NEXT EVENT
Salon Smart 2022
Monday 21 March
09:30-18:00
The Chain and Buoy Stores, London
Scroll for venue information
TICKETS
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Salon Smart 2022 tickets cost £75 plus VAT
Ticket price includes:
- Access to the full business agenda
- Light breakfast on arrival
- Lunch
- All-day refreshments
- Gifts from our event partners
- A glass of Prosecco at the closing networking session
If you are not a salon owner, manager or team member (for example work for a brand, distributor or PR agency), please call +44 (0)1434 610416 to discuss attendance. Event Terms and Conditions >
ON THE AGENDA
Salon Smart is back in real life – in a new home, with a new format, a packed agenda and a fresh perspective – providing a unique chance to re-energise business body and mind.
Get stuck into subjects like client engagement, pricing, employer-employee dynamics, switching screen time for face time – and so much more! Engage in live Q&A and panel sessions covering BIG industry topics like recruitment, gender inclusivity, texture education and sustainability.
There will be plenty of opportunities to network with your peers, too, as well as our partnership brands, and gain invaluable and lasting connections.
Get to know your speakers and the topics they’ll be covering – scroll down for the full line-up!
TIMINGS
09:30-10:00
Event opens
Enjoy a light breakfast and network until sessions commence
10:00
Welcome by Creative HEAD editor Amanda Nottage
10:05
Sara Rigby-Holmes
Embracing change – finding clear direction and moving business forward
10:20
Ashleigh Hodges
Connecting with your colour clients – the skills and services box dye can’t provide
10:35
Ebony Atakorah
The new rules of engagement – establishing new revenue streams in a post-Covid world
10:55
Miranda Mathews
Power half-hour: Client acquisitions
11:25
Refresh and refuel
Tea, coffee and cookies!
11:50
Kaye Sotomi
Four good reasons to rethink pricing
12:05
Kerry Anderson
Youth and opportunity – care and compassion and what it means to young trainees
12:25
All Talk, More Action
How to take steps on: Gender inclusivity, with Sophia Hilton, Keri Blue and Luca Jones; Sustainability, with Nicole Hewitt, Anne Veck & Keith Mellen and Professor Denise Baden; and Texture equality, with Errol Douglas MBE, Lisa Farrall and Charlotte Mensah
13:15
Lunch is served
While you’re grabbing a bite to eat, meet the teams at L’Oréal Professionnel Paris and Treatwell and learn about the technology and training transforming businesses
14:15
Amanda Faith
Switching screen time for face time – what we learned
14:30
Claire Martin-Kennedy
The future of the salon experience
14:45
Murray McRae & Bridget Honan
Breaking employer/employee traditions – embracing the new work/life culture
15:05
Monica Teodoro
Power half-hour: Dream, lead, transform
15:35
Refresh and refuel
Tea, coffee and cake!
16:00
Brooke Evans
Controlling the narrative – staying positive in times of uncertainty
16:20
Ask an Expert
Live Q&A tackling the staffing crisis, with: Nadia Suliaman, on recruitment and retention; Valerie Maine, on job satisfaction and brand values; and Hellen Ward, on employment red tape and legislation
17:00
Closing networking session
Relax, reflect and drink fizz – the perfect way to end the day
18:00
Event close
Don’t forget your goody bag!
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Dozens of names and faces – set to deliver bucket loads of advice, insight, inspiration, and fresh thinking, at Salon Smart 2022
Kerry Anderson - Youth and opportunity: Care and compassion and what it means to young trainees
Over 25 years’ experience as a hairdresser, salon manager and salon owner, plus eight years working in social care, Kerry Anderson is now the proud founder of Brave Strong Beautiful, a hair salon with a social mission – to provide young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with employment and training opportunities.
Ebony Atakorah – The New Rules of Engagement: How to engage your clientele and establish new revenue streams in a post-covid world
Ebony Atakorah, co-founder and managing director of brand storytelling agency, Sync Studios has over 15 years experiences working in events, brand communications and Project management for luxury brands and world-renowned fashion and media publications. Plus, with newly launched beauty business, Palais, Ebony is now preparing to take the beauty world by storm too.
Denise Baden – All Talk, More Action: Sustainability
Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Business at Southampton Business School, University of Southampton, where she teaches and researches in the field of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and comparative business ethics. Her commitment to making the UK hairdressing industry more sustainable has seen her win the ESRC Outstanding Impact in Business and Enterprise Prize. Denise strongly believes hairdressers are in a powerful position to cut national carbon emissions through adopting eco-friendly salon practices.
