NETWORKING NOUS
Always wanted an intro to your industry icon? Think a certain salon owner or stylist is doing amazing things and want to pick their brain? Salon Smart gives you the opportunity to network with your peers and gain invaluable connections that could become lasting partnerships. Feeling shy? Here are our top tips to get you pow-wowing like a pro…
Be Bold
Salon Smart is MADE for networking and is designed to be a relaxed, informative environment to discuss and debate the industry going-ons with salons and stylists from across the country. Don’t be afraid to approach a familiar face in the crowd, speaker who has inspired you, brand you’ve been meaning to reach out to or team Creative HEAD! The best way to get the most out of Salon Smart is to meet as many people as you can, get chatting and swap contacts, there are lots of exciting collaborations brewing among attendees – we just know it! We’ve even had wind of past-attendee meet-ups planned in, it’s a beautiful thing…
Meet & Mix
DO NOT we repeat DO NOT miss a moment of the Meet & Mix on Sunday at 18.30 – this is prime networking time. Armed with a glass of bubbly (sure to loosen any nerves), this hour session provides a unique opportunity to discuss your business goals and challenges with the industry’s good and great. See whose brain you can pick here.
Debate The Big Stuff
We’ve got two live debates with a host of incredible panellists running on Sunday and Monday, which are the perfect opportunity to get conversation flowing. Sunday at 17.00 is dedicated to ‘Taking Control of Business’ including speakers from Cut & Grind, Jo Hansford, KWS, Salon Success and Reed Hair. The agenda? Everything from pay to progress, sure to start-up lively discussions that will reignite throughout the day. 14.15 on Monday turns attention to ‘Only the Young’, shining a spotlight on the next hairdressing generations and how to support their individual goals, whilst maintaining loyalty to your business. We’ll hear from the NHF, Hazel & Hadyn, Skyler London and 3•6•5 Education – get involved, this will be a passionate one.
The Working Lunch
If you were tempted to duck out to a local establishment for lunch, you’d soon regret it! The Working Lunch is 90-minutes of business networking served up with a plate of tasty food! Leading hair and business brands including L’Oréal Professionnel, 3•6•5 Education, Salon Success, Tangle Teezer, SalonIQ, Mindbody, Mutu, Prostyles, Maletti, Treatwell, Oway and the NHF will be on hand with exclusive offers and a wealth of business-boosting info and you’re sure to spot some familiar speakers in the midst too – be sure to grab them for a chat!
Stage Surf (not literally)
While we aren’t condoning a rock concert-esque swamping of the stage to get some face-to-face time with a speaker, they often stay behind after their session ends and can be found frequenting coffee breaks and free time. If you think of a burning question you didn’t ask during the Q&A, hot-foot it over afterward or keep your eyes peeled around the event for your opportunity to ask it.
Pay it Forward
Everyone knows when it comes to networking, introduction is the easiest in-road. Chatting to someone who is keen to hit up a colleague or friend of yours for advice? Make their day and give them an intro – likelihood is, they may know someone you’ve been hoping to meet too. Pay it forward with your contact book (intros not info – you NEED to be in on the DATA With Destiny talk on Sunday at 16.20 by Laura Knight – trust us) and reap the rewards.