2012 Kitomba NZARH Business Awards: Mane-iacs celebrate their wins.
For Mane salon owner Janine Simons entering the 2012 Kitomba NZARH awards was about following through on the philosophy of the company, “we only opened in February last year and I wanted a salon where every person is part of the business success, so I had the whole team onboard from the start”.
Janine found that the process helped build team culture and better behaviours, “we discussed our goals together, and from part-time juniors through to senior stylists everyone was working towards the big picture”. Preparing the applications took time, but Janine saw it as an excellent opportunity to analyse what had happened in the first eight months of her business, and be prepared for the future.
“We sent the applications off knowing more about the business, and crossing our fingers that we might get shortlisted for something,” she says, “to find out we were finalists in three categories was really exciting”. The nervous team got glammed up for the event, and an evening that every one of them will remember.
To be part of celebrating the amazing work that happens within the industry was something every person in the team enjoyed, particularly the chance to meet stylists from
Sponsor, Wendy Maxwell from L’Oreal presents Janine Simons from Mane Salon with L’Oreal Entrepreneur of the Year award
throughout the country. “It was scary being the new kids on the block, and a small salon up against some salons we really admire,” says Janine, but there were huge cheers as Mane salon received the Images Excellence in Marketing Award and the Kitomba Best New Entrant Award, and for the young team this was a real buzz. Janine received the L’Oreal Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and felt “humbled to be recognized by the industry I’ve spent twenty years being part of.”
Mane is a new concept in hair salons that is dedicated to the training and development of industry talent. Within the salon is the Mane Academy, a facility that trains stylists of every level and delivers affordable hairdressing and professional services to their clients. The Mane team ranges from New and Emerging Talent through to Executive Stylists, and there are regular workshops and training sessions attended by stylists from other salons. For Janine the concept is about “training for the industry, in the industry. We’re working together to nurture the talent and develop an industry that makes excellence the standard”.
As a fledgling business the awards exceeded the team’s expectations, but it has also inspired them to aim high for the future. For Janine and the team it’s time to start thinking about this year’s awards, “Would we do it again? Absolutely. We’re already thinking of this year’s entries,” she laughs. “The bar is high, the New Zealand hair industry has so much talent and it’s great that Kitomba and NZARH let us be rock stars for a night.”
In her speech last year Janine offered to send copies of her entries to anyone who wants to see them, and a few salons took the opportunity. Janine’s offer still stands, so email janine@manesalon.co.nz if you’re interested in a PDF copy.
Learn more about the judging criteria, what past entrants have to say and to enter the 2013 Kitomba NZARH Business Awards, visit www.nzhairdressingawards.co.nz. Winners will be announced at the Industry Awards along with the HITO Awards on 20 October 2013 at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Entries due 31 August 2013.
2013 Kitomba NZARH Award Categories
- Kitomba NZARH Salon of the Year
- Grand Salon of the Year
- Fudge Boutique Salon of the Year
- Best New Entrant
- Excellence in Marketing
- Telecom Employer of Choice
- Wella Fastest Growing Salon
- Sustainable Salon of the Year [NEW]
- Schwarzkopf Business Stylist of the Year