Keri Blue – All Talk, More Action: Gender Inclusivity
Founder of Hair Has No Gender, Keri Blue is a queer non-binary barber who believes the industry is outdated and that the time for change and diversity is now. They’re dedicated to educating hair professionals to give clients the haircuts that make them look the way they feel, regardless of gender identity.
Errol Douglas MBE – All Talk, More Action: Texture Equality
Errol Douglas MBE has championed a three-decade career in hairdressing and has run a successful salon in London’s Belgravia since 1998. He’s an icon among clients and industry peers, and a trusted ‘go-to’ expert – respected most notably for his expertise with textured hair.
Brooke Evans – Controlling the narrative: Staying positive in times of uncertainty
Winner of The It List Entrepreneur Award 2021, Brooke Evans is a name to remember. Owner of sustainable salon, BE Ironbridge in Shropshire, Brooke set up the business in 2019 and it’s been a roaring success ever since. However, overcoming flooding and a global pandemic pre-opening, Brooke knows just how important a positive mindset can be in times of hardship.
Amanda Faith – Switching screen time for face time: What we learned
Co-founder of The Chapel, Amanda Faith is a visionary who is devoted to evolving the hairdressing industry for the better. By listening to what women universally disliked about visiting salons, she set out to create a different type of experience where everyone receives the care and attention they deserve.
Lisa Farrall – All Talk, More Action: Texture Equality
Award-winning session stylist, texture expert and educator, Lisa Farrall has been making moves in the industry for over 20 years. Claiming Most Wanted Texture Expert in 2021, Lisa is passionate about teaching the art of texture neutral hairdressing, which saw her found brand WIG London, an academy, agency, and salon focused on education and hair equality in hairdressing.
Nicole Hewitt – All Talk, More Action: Sustainability
Nicole Hewitt is the founder and manager of award-winning ethical salon, The Salon of Chi. Since opening in 2006, The Salon of Chi has championed sustainability as the core of their brand ethos – from upcycled salon furniture to energy efficient practices, Nicole is passionate about encouraging others to make a difference in the hairdressing industry, leading by example.
Sophia Hilton – All Talk, More Action: Gender Inclusivity
Sophia Hilton is the social savvy salon owner of Not Another, and she’s not afraid to speak up and get heard – with more than 120k followers on Instagram, it’s clear people are listening! She's a two-time Most Wanted Legend (Colour Expert and Business Thinker Awards), a passionate educator and an industry force to be reckoned with.
Ashleigh Hodges – Connecting with your colour clients: The skills and service box dye can't provide
Most Wanted 2021 Colour Expert, Chancellor of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and global director of the Hairdotcom art team, Ashleigh Hodges is making waves throughout the industry – bringing expert knowledge, creativity and inspiration to everything she does.
Luca Jones – All Talk, More Action: Gender Inclusivity
Celebrity hairdresser and Kitch Hair salon owner, Luca Jones has been working his magic in the hairdressing and barbering industry for more than 24 years. From creating a successful pastel-hued, 1950s-style kitchen salon in London, to becoming a sought-after session stylist for numerous A-List celebrities, Luca has carved an impressive career. As an advocate for gender inclusivity, Kitch Hair squashes barbershop stereotypes; Luca and his partner Scott Humphreys provide styling for all genders and the salon is hailed as a neutral safe space for all.
Valerie Maine – Ask An Expert: Job Satisfaction & Brand Values
Founder of award-winning Live True London Salons, Valerie Maine is an experienced entrepreneur launching several successful businesses. Growing her salon business through the pandemic with a new flagship salon launch in Soho, Valerie is an expert in navigating a challenging business environment. Her goal is to modernise the hair and beauty industry with a mission to empower both staff and clients through focusing her business on authenticity, collaboration, and creativity.
Claire Martin-Kennedy – The future of the salon experience
Master stylist at Gro London and an expert in both Afro and European hair, Claire Martin-Kennedy can be found styling up a storm in the salon or travelling the globe as a hair educator. She’s also responsible for online brand, cLHAIR – an exclusive members club, where she provides a variety of valuable advice and practical tips for fellow hair passionistas.
Miranda Mathews – Power Half-hour: Customer Acquisition
Miranda Mathews is the current Managing Director of Treatwell for the UK and Ireland, where she plays a key role in ensuring Treatwell's current and future digital products genuinely meet the needs of salon owners throughout the country. Miranda’s knowledge of salon owners’ business requirements combined with an understanding for customers desires, have seen her become an authority voice within the industry on how to effectively acquire and retain clients.
