2023 AUSTRALIAN HAIR INDUSTRY AWARDS- BUSINESS CROWNS WINNERS FOR BIGGEST YEAR EVER!
Sunday 24th September saw the hair industry unite for the gala awards ceremony of the Australian Hair Industry Awards 2023 - Business. The much-anticipated event was held at the The Star, Gold Coast with Australia’s leading hairdressers, salons, specialist businesses, educators and professional products taking home each of the 30 awards. Created by Mocha Group, the AHIA’s were launched due to national demand for a platform to ighlight business achievement and recognise excellence, providing an exciting snapshot of the impressive quality of the industry. The powerful impact of the awards continues to grow year on year with 2023 setting a new record of over 300 entries and 200 finalists across the extensive categories. Each submission was judged by an independent panel of 32 judges consisting of media, PR and business specialists. Proud sponsors included Timely, Redken, Kitomba, Sustainable Salons, Excellent Edges, Matrix, Schwarzkopf Professional, Goldwell, L’Oreal Professionnel, Revlon Professional, HairBiz, Shortcuts, DNA, KMS, EVY Professional, Comfortel, Wella Professionals, Hi Lift Professional, Haircare Group, Parlux by Dateline Imports, Alfaparf Milano Professional and DeLorenzo. A highlight of the evening was the opening extravaganza choreographed by the incredible creative talent Adam Williams. This incredible spectacle saw international guest headliners with death defying performances which danced dangerously close to spiralling out of control. Mocha Group Owner and Founder Linda Woodhead is proud to acknowledge this year’s deserving winners; “There is no better litmus test of the Australian hair industry than the AHIA’s. The fact that we continue to break records with submission numbers is testament to the emphasis which the hair community places on not just meeting quality benchmarks but exceeding them.Hairdressing is a crucial part of the service industry and these businesses play an integral role within all of our communities, bringing us together, supporting the next-generation of talent and making us feel amazing. For that they deserve to be championed by all of us!” The Big Winner of the night was Sharlene Lee, Circles for Hair, taking out Best Business Director/Owner of the Year, WA/NT Salon of the year and the ultimate accolade of Australian Salon of the Year. Amongst the other excited winners, The 2023 Special Recognition award went to Jenny Burns and the Vidal Sassoon Humanitarian Award to Helen Owens, Tigerlamb. On behalf of Helen, as an added surprise, Comfortel donated $10,000 to one of her chosen charities RIZEUP Australia with a giant cheque being presented to founder Nicolle Edwards. 2023 AHIA BUSINESS WINNERS AHIA CARE, TREAT, STYLE & ELECTRICAL PRODUCT AWARDSSponsored by HAIRBIZBEST IN CAREQiqi Makes You Feel Like You Just Left The Salon Shampoo & Qiqi Goodbye Dry Hello Gorgeous Conditioner by Dateline Imports BEST IN TREATBC Clean Frizz Away Treatment by Henkel Beauty Care Professional BEST IN STYLEJoico Youthlock Blowout Crème by Sabre Haircare BEST ELECTRICAL TOOLEVY PROFESSIONAL E-CURL PRO Salon Team Member of the Year Sponsored by Excellent EdgesLeanne Kay, Stevie English Hair Salon Manager/Co-Ordinator of the YearSponsored by Wella ProfessionalsBrooke Blinco, RocaVerde Salon Manager/Co-Ordinator of the YearSponsored by Wella ProfessionalsBrooke Blinco, RocaVerde Business Director/Owner of the YearSponsored by KitombaSharlene Lee, Circles of Hair Salon Team of the YearSponsored by GoldwellToni&Guy Cronulla Sole Operator of the YearSponsored by MatrixKaty Reeve Best Eco SalonSponsored by DNA OrganicsGeorge & Ivy Best Business Newcomer of the YearSponsored by KMSSalon Her Best Salon DesignSponsored by ComfortelMs Monaco Hair Society Best MarketingSponsored by ShortcutsElysium Hair Brisbane Best Customer CareSponsored by Schwarzkopf ProfessionalMs Monaco Hair Society Best Salon Group of the YearSponsored by M&U ImportsToni&Guy Australia Best In-Salon TrainingSponsored by Haircare GroupCo and Pace Salons Educator of the Year – IndividualSponsored by RedkenSharon Blain Educator of the Year – OrganisationSponsored by EVY PROFESSIONALTaylorweir Educator of the Year - Product or Equipment CompanySponsored by Sustainable SalonsL’Oréal Professionnel NATIONAL WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Parlux by Dateline ImportsSalon Direct Hair and Beauty Supplies State Salon Business of the Year NSW/ACTSponsored By Alfaparf Milano ProfessionalSloans State Salon Business of the Year QLDSponsored By Wella ProfessionalsRokstar State Salon Business of the Year SA/TASSponsored By TimelySJ Establishment State Salon Business of the Year VICSponsored By Revlon ProfessionalMama West State Salon Business of the Year WA/NTSponsored By DeLorenzoCircles of Hair SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDSponsored By L'Oréal ProfessionnelJenny Burns VIDAL SASSOON HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEARSponsored By Mocha GroupHelen Owens AUSTRALIAN SALON BUSINESS OF THE YEARSponsored By Mocha GroupCircles of Hair