2024 AHIA SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Proudly sponsored by L’Oreal Professional, each year the AHIA Business, Special Recognition Award, is given to a standout individual or business that has shown themselves to be a trailblazer within the industry, committed to its growth, through education, employment, skillset, communication, innovation, reputation and compassion. The recipient is selected through nomination by the industry and the mocha group and this year the award was presented to Epic Hair Designs and owner Brendon Mann.

During this awards period, this privately owned salon group celebrated their 16th anniversary, opened their 16th salon, and produced a record-breaking group annual turnover of $16 million.

They boast 16 state-of-the-art salons and in November 2023, launched an online destination for hair and beauty products. This offers their clients, fast delivery and easy access to hair care and also streamlines all of their administrative tasks with the convenience of managing supplies through their innovative online portal servicing the whole group.

Their revolutionary Client Support Centre managed nearly 90% of client interactions, delivering an unparalleled salon experience, phone support, response to social media, emails, online reviews, and more.

Their internal education institute, is tailored to meet the developmental needs of their growing workforce and between June 2023 and June 2024, had 112 apprentices, 19 of which graduated from their Academy which hosts over 250 classes annually, led by three in-house educators

Their bespoke management program equips salon managers and aspiring leaders with the necessary skills to excel in leadership roles and they have also designed mental fitness workshops to help stylists navigate their careers, avoid burnout, and develop positive approaches for their mental health.

They have active partnerships with Brisbane Festival, Fashion Queensland, Brisbane Racing Club, the Cancer Council, and more and are deeply committed to community engagement, raising literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities.

They are a dynamic and innovative leader in the hairdressing industry, offering training, career path, outstanding services, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and it is because of this the 2024 AHIA Special Recognition Award was presented to Epic Hair Designs and owner Brendon Mann.