Creative HEAD Ireland 2018

#SalonSmart18
THE FUTURISTS
“PEOPLE CAN COME AND HANG OUT, FEEL AT
HOME. THERE ARE DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE
YOU CAN CAPTURE THESE MOMENTS, SUCH AS
THE SELFIE SEAT. IT’S ORGANIC ADVERTISING”
LARRY KING, LARRY KING
With perhaps the most talked about salon in the beauty
press in the past 12 months, Larry King dropped into
Salon Smart before hot-footing it to Heathrow to fly to yet
another top session job. But the beauty of #LarrysWorld
is that he treats ALL his clients just like any celebrity he’s
called to work with, rushing back to work a full column.
2018
In a segment called ‘Tomorrow’s World’, Simon Tickler,
managing director of Salon Success, shared his predictions
for the future and how salons can adapt to the world
around them (after warning them to ‘be less Geoffrey’,
referencing the giraffe mascot from Toys R Us, who failed
to move with the times). “It’s less about stuff, and more
about experience,” said Simon. “If we are just churning
out haircuts, we are missing opportunities. It’s about the
quality, but it’s also about how you package it.” L’Oréal
Professionnel’s UK general manager, Monica Teodoro,
also spoke about the importance of staying current, with
some stark warnings about businesses failing to harness
social media. In a landscape where more people have
a smartphone than a bank account, you have to ensure
your business is accessible. “If you don’t play in their
playground, you could become invisible,” she said.
“WE HAD TO OFFER SOMETHING CLIENTS
COULDN’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE”
JENNIFER LINTON AND JOANNA MACDONALD,
LINTON & MAC
Scottish stylists Jennifer
Linton and Joanna
MacDonald shared
the story behind
their award-winning
Aberdeen salon.
Opening in 2015,
it quickly became
positioned in the
top five per cent
of the city’s 152
salons. “We
provide hair and
beauty services
all under one roof,”
said Jennifer, “and
now have more
than 6,700 clients.”
GROOM BOOM
THE INTEREST IN the male market and the resurgence
of barbering proved a lively panel topic. Chaired by
Creative HEAD UK editor, Amanda Nottage, the panel
comprised Most Wanted 2017 Male Grooming Specialist
Jonathan Andrew; Matt Robinson from Mister Robinson’s
Barbershop; founder of The Lion’s Barber Collective, Tom
Chapman; and Ruffians’ founder Andrew Cannon. So
how does the current men’s landscape compare to the
pre-boom era? “There’s not much comparison at all,”
Matt admitted. “We’ve left our comfort zone.” Tom
agreed, adding that “barbering is now very exciting
and hairdressers want to train in it.” Jonathan spoke
about building his male clientele in a unisex salon. “It’s
always been my dream to go to Savile Row for a tailored
suit and I adopted this approach to haircuts.” Andrew –
the only member of the panel without a hairdressing or
barbering background – then explained how he created
the Ruffians brand with a lifestyle destination in mind.
“I asked myself: ‘What would my mates want?’” he said.
CREATIVE HEAD IRELAND
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