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Larissa's wedding...
Congratulations to Larissa and Ian Macleman! A beautiful ceremony was held at St. Peters church on 29th November
among the families, friends and the Blue Cactus team.
KERRI WINS GUCCI
Diamond Experience Challenge
Kerri proved her brilliance when she submitted her portfolio on ‘the Diamond service Experience' a competition held by Kerastase on delivering the most amazing customer service.
Kerri’s portfolio stood out among the rest and won her $1500 Gucci voucher to treat her self with...
Well done Kerri – your brilliance shines strong!!!
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HITO Apprentice Competition 2009
Several of our apprentices have entered in to the annual Hairdressing Industry Training Competition (HITO). This is a great opportunity for our talented trainees to hone and expand their skills by being challenged to design and then create a brand new fashion look... good luck team!
A day with Servilles...
Larissa and Kerri headed to Hawkes Bay to listen to New Zealand hairdressing icon Paul Huge de Serville, owner and founder of Servilles hairdressing group in Auckland. The full day seminar was held at the Mission Estate vineyard, and Hawkes Bay put on the sun for a spectacular day of learning and networking with some of New Zealands most prominent salon owners.
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Hairdressing Competitions 2009
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Natalie Takes home the No'1 Spot
WELLINGTON REGIONAL HAIRDRESSING COMPETITIONS were held Sunday 19th July 2009 at the Lower Hutt town hall.
After many days of preparation and hard work Blue Cactus came away with some fantastic results.
We always knew Natalie was a fantastic stylist but this was made official on Sunday when she took out 1st place in the woman's cutting award .... She even bet her boss, salon owner Larissa who placed 2nd her this event.
Click here to see more award winnings...
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An inspiring night with Brad Ngata
On June 29th 2009 Corinne assisted Brad Ngata, 2 times winner of Australians Hairdresser Of The Year, perform his winter collection to the Hairdressers of Wellington.
Brad, on his New Zealand tour, showcased beautiful editorial styling from his collection to inspire the kiwi hairdresser.
Corinne, who is on the L’Oreal professionell I.D artist team, coloured, prepared and styled for Brad in getting ready for his show.
Congratulations to Corinne for preparing beautiful hair for such a renound performing hairdresser.
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Blue Cactus Hits Sydney at Hair Expo 2009...
Amy, Natalie and Larissa headed over to Sydney in Darling Harbour earlier this month to attend the Annual Hair Expo. Attending hair shows, the latest fashion trends, International salon speakers and the best of business practices… here’s what they got up to…
 Amy, Natalie and Larissa went to hair show's for inspiration and entertainment.
Toni Mascalo, founder and owner of Toni & Guy, 430 salons internationally. He gave an inspiring interview over lunch in Sydney's Darling Harbour.
The girls changed their looks... just for one day!
Larissa & Amy choosing new music for the salon.
The girls hit Sydney night life.
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Blue Cactus Wins Global salon Business award for "Salon Leadership"!
L'Oreal Prefessional nominated Blue Cactus Hairdressing for Global salon Business award run by UCLA and held in Hollywood .
Larissa Sulzberger could not believe it, winning her third GSBA in the past six years.
“Receiving this award is an honour and a true reflection of all the hard work and dedication the team at Blue Cactus has injected into the salon to help make us world class.”
Talent Spotting is the leading competition worldwide for young stylists. L’Oreal Professionnel is excited to bring it to New Zealand for the first time ever.
Created purely for junior hairdressers. Talent Spotting tests their styling skills and expose's them to the world of fashion, media and session styling.The leading names in NZ hairdressing gathered together to judge entries for the first ever New Zealand Talent spotting held by L'Oreal Professional: Larissa Sulzberger (Blue Cactus, Wellington), Penny Ainsley (Ainsley’s Auckland) Grant Bettjeman (Bettjemans, Auck) Jennifer Morgan (Morgan & Morgan, Auck), Paul Serville (Servilles, Auck) Jacqui Victor (True Grit Hair Design & The Front Room, Chch) Jan Waite (Jan Waite Hairdressing, Auck) and Carl Watkins (Mod’s Hair, Chch).
The entries received were outstanding and the decision was a tough one!
The semi-finalists and finalists selected demonstrated cut, colour and styling techniques beyond their years. To view their work on-line visit www.talentspotting.co.nz
WE WON...
