Steve Salecich What Goes Around By

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WHAT GOES AROUND

with Collette Saunders

I love the seventies. I ought to, I was right there. Growing up with the best music, the best cars, the best hair. We were throwing perm on our attitude, it was all about streaks, a shag and a good blow dry. I love that the vibe is back in our cutting today. Longer lengths, layers for curly and straight and the textured edges. Nothing I love more than whipping the scissors and razor out and just moving with the hair.

One thing I’m seeing moving back into men’s styling is the perm. Use it for root lift, use it for gentle movement. It’s s making longer top lengths look lived in moving away from the slicked back look that’s been dominating with the skin fades and gives a pomp the pump it needs for extra height and hold. Yep, get ready to dust off the curling rods and if you haven’t learned how to do one yet then there’s your cue.

Really excited to mention a lil’ competition I ran in November last year for @australianfemalebarbers . AFBA “Her Shot Aus” was born. An online submission of a 2 Piece Collection shot from the chair or in the shop with no professional photography or artistic enhancement. Read about the 1st place winner with her featured article in the pages of this issue. I am very proud of each and every one who entered. So now that you have had a taste of the competition world, having your work scrutinized, I hope that it will encourage you to have confidence to enter it again this year and go on to larger comps; one in particular this year! The inaugural Australian Modern Barber Awards - AMBA. Showcase your personal collection, and/or product label if you have a business, in this newly created event.

This year sees the launch of the AMBA from Mocha Publishing (publishers of barbershop magazine and owners of various hair and beauty award platforms) who have created these awards solely for the barbering industry. Entries open 22 Feb 2021 with an Aug deadline. Winners announced Sept and an awards night in Melbourne in November. There is plenty of time to create your Collection and if you have a business product label then submit it, as this is a newly created entry category bringing recognition to barbering product specifically. And speaking of labels this time of year is the best time to seek out those newbies and locally Australian made producers of hair and beard product. If there has ever been a time to buy local it’s here and now. Aussies ... support your people!!!

I hope that everyone has followed @hairfestival with the debut of the newly formed multi-faceted event and revamped AHIA. New venue at Carriageworks on Queens Birthday weekend with a new look and new vibe is brought together by Australia’s best teams in media and publishing. It’s on 13/14 June in Sydney, and by the time it comes around it’s going to be the biggest thing to happen for us all since mid 2019. Get your email updates at the Hair Festival website www.hair festival.com.au

Across the pond our industry is still immobilised by Covid, but that has not stopped the ones that are looked up to in our industry from diversifying and creating brilliant content online. I recently had a conversation with Garry Spence of Great British Barber Bash about the newly formed Barber Club. For a small fee of £5 a week they are presenting the best live tutorials on the Barber Club Facebook account. Basic demos for beginners through to live cutting from the best creatives to get your Inspo on. We’re talking about Leah Hayden-Cassidy, Alan Beak, Ollie Foster, Sean Casey and more. Demos and regular focus on photography, social media, business and many other important industry topics.

I’ve discovered a UK based Mag called Zero Gapped Magazine. Noticed it late last year and I love the concept. Recent conversations with the Editor, Ruby, reveals her passion for the gap in our industry for a female focused barbering publication. This Mag is not limited to UK female barbers, but features worldwide. The second edition should be available online as we speak. Check it out and learn about what the ladies are bringing to the table and show our sisters around the world some love! Meanwhile back on the Island we are seeing some brilliant initiatives in the education sector. The Jack Reed Foundation and it’s 99 New Beginnings Project is seeing some real corners turned. They’ve received some solid support recently from Area Academy in Melbourne, whose launch party was a fundraiser for the Foundation with $3500 raised. Eoin McCarthy and Leigh Windsor are powering on with their “Concept” Courses bringing up to the minute cutting techniques for all sectors of the hair industry and combining future Fundraisers for JRF across Australia in 2021. Danny and Laura Banford @heartsandminds_ barber last year opened their education facility above their 2nd Barbershop in Wyong, Central Coast. Their Modern Barber workshops are pulling in passionate people cementing knowledge in a cool chill vibe atmosphere. Very hands on and accessible to the more regional areas on the Coast. Sam Squires @samthebarberman is about to bring the Gold Coast a new concept with his Backbone Barber Academy. Demos, Workshops, Hairdresser to Barber and Group Training. His skill set is one to be sought after with his UK vibe. Secret Fox Education is offering 50% off your first month to get your 2021 started and get connected. They’ve got the curls covered in Feb, Afros in March and Jamie Furlan and Jake Putan booked for April. Learn from the best right from your phone and bring more than just cutting into your portfolio with colour and braiding demos as well.

Well, that’s about it from me for now. I’m reaching my word limit here. So cool to be back and into 2021.

Feeling fresh and focused and I hope you are too. Stay up to date, fill up your calendar and let’s make this year one of kicking goals.

Collette Saunders @collettecutthroats Founder @australianfemalebarbers @afb_recruit Director @jackreedfoundation

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20 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2020

with Paul Frasca

At the beginning of 2020, we launched our 5th birthday issue of The Green Chair Newspaper (the Sustainable Salons publication we circulate to our member salons) and it seems in that issue, Ewelina and I made a prophecy.

I know that’s a big call, but this is what we printed in our Founders message: “Sustainability is a ‘living thing’; the needs under People, Planet and Progress are constantly evolving. So we have to be adaptable, cohesive and brave, three things we think our growing movement aces every day.”

A month later, all hell broke loose and the needs of the people, our planet, and the progress of all economies and communities across the globe ‘evolved’ dramatically into something we didn’t see coming.

