 Winning ways
Winning awards is a great way to raise your profile and become recognised for your hard work. But if you’re going for gold, as well as having bags of talent, another key ingredient to maximising success is early preparation. Sharleen Hunter, Salon Smart expert and founder of hair PR agency Unleashed Potential reveals five advance planning tips which will give your entry the edge and help get your salon the recognition, reward and respect it deserves.
Research Awards
Research the different awards available months ahead as this will allow you to carefully consider your strengths and objectives then match them to the categories which suit you best. Ceremonies such as UK’s Most Wanted celebrate all areas of hairdressing including business acumen and creativity. Thus, with a host of options on offer, you’re more likely to succeed if you take time to make the right selection, rather than rushing in.
Get Collecting
Start gathering evidence to support your entry as early as possible. Take photos at nights out, during salon events and training sessions. Create a folder with samples of loyalty cards, feedback forms, service policies and marketing literature. Having a strong selection of tangible and relevant examples will prove invaluable for business gongs and will reinforce why you deserve that accolade. Plus by planning in advance, if you don’t have everything that’s required, there’s still time to rectify this ahead of preparing your entry.
Study Past Winners
Find out what it takes to be a winner by researching the businesses that have been victorious in the past. Look at their philosophy, the quality of their work and how they present themselves as a whole. Most good awards websites will profile former title-holders, outlining what impressed the judges. Starting early, gives you time to study the standard you’ll need to reach and use this knowledge to adapt your offering according to expectations.
Compile Your Team
Assemble your awards team at the earliest opportunity. For creative entries, finding a date to match the availability of your dream photographer, make-up artist, stylist and models is no easy feat, so the sooner you can put the preparation wheels in motion, the better. Similarly for business entries, if you’re looking for a copywriter and designer to compile your entry, working ahead enables you to plan and set your budget and timeframe at a sensible pace.
Create A Timetable – And Stick To It!
Confirm entry deadlines and plan backwards from that date. Create a timeline, send it to all the relevant individuals and display it somewhere visible. Having a structured timetable in place to refer to will ensure that you and your team always know what is to be done and when, well in advance.
Whilst early entry preparation may seem impossible to squeeze into your towering to-do list, a little planning now will make the process less stressful in the long run. It will also mean that whilst other businesses are struggling to compile their entry days before the deadline, you can sit back and relax safe in the knowledge that everything has all been taken care of!
For more tips, help or advice on preparing awards entries email
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or call 020 8240 4448
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