Murray McRae & Bridget Honan – Breaking employer, employee traditions: Embracing the new work-life culture
Murray McRae and Bridget Honan are the proud co-owners of double Most Wanted award-winning salon, Stag in Edinburgh. With an ethos based on inclusivity and community-support, they are salon owners wanting to make a difference in the industry – starting right at the core, with their salon team.
Charlotte Mensah – All Talk, More Action: Texture Equality
Award-winning hairstylist and owner of the Hairlounge salon in London’s famous Portobello Road, Charlotte Mensah is an industry legend. Her phenomenal talent and impressive list of accolades have allowed her to become a Go To authority for natural haircare subjects for over two decades – being a regular columnist for magazines such as Elle, Vogue and Tatler. Charlotte is also the founder of acclaimed premium hair care collection, Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil, which specialises in afro/mixed/curly hair types.
Sara Rigby-Holmes – Embracing change: Finding clear direction and moving business forward
Owner of luxury hair salon, 5 On The Square in Cheltenham, Sara Rigby-Holmes has successfully run her prestigious business for over 20 years. With a background in marketing and finance, as well as exceptional customer experience and an appreciation for luxurious personal touches, Sara’s business skills are unmatched, and she's not afraid of change.
Kaye Sotomi – Four good reasons to rethink pricing
Co-founder and director of Chop Chop London, Kaye Sotomi is an established entrepreneur making a difference in the industry. Successfully setting up three inclusive salon spaces across London, Chop Chop provides a unique experience by delivering exceptional and efficient services that respects everyone’s individuality.
Nadia Suliaman – Ask An Expert: Recruitment & Retention
Successful entrepreneur and co-founder of luxury London salon, Forbici Knightsbridge, Nadia Suliaman is a confident, straight-talking industry professional with a background in business and finance. Previously working for global brands such as Coca Cola and Lego, Nadia is an expert in management, to which she credits the rare success of her pandemic-born business, Forbici.
Monica Teodoro – Power Half-hour: Dream, Lead, Transform
Monica Teodoro is the current General Manager for Education & Professional Development at L’Oréal Professional Products UK & Ireland. With a career rooted heavily in the hairdressing industry and a passion for supporting its future evolution, Monica has become an established and trusted voice within the industry. From how hairdressing can be pushed forward through education to talent nurturement and online offline strategies, she is dedicated to paving the way for the next era of hairdressing.
Anne Veck & Keith Mellen – All Talk, More Action: Sustainability
Sustainability experts and enthusiasts, Anne Veck and Keith Mellen are the recent winners of the Most Wanted Sustainability Hero Award and innovative creators of Salon Re:Source, a user-friendly sustainable salon toolkit. Trailblazers in their field, Anne Veck Oxford continues to work on the mission to make hairdressing more professional, ethical, and sustainable.
Hellen Ward – Ask An Expert: Employment Red Tape & Legislation
Hellen Ward knows everything about salon management. She runs a salon, she’s developed a salon management system, she’s written books about salon management for City & Guilds, and she educates in the art of it. Most recently, she co-founded the newly formed SEA (Salon Employers Association), a group of directors and educators campaigning on behalf of salon employers in the industry to ensure parity across the sector's business models and fairer taxation.
ABOUT THE VENUE
Situated on the banks of the River Thames in East London and connected to London’s only Lighthouse, The Chain and Buoy Stores are Grade II listed Victorian buildings featuring high ceilings, basking in natural light and connecting to a private adjoining riverside terrace, providing fresh air on tap and affording stunning views of The O2 and Canary Wharf.
A big change of scenery for Salon Smart, and far from the traditional conference-style setting, we’re excited to welcome you into a refreshing new space and hope you’ll feel both relaxed and re-energised as you soak up a whole day of business insight and inspiration.
And don’t let the postcode fool you – our Salon Smart home for 2022 is well connected to public transport links!
GETTING TO THE VENUE
Jubilee Line: Canning Town Station – 10 minute walk (5 stops from London Bridge; 7 stops from Waterloo)
DLR: East India Station – 10 minute walk (4 stops from London City Airport; 6 stops from Bank)
Please note: there is no public parking on-site
For directions click here
The Chain and Buoy Stores
Trinity Buoy Wharf
64 Orchard Place
London
E14 0JW
