A vision becomes a reality- this is the journey of the Global Salon Business Awards which recently held their first ever global event in London (May 30-June 1, 2004).  The dream of Paula Kent Meehan, founder of Redken Laboratories and current president of Kenquest, Inc., the Global Salon Business Awards were created to recognize and honor the unsung heroes of the professional salon industry- the entrepreneurial owner of hairdressing salons around the world! 

Generating $135 billion dollars a year in globally in annual sales, the salon beauty industry boasts over 6 million hairdressers worldwide.  The magnitude of the contribution of these entrepreneurs to the global economy is impressive and well deserving of its own recognition program.  Modeled after the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year ®  Awards, the judging process was administered and coordinated by the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and lead by Dr. Alfred E. Osborne, Jr.  (Senior Associate Dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management).   

A prominent group of industry and business leaders, academicians, as well as professionals from the trade press, together in March 2004 at UCLA to perform the judging process.  Some of the categories that were examined were entrepreneurial culture, point-of-difference, level of risk taken, team education and training, team reward and recognition, client service initiatives, loyalty and retention programs, community service initiatives, marketing and promotional materials, and profitability.

The select group of winners represented 21 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Using the themes of leadership, structure, creativity and consistency, the three day event featured a stellar lineup that kicked off with a special, Award Winners Reception at London’ s Houses of Parliament.  Top-drawer business presentations from such keynote speakers as Salon Consultants International President Peter Mahoney, business guru and author Tom Peters, Royal Family and celebrity photographer Lord Patrick Lichfield, Senior Associate Dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Dr. Alfred E. Osborne, Intercoiffure Mondial president and salon owner Klaus Peter Ochs, Take Control President and educator, Alan Austin-Smith, and Harrods Senior Director of Visual Merchandising, Mark Briggs. 

The education and networking seminar culminated on the last day with additional business-building presentations and a lavish Global Salon Business Awards Banquet hosted by Hollywood TV Personality, Leeza Gibbons.  At this gala event, the 81 Global Salon Business Awards winners were recognized and honored for the entrepreneurial achievements in the salon services categories of Salon Entrepreneur of the Year™, along with Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards for Team Philosophy, Client Philosophy, Marketing & Promotion,  Financial Productivity and Entrepreneurial Spirit . 

Congratulations to all participants of this innovative and pioneering event within the beauty industry.