Larissa Macleman recaps Salon Melbourne 2015
The recent Salon Melbourne 2015 expo did not disappoint. Not that it usually does, but it seems that this year everything was a little bit more turnt.
For me, it all started with an early trip up from my home office in Wellington to the busy city of Melbourne, where the Timely booth was unpacked and set up in preparation for the big weekend. Flyers out, banners hung, lights, cameras, action. I was ready to go.
Then people started flooding in. Lots of people. Several thousand people began roaming around the booths, creating an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. Maybe this was due to the fact that, when beauty and hair professionals go to an expo, they GO to an expo. They put effort into the decoration of their booths, and the standards that are expected of stall owners are high. I remember doing this myself for many years!
Regardless, there were beauty professionals from every business you could think of, from nail salons to makeup artists – you name it. Everyone was represented.
Attendees of the event seemed to be mostly apprentices and new business owners, or those who were looking to start a business. There was a noticeable number of younger people at Salon Melbourne on Sunday, the first day of the event, but on Monday, lots of business owners stopped by the booths to have conversations and look at demonstrations. They were actively seeking out innovative new ideas for their businesses, and they had definitely come to the right place!
The organisers did a great job of creating a good split of business and networking opportunities. On Sunday night, everyone crowded into the big auditorium for the Matrix gala, which was a spectacle to behold . Beforehand, drinks had been served and everyone had gotten a chance to mingle, make new friends, and catch up with old ones.
The next day, everyone piled back into the building where the event was held for another day of networking. I met some lovely people from the beauty industry, and was able to tell them about how they could get more out of their day with Timely’s salon booking software.
It was awesome to meet Sandy Chong, president of the AHC – an organisation that we’re actively involved with at Timely – as well as board member Faye Murray. They’re two gorgeous ladies! It was great to catch up with Lorna Evans, a well-known Australian hairdresser, when she stopped by to catch up with us. And when Simon Murray from Frog Coaching and Lisa Conway from Zing Coaching came to say “hi”, my day was made.
It was nice to see that the Timely brand is getting out there in Australia, as many more people recognised us this year than they did last year. What I enjoyed the most about Salon Melbourne 2015 was seeing the many entrepreneurial small business owners who are reinventing their industries every day. They’re the new generation of beauticians and hairdressers, and it’s an honour to be part of the movement.
By the time I had boarded my plane back to New Zealand on Tuesday, I was exhausted. It wasn’t the type of tiredness that comes from working too hard, but the type that comes from a few days of having an intensely good time.
It was an enlightening experience to say the least, and the hundreds of new connections I made at Salon Melbourne 2015 made it a worthwhile event. Come next year, you bet you’ll find at the Timely stand at Salon Melbourne 2016!
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Top Cover Photo: Lorna Evans at Salon Melbourne 2015. © Style Icons
