ABOUT SALON SMART
Salon Smart is Creative HEAD’s
business networking event for salon and barber shop owners and managers, delivering unique opportunities to learn from and spend time with a host of respected industry innovators
Hosted at a London riverside venue
look forward to a jam-packed, day-long agenda featuring solo talks, group discussions, topical debates, live Q&A – and a working lunch!
Now in its 19th year
the event is much-loved for being relaxed, fully inclusive and abuzz with energy, as like-minded hair professionals gather to gain next level insight.
Plus
endless opportunities to network with others and make valuable connections that could become lasting partnerships.
TICKETS
SINGLE TICKET £100 +VAT
- Access to the full event agenda – talks, panel debates, Q&A, interactive sessions
- A hot buffet lunch – with a side helping of hair and business brands, ready to support
- Refreshment breaks – tea, coffee and cake
- Non-stop networking
Save £20!
Creative HEAD newsletter subscribers enjoy a £20 discount on Salon Smart ticket orders – check your inbox for a code to apply at point of purchase*. Don’t receive the newsletter? Sign up here
Controlled attendance
To safeguard the event experience, and in fairness to our event sponsors, only salon and barber shop owners, managers and their teams may attend Salon Smart. It is not possible to attend Salon Smart if you are a product brand, product distributor or product marketer (unless the product brand has sponsorship affiliation), in which case, we have the right to issue refunds for any tickets purchased and/or refuse admission. Extenuating circumstances may be considered OR In certain cases, allowances may be made, please email your request to laura@alfol.co.uk.
*Discount applies to a single order, whether for one or multiple tickets
SPEAKERS
Hear from brilliant people sharing real experiences, smart advice, and fresh thinking on business
Dylan Bradshaw
Co-owner, Dylan Bradshaw Dublin
Dylan is the co-owner of Dylan Bradshaw Dublin, a 10,000 square foot concept store offering high quality hair services, extensive retail – spanning home, hair and personal care, speciality coffee and tea and artisan baked goods. Throughout his 30-year career, Dylan has constantly looked for ways to evolve and lead, always listening to his clients to ensure his business remains relevant and well-regarded. Dylan is a staunch believer that strong education and ongoing skills development are vital to maintaining an industry that is prosperous, progressive and robust.
Sam Burnett
Creative director and owner, Hare & Bone
For 20 years, Sam has been quietly carving a niche in the trade – sharpening to perfection his business, educating, editorial and session skills, which collectively have earned him industry-wide respect and an international following. Today, Sam’s approach to hairdressing – both individually and as a salon owner – is firmly rooted in the philosophy of holistic wellness alongside a keenness to find greater understanding in the mind-body-spirit connection. Consequently, his clients enjoy a deeper rejuvenating experience and Sam maintains a healthy work-life balance.
Samantha Cusick
Owner, Samantha Cusick London and Stā Studios
Samantha is intuitively good at business, and she has built her own with a firm eye on evolution. An exceptional colourist with a big consumer following and a passion for the industry she serves, her salon brand, Samantha Cusick London, has become a sought-after space both for clients and staff. In 2023, she opened a flexible co-working and event space, Stā Studios, to great acclaim. And last November, following her Most Wanted Business Thinker win, Samantha launched ‘Silly Little Girls’, a podcast dedicated to inspiring and empowering women.
Lisa Farrall
Founder, WIG London
Lisa is a multi-award-winning session stylist and educator, resolute about using her platform to teach hairstylists how to be texture neutral – a trademark she has claimed. When she’s not on set styling music artists or presenting prime time television shows, she’s regularly booked by salons, colleges and individuals to impart her knowledge and skill. Determined to “change the hair game”, Lisa’s on a long-term mission to ensure every hair client is best served, arming those she teaches and mentors with a bespoke approach to learning – and growing – in skill and confidence.
Scott Humphreys
Co-owner, Kitch
With roots in high fashion (he worked previously as both a tailor on London’s Savile Row and a couturier for Vivienne Westwood), Scott’s barbering skills have been honed to perfection, and he believes the craft is not only for men but for every client, regardless of gender identity or expression. In July 2020 he and partner Luca Jones opened Kitch – a no-judgement, nostalgia-inducing 50s kitchen-inspired salon in Angel, London, providing an inclusive menu of hair services – and it’s taken off, with plans well underway to open Kitch #2 in the coming months.
Luca Jones
Co-owner, Kitch
Born into hairdressing and trained from a young age, Luca has enjoyed a buoyant career behind the chair but also behind the scenes, as a session stylist working at Fashion Week, shooting magazine editorials and styling on set for prime-time television shows. In July 2020 he and partner Scott Humphreys opened Kitch – a no-judgement, nostalgia-inducing 50s kitchen-inspired salon in Angel, London, providing an inclusive menu of hair services – and it’s taken off, with plans well underway to open Kitch #2 in the coming months.
Mikyla Limpkin
Writer, artist, speaker and coach
Mikyla is a problem-solver, creator and storyteller, championing kindness and connection. She has a passion for helping individuals and small businesses uncover unconscious barriers and identify simple paths forward. An accomplished author and artist, Mikyla is known for her vibrant energy, deep empathy and inspiring perspective, providing the tools and encouragement needed to make meaningful change. Her business, The Company of Smiles, provides workshops, talks and project design, creating transformations through the power of human connection.
Michael Young
Co-founder and creative director, Hooker & Young | Founder, Michael Young Hair Photography
Alongside partner Gary Hooker, Michael has cultivated a successful salon brand, Hooker & Young, which boasts four sites across Newcastle and Teesside, delivering ‘luxurious hair’. But over his 30-year career, he has constantly searched for new ways to promote self-expression – always seeking to extend his creative capabilities. A decade ago, Michael took up photography, immersing himself in technique and concept. This move opened him up to “exciting new territory”, and his passion for image creation has since added a fruitful and empowering new string to his bow.
