CONCENTRATING ON CONSOLIDATING

KAMINI VAGHELA has owned Kamini, a six-treatment room, holistic, upmarket salon in London's Kensington, since 2005.  Born in Zimbabwe, she came to the UK in 1979, trained in beauty therapy at Kingston College of Further Education in Surrey, then worked in salons around London.  Her speciality is threading eyebrows and she is famed for delivering the perfect shape.  Her clients include celebrities and the beauty directors of glossy magazines.

The salon's location is central, and I'm gradually building up my clientele, mainly through word-of-mouth recommendation - the best way - and editorials in newspapers and glossy magazines. I advertise in the local media when I've introduced a new therapy to the menu.

important the right technique is used.
My threading technique is quite different to others, so my long-term mission is to set up a formal, intensive training programme to teach my way of threading. But that's for the future - the present aim is to consolidate my business.

TEAM UK

Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a Downing Street reception to honour 22 talented young people who represented the UK at WorldSkills 2007 -- the largest and most prestigious skills competition in the world, and to look forward to 2011, when the UK will host the competition.

Meet MARY OVERTON -- the export manager for CACI International, the largest UK manufacturer and provider of specialist electrotherapy equipment, supplying more than 6,000 of the world's leading salons and day spas.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY?

I started my career 26 years ago on the recommendation of a relative who was working as beauty editor for a leading women's magazine. I was looking for inspiration and she suggested a career in beauty would offer me many varied and exciting opportunities, as well as being a growing industry. This has certainly proved to be the case!

In 1981, after graduating from the Shaw College of Beauty Therapy, I worked as a beauty therapist/aromatherapist for several years, before gaining further qualification in teaching and media studies and working for several multi-national com-panies. For the past eight years I have been involved in developing the export market for CACI International and raising the profile of the brand overseas.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT?

Increasing the global market presence for CACI International from four to 30 distributors and engaging new business in more than 50 countries.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SATISFYING/REWARDING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

In the early days of my career as a UK-based trainer for another company, I was given two days' notice to present a sales and training seminar in Malta for 50 therapists. With a copy of the book Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway packed into my suitcase, this marked my transition into the international arena. 

WHAT IS THE BEST BUSINESS/CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN?

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. 

THREE THINGS YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB WITHOUT?

My passport; my Blackberry; and the support of my partner.

BEST/WORST BITS OF YOUR JOB?

Best bits are combining my passion for travel, cultural experiences and beauty with a truly international company producing cutting-edge technology; seeing two of our top CACI spas being presented with awards at the glittering black-tie AsiaSpa Awards ceremony in Hong Kong this year; learning more about life from a different perspective in the Middle East and South East Asia; and being involved in the global growth of the wellness and spa industry.  
Downsides are that inter-national travel is not always glamorous, with the effects of a long-haul flight, time differences, and the necessary but nevertheless increased security at airports, which can, on occasion, make travelling quite exhausting. Also graciously eating chicken's feet, jellyfish and snake, ceremoniously presented to me by one of my Chinese clients!  

FUTURE BUSINESS AMBITIONS

To continue developing the global presence of the CACI brand.

IMAGINE YOU ARE AT THE START OF YOUR CAREER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

I have enjoyed the varied path my career has taken, and without learning-curves I would not be where I am today. Maybe the only change I would have made is to have studied languages at an
earlier age. 

WOULD YOU DO IT AL AGAIN?

Without hesitation.

SIMPLY THE

BEST

The achievement of salons and individuals were recognised at the Saks national awards

The Saks Group puts on events with enormous style -- and its national awards ceremony is no exception.

The company holds national awards each year to recognise the highest-achieving salons and individuals within the network, and to celebrate the continuing succes of the group, which currently has more than 140 hair and beauty salons nationwide.

With more than 3,000 team members now working for Saks, competition is fierce.

Individual winners from the regional awards -- help late in 2007 -- attended a glittering "grand finale" prizegiving lunch at London's Cafe de Paris, where they were joined by Saks franchisees, VIPs and celebrity judges to find out who had won the national titles.  These included image, salon team and achievement awards relating to hair and beauty.

Saks international creative director and celebrity hair-stylist on Channel 4's 10 Years Younger, Andrew Barton says: "The awards luncheon was incredibly exciting and had a fantastic atmosphere.  Congratulations to all the winners."

Right: Saks MD Stephen Kee

READ ON FOR THE WINNERS AND THE PICTURES...

The correct nailcare products, and an effective homecare routine, will help clients eliminate common nail disorders. Sasha Lill reports

Laura Kelly is spa manager at Spa 6 at the Cotwold Waterpark Four Pillars Hotel in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. 

Spa 6 opened in August last year and follows the true philosophy of a spa, with an extensive heat and water therapy suite, and a full range of beauty treatments.