The Global Salon Business Awards recognise and honour the world's leading hairdressing salon owners, whom have mastered the business, management, leadership and entrepreneurial skills necessary to enjoy true business success.
Award winners were selected for each participating country for "Salon Entrepreneur of the Year" and for Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards.
The 2006 Global Salon Business Forum & Awards Ceremony were held in Barcelona, Spain, on the 3-6 June 2006.
The Global Salon Business Forum & Awards included a 3-day business forum, glamorous celebratory events and the Awards Banquet hosted by Leeza Gibbons.
The elite panel of judges represented industry and business leaders throughout North America, Europe and Japan. Entries were judged against established performance standards in three areas of criteria: - Leadership
- Client Philosophy and Marketing
- General and Financial Management
Enhance your knowledge
of how to style yourself at home.
With Style Guru PAULA RYAN
and SIMPLY YOU
On May 24th fashionista Paula Ryan will be in Wellington to conduct a seminar and workshop (26th May) on how to style yourself and your home. Paula’s energy, humour and wisdom have become legendary in New Zealand, and now you can tap into her knowledge with a view to revitalising your appearance and your environment.
From a fashion point of view, Paula’s seminars offer an inspirational head-to-toe guide to clothes, hair and makeup. You’ll learn about balance and how to dress with a modern edge without becoming a fashion victim.
The team at Blue Cactus will be there on the night in conjunction with L'Oreal and Kerastase to give advice to attending woman from all over Wellington.
Larissa will also be working at the full day workshop with 20 chosen woman.
The day includes advice about the shapes, colours and lengths that will work best for each woman; hair and make up lessons personally tailored to each specific need; lifestyle improvements that can enhance happiness and appearance; and general styling tips.
A delicious champagne lunch and canapés are included in the price and all attendees will receive a special gift pack to the value of the workshop. ($800 for the day)
Larissa say's "We are thrilled to be chosen to work with one of New Zealand's leading style Gurus."
Air New Zealand
Fashion Week 2005
Top designer line-up and exciting newcomers set scene for the fifth New Zealand collections 18-21 October 2005 Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2005 will be one to remember, as the event celebrates its fifth birthday with a top designer line-up and a host of newcomers.
This year Larissa and Kerri will be in Auckland to be back stage, designing and styling the latest hot looks in hair. This year they are styling for designers ... - Trelise Cooper
- Caroline Church
- Verge
- Annah Stretton
- VAMP
- and ...
Larissa and Kerri are excited to design the hair for the up and comming Wellington designer's show - Deborah Sweeney. Her collection can be found at Unity and Artlcle in Wellington... Watch this space for an update after Fashion week!
Loose Connections
Kerri, Larissa and Amie recently presented the Blue Cactus "Loose Connections" fashion collection to a salon in Christchurch. Artistic Directors, Kerri and Larissa, displayed their creative technical cutting flair, whilst Amie complimented the looks with the new season colours. "It was an amazing opportunity to share our new collection with other hairdressers. It was exciting to see them be inspired by our new looks and learn the techniques" says Kerri.
We Won... Congratulations Kerri!
WELLINGTON REGIONAL HAIRDRESSING COMPETITIONS were held Sunday the 4th of September at the FRONT ROOM in Mt Victoria. After many days of preparation and hard work Blue Cactus came away with some fantastic results.
We always knew Kerri was fabulous but this was made official on Sunday when she took out the supreme cutting award .... Wellington's Top Senior Cutting Stylist: Kerri Cox.
Our other claims to fame were....
1st Place: Telecom Senior Directional woman's fashion cut Kerri Cox2nd place: Telecom Senior Directional woman's fashion cut Corinne Groffiller2nd Place: Goldwell Apprentice Directional woman's fashion cut Penny Martin3rd Place: Oceanic Masters award Sonya Russell3rd Place: Schwarzkopf Senior Urban Day Style Larissa Sulzberger
Congratulations to our team!
UCLA Grad
An opportunity to attend an advanced business management program at the University of California (UCLA) was too good to turn down for Larissa Sulzberger. The five day program, designed especially for the salon industry in conjunction with an elite business school, was an experience which in Larissa’s own words, has turned her life upside down... in a good way. Larissa shares some of her experiences at UCLA with us.
I have always like the idea of being able to go to university, but having started in hairdressing at 16, and owning my own salon by the age of 20, I hadn’t found that opportunity. Everything I know has been learnt on the job. And realising that while I do have a lot of knowledge, it felt as though there was no structure to it all – I needed some kind of framework and tools to be able to apply it to my business.