BRANDS
Connect with the teams behind the products and services designed to support and elevate your business
HEADLINE SPONSOR
The story of L’Oréal Professionnel began in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, with a disruptive innovation that changed the rules of hair colour. The company has since become the world’s largest beauty group – thanks to its combination of world-class innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Today, L’Oréal Professionnel Paris empowers the professional community and continues to inspire the next generation of hair professionals all over the world, driving the professional difference and creativity, led by ground-breaking innovation and artistry.
SOFTWARE PARTNER
Founded on the salon floor nearly 20 years ago, Phorest is an all-in-one salon software solution designed specifically for the professional hair, beauty and aesthetics industry. Touching every point of the salon experience, the system offers seamless online booking, simple client scheduling, hassle-free reporting, custom-branded booking apps, a sleek POS, the industry’s most innovative marketing features, an integrated payment processing – and so much more. Together with the provision of unrivalled mentoring, education, and customer support, Phorest empowers professionals to manage, market, and grow their businesses.
ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
GLOWWA is on a mission to change the way we care for hair through an inside-out approach. Founded by nutritional therapist, Suzanne Cooper, following her own struggle with hair loss, the brand is driven by a relentless pursuit for results and committed to harnessing the power of clean active ingredients to optimise hair health and wellbeing. Since launching just a few years ago, GLOWWA has won eight prestigious awards and is trusted and supported by some of the industry’s most respected hair professionals.
VENUE & LOCATION
The Chain and Buoy Store
Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JW
Situated in East London on the banks of the River Thames with stunning views of The 02 and Canary Wharf, The Chain and Buoy Store is a Grade II listed Victorian building boasting high ceilings, bathed in natural light and connected to a private adjoining riverside terrace. Far from a traditional conference-style setting, Salon Smart’s London space is refreshingly informal and designed to help you relax and re-energise, as you soak up a whole day of business insight, learning and inspiration. And don’t let the postcode fool you – the venue is well connected to public transport links.
Getting to the venue
Walking from Canning Town Station (Jubilee Line – five stops from London Bridge; seven stops from London Waterloo)
10-15-minute walk
On the ticket concourse level at Canning Town, take the first exit on the left after the ticket barriers, walk through the double doors and head up the circular stairs, following the signposting for Bow Creek/City Island. Outside on the towpath of the river, cross the red pedestrian bridge and walk through City Island until you reach Orchard Place. Continue under the overpass and head to the very end the road. Follow the blue signs for Trinity Buoy Wharf. Google Maps walking route here
Walking from East India Station (DLR – four stops from London City Airport; six stops from Bank)
10-15-minute walk
Do not walk over the footbridge at East India Station, instead use the stairs to the south exit opposite Nisa Convenience Store. Outside the station turn left and follow the blue signs marked either Trinity Buoy Wharf or Bird Sanctuary. Follow the route, which will take you around the East India Dock Nature Reserve and down onto Orchard Place. Turn right then walk to the end of the very end of the road. Google Maps walking route here
Please note, there is no on-site parking. If you are a blue badge holder, please contact us for assistance.
For more information click here
FAQ
What is Salon Smart?
Salon Smart is Creative HEAD magazine’s annual business networking event, providing a whole day of new insight, learning and inspiration, delivered by industry experts and innovators.
Who is the event for?
Salon and barber shop owners and managers, and their teams.
What’s the vibe and format?
Friendly, informal and inclusive. All the main sessions take place back-to-back, in one space, with seating for all, while meeting, mixing, eating and drinking takes place in another. We aim to create an environment where attendees feel comfortable, confident and supported to share their own experiences and ask their burning questions.
What will I learn?
Salon Smart is packed with support, guidance, and fresh thinking on business, to help you build a better one. The agenda will comprise a variety of theme-led sessions including, for example, response pieces to changes in business or industry legislation, insight into current and future customer trends, maintaining a work/life balance, staying relevant, creating a healthy working environment, marketing, recruitment, the importance of human connection, and so much more! We’ll also connect you with the hair and business brands whose products and services could revolutionise and support future business growth.
Is food and drink included in the ticket price?
Yes! There’s a delicious hot buffet on the lunch menu, plus drinks and sweet treats served during scheduled refreshment breaks.
Do I need to bring anything on the day?
Just you and your smart phone or other smart device (if you have one), to access our digital event guide (don’t worry if you don’t have a smart device, we have printed agendas on site). We’ll provide some note-taking materials, and you won’t need to spend a penny while you’re with us. Ooh, if you carry a reusable water bottle, bring that with you, too!
What are the event timings?
Sessions commence at 10am, but please arrive ahead of time; doors open at 9.15am for registration and refreshments. The event will run throughout the day and is scheduled to conclude at 6pm. We will break in the morning and afternoon, as well as over lunchtime.
I’m not a salon owner or manager; can I still buy a ticket?
The content delivered at Salon Smart is designed, primarily, to support and inform business owners, managers and their teams – the workplace decision-makers. But regardless of your status at work, if you are a hair professional and feel Salon Smart’s up your street, then of course we would love to welcome you. Unfortunately, it is not possible to attend Salon Smart if you are a product brand, product distributor or product marketer (unless the product brand has sponsorship affiliation). Please see the ‘Tickets’ section for further details.
I have a question; how do I get in touch?
Please email laura@alfol.co.uk in the first instance. For urgent enquiries, you can call our head office on +44 (0)20 7324 7540.