Business Tune-Up

This January, 1,100 salon owners and managers, along with 500 other members of the beauty industry, gathered in San Francisco for The Salon Association's (TSA) annual symposium. The weekend featured education, inspiration, business-building and networking. Keynote speaker Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, kicked off the conference with an exploration of why most small businesses don't work and what owners can do about it. In "Road Trips," another popular session, Creative Nail Design's Jan Arnold, Brocato America's Sam Brocato, Sebastian's Robert Lobetta and Dermalogica's Jane Wurwand shared their personal journeys to success and inspired the audience to keep reaching their goals.



This year the symposium hosted two film premieres. In Hair Heroes, Michael Gordon lovingly and beautifully portrayed 12 hairstyling icons. After the movie, Gordon surprised the audience by bringing two of his film subjects—Vidal Sassoon and Christiann—on stage. Attendees waited in line up to three hours to meet these legends and have them sign Gordon's book, also titled Hair Heroes.

James Morrison's One Life Project, inspired by the death of hairdresser Carson Chirico, brought together the industry's best. In this moving film, beauty professionals including Robert Cromeans, John Paul DeJoria, Robert Lobetta, Vivienne Mackinder, Ann Mincey, Bruno Mascolo, Ruth Roche, Horst Rechelbacher and Melissa Yamaguchi reflected on the true spirit of the industry.



Attendees also enjoyed food, drink and music—plus the chance to learn about the latest products—in the VIP suites. Sponsors included Aveda, Bumble and bumble, Davines, Paul Mitchell and Stim TV. The event kicked-off with F3: A Benefit, which featured a runway show of hair created by the Vidal Sassoon Team. F3 raised more than $80,000 for the Capital Campaign, which funds TSA's government affairs efforts. Most impressive? Several smaller salons ponied up $1,000 contributions. Mark your calendars: Symposium 10 will take place January 14-17, 2006, in San Diego. —R.M.