that will drive the business forward."

Scott Smurthwaite, Cream Hairdressing (winner in 2009)

"When it was suggested I enter the awards, I felt far too humble to go for the Business Director of the Year category. However, it proved to be an excellent exercise - the end result proving to be a motivational tool for me and my team. It made me focus on what we do and how we do it. It was a rewarding exercise as we didn't need to invent scenarios or actions, as we actually did tick all the boxes. Those outside of Cream see me as the director, but I consider myself as the leader of an extraordinarily creative team."

Jon MacLeod, Paterson SA (winner 1999 and 2005)

"When I won the award in 1999, I'm sure people thought - who's he? What's he done to win this? I was honest - which is an important quality when managing a team of people, and I told my story, warts and all. To win the award for the second time was a tremendous feeling; it allowed me to show how I had grown the business and taken it through a period of extreme change. My advice is be honest, be goal-focused, and, most of all, remember your most important asset is your team."

Phil Smith, Toni & Guy, Salisbury (winner in 2001)

"Winning HJ's Business Director of the Year has been one of my career highlights. It allowed me to show my peers that you can combine creativity with business and be successful at both. I've had a great mentor in Toni Mascolo, and the skills he has taught me have stood me in good stead throughout my career. As much as I love the creative side of the business, I found the business side also excited me. I loved seeing my group of salons growing, which in turn allowed my team members to open their own businesses. Having a plan with a strong focus will help you achieve your goals - every time."

Alan and Linda Stewart, Rainbow Room International (winners 2002 and 2007)

"It was a huge achievement to win HJ's Business Director of the Year not only once, but for a second time. We feel that our commitment to growing our brand and having a clear understanding of what we are trying to achieve, and how we are going to achieve these goals, contributed greatly to our wins.

"We are constantly working on and revising our structure, systems, measurement and evaluation of all areas of our business, including: business acumen, training, customer care, artistic work and nurturing and growing our team. We continually reinvest in training and innovation."

Stephen Messias, former joint managing director of KH Hair salon group (winner 2000)

"I was overwhelmed and honoured to win this ultimate accolade in the awards, and to be selected from a shortlist of other directors who I admired tremendously. But it isn't just your own qualities, skills and business acumen that single you out to win an award. The real heroes are your team members who support you and your vision, and in doing so drive the development of your business and turn that vision into reality."

Sean Hanna, seanhanna salons (winner in 2003)

"Being a successful business director has involved a number of contributing factors which include:

• Having a clear vision of where our company should be.
• Being surrounded by a fully supportive team who will share the vision.
• Being able to stay strong and focused.
• Understanding the importance of developing and communicating our brand values.
• Knowing when and what to invest in.
• Staying creative and innovative with all your marketing initiatives.