With this in mind, the chance to attend a new educational program that is changing the professional salon industry and public perception of salon ownership was too exciting to say no to. The UCLA Anderson School of Management, in conjunction with the Business Education for Salons Today (B.E.S.T.) Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the salon industry through education, has established the Executive Salon Management Program.
I attended the inaugural, five-day intensive, collegiate level program during June of this year. The first of its kind to bring together the salon industry and a major business school, the goal of the course is to help existing salon owners, like myself, hone our skills in the areas of strategy, financial accounting and leadership, as well as to educate potential entrepreneurs on the profitability in the salon industry. While everyone attending the program was from the hairdressing industry, their backgrounds were varied – some were operators with three stylists, others had 650 employees. There were people who were still cutting on the floor, through to general managers and accountants. I was the only New Zealander – others were from Australia, Finland, Holland, Sweden, the US… But at the end of the day though we were all looking for the same thing, no matter what our background and experience.
Having completed this course, I really feel like I am able to approach my business more strategically. I have a clearer outlook for Blue Cactus and am able to take a longer term view. As for a little old hairdresser like me to have been hanging out at a university campus like UCLA, it’s just been the most amazing experience.
Blue Cactus wins at Wellington hairdressing association photographic competition
Kerri, our Salon Manager, is training to become a nationally qualified industry assessor. Kerri's role will be to assess the final two apprentice exams, which will determine if they are a fully qualified hairdresser. This will ensure clients are delivered a professional and high standard of workmanship.
During May, Blue Cactus in association with L'Oreal Professional, will continue to make their presence felt in the hairdressing industry. Kerri and Sonya will be presenting L'Oreal's new colour collection to members of the Wellington Hairdressing Industry and Larissa will be presenting at the Auckland Wedding Show.
On the 4th of April 2005 the team at Blue Cactus spent the evening at the Concrete Bar to view the Wellington hairdressing association photographic competition entries. As has become expected Blue Cactus came away with 3 placings ...
1 st Place Regional Winner Larissa Sulzberger
3 rd Place Wellington Region Kerri Cox
1 st Place Apprentice Section Koren MaindonaldEach stylist entered their photos which had been shot during the 2004/5 year, either from one of our colour collections or the Wellington regional competitions. Click to view the winning shot's.
Top Shop Winner
"Health & Beauty" Category, Wellington
Celebration was the theme of this year's Top Shop Awards at the Wellington Town Hall. And celebrate we did! 450 retailers attended the awards in what proved to be a fantastic evening that commended retailers who strive for excellence.
We won the Health and beauty section which included hairdressers, beauty salons and pharmacies.
From late June through to August, shoppers are asked to rate stores on their ambience, service and on their overall shopping experience.
The following steps outline the Top Shop process…
Judging criteria
- Location, Signage (inside and out), Frontage (entrance, windows)
- Windows, Store Layout (does it work?), Ambience
- Housekeeping, Promotions (In store), Greeting/Acknowledgement
- "Warm and friendly" Staff?, Atmosphere (is the store "alive"?)
- Product knowledge, Selling Skills
The other finalists were:
- Hardy's Healthy Living, Paraparaumu.
- Crabtree & Evelyn.
- Living Nature.
- Clive's Chemist.
- Rodney Wayne, Johnsonville.
The winners were announced at the Awards dinner on Friday night the 1 st of October 2004.
Winners of the Global
Salon Business Award 2004
We are proud to announce that we have won the Global Salon Business Award for 2004. Late last year L’Oreal Professional invited us to send a portfolio of Blue Cactus’s business practices to the UCLA Anderson School of Management in California USA and nominated us for the Global Salon Business Awards.
This is the first awards programme to recognize and reward hairdressing businesses around the world for the way they run their business. Previously Salons have been recognized for their hairdressing ability and competition fame only.
The panel of judges consisted of professional salon industry leaders and business experts from around the world. Areas of excellence in business practice for consideration were, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Team and client philosophy, Marketing and promotion.
As an award winner, Blue Cactus receives a complementary attendance to a 4-day educational, informative and inspirational business forum and awards ceremony in London.
Larissa went to London in May/ June to represent New Zealand, and collected one of the 4 awards for New Zealand, rubbing shoulders with the ‘who is who’ of international hairdressing.
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