What we believed about our Sustainable Salons members then, couldn’t be more accurate now. Adaptable? Holy shit did they ‘pivot’, and still their eco-actions followed. Cohesive? Our network banded together and gave each other the support and stretchiness we all needed. And brave? When times got rocky, our members did not run from the bigger picture of what the sustainability mission is all about, instead, I actually feel like they became more determined and stubborn in their fight to uphold these values. It’s been incredible to watch.

So, on that note, I’ve decided to use this page to celebrate and highlight our 20 takeaways from the strange, hard, interesting, enlightening year that was 2020.

#20. Toilet paper is important to people. Very. Important.

#19. Video may have killed the radio star, but now it’s building businesses (ours included) and connecting families and friends.

#18. To all those who said it would never take off, the inventor of the QR code is finally saying “I told you so”. Therefore, if you believe that your business is valuable to your community, be relentless, be patient, and stay passionate.

#17. It’s important to stop and celebrate the small wins. No exceptions. innovate and thrive in a digital world (I lost count of the number of salons I saw with shiny, new online shops and social media tutorials - amazing!).

#15. It’s possible for one month to feel like it’s taken a year to pass, and a year to feel like it’s gone by in a month... all at the same time.

#14. Only when all salons can’t open, are the true blondes finally revealed. And box-colour fails reach an all-time high.

#13. The planet CAN be healed. By incorporating new habits like more people working from home, less travel and a focus on local instead of global, we tread lighter on our dear Mama Earth and preserve her valuable resources.

#12. We think we want to live the carefree life (you know, Netflix on the couch every day), but home improvement sales and sourdough photos suggest differently. We’re hard-wired to have purpose.

#11. On the flip-side, we now know that R&R is just as vital.

#10. Necessity IS the mother of invention… and entrepreneurship and leadership and collaboration. Don’t ignore the signs and just ‘make do’; create what you need.

#9. Greeting each other awkwardly is the real new normal. Are we still elbow-bumping? Do we just stand and wave at each other? A smile and a head-nod? I still have no idea.

#8. Mental health is an incredibly significant part of sustainability. We’ve been reminded again that empowering strong communities is about providing for physical needs AND enabling inclusive, meaningful connections. Social distancing, ‘lockdowns’ and cancelled events could be our reality for the foreseeable future, so we must get smarter about reaching out and staying connected.

#7. On that note, we’ve also been reminded that the hair and beauty industries are a powerful resource for human connection and wellbeing. And now our governments know this, too. it also forced space and clarity for fresh, new growth. The struggle was real for so many of us, but we hope that your business, like Sustainable Salons, is emerging with renewed vision and a super exciting horizon!

#5. Fashion will inevitably follow function; nothing is off-limits, even PPE.

#4. The urgency for a solution to single-use hygiene products has reached critical levels. BUT, there’s always something we can do to lessen the impact in some small way… maybe it’s choosing the biodegradable option or opting for refillables instead of individuals.

#3. Be useful. If it’s not possible for you to do what you’re best at, then just do something useful. This simple concept ticks so many boxes!

#2. It’s okay for the focus between people, planet and profit in sustainability to shift. We’re often preoccupied with thinking the environmental problems should always be our priority, but 2020 forced the entire world to bring public health and economical smarts to the forefront.

#1. Perspective is everything. Even when we might have had a tough run, our communities are still ready to sacrifice what we can for someone doing it tougher. For Christmas, we gifted our members a charity donation on their behalf… we’ve never received so many thank-you notes.

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The Success behind Work Life Balance

with Don De Sanctis

Owner of 14 successful Barber Boys stores, I am constantly driven and passionate about the growth and development of my company. But my success has not come easy, while managing over 14 stores with 40+ employees, I am also a devoted husband and father to 3 beautiful children.

My brain is relentlessly thinking how to be successful but more importantly happy when it comes to work life balance. To reach your goals successfully; you need to identify and skilfully balance your career and personal life. I have come to the realisation to maximise efficiency and overall potential in life you need to manage the following…

TIME MANAGEMENT

Poor time management is one of the most common causes of an unbalanced life. Unable to dedicate enough time, not just with work and family, but also unable to reach your goals and potential growth. To fix your time management is easy, the first starting point is identifying the difference between work and play. Dedicate a specific number of hours for work and once work is over, do not let it interfere with your other priorities. This can be things such as hobbies, quality time with the family, fitness etc.

SCHEDULING

As my business is continually evolving, I have realised to succeed with my goals and growth within the company, I needed to follow a schedule. Week by week, I allocate specific days and times for certain aspects of the company. One day I focus on figures, the other I focus on new projects, other days I focus on my staff and help them overcome their challenges. If I did not have a schedule in place, unintentionally I would be neglecting important factors within my company that would prevent me from reaching my goals. When you schedule your work life, it allows you more free time for yourself and your family.

ALLOW PERSONAL TIME

When I say personal time, I am meaning YOU! How can you take care of your family, business, and employees, if you do not take care of yourself? As a business owner, I have realised that I need to be at my best, mentally and physically. I am aware that if I feel under pressure and have a lot going on, my presence and attitude shows it. That then creates a domino effect; my staff notice and feel my energy, as if it were contagious, they start to feel it. Allowing personal time, I can take time out to breathe and destress, letting me to be in the right frame of mind for my company, staff, and family.

At the end of the day, we are blessed to live in this fortunate country, and anything is achievable.

We want the best for our families, businesses, and ourselves. Life is too short to be all work and no play. To be successful in work and life, you need to work out what balance